Tumbler or Sonic Cleaner

[browningautorifle]

Show us once it comes? Then maybe a before and after on some brass...

[enfield303t]

Show us once it comes? Then maybe a before and after on some brass...

Just did a few hundred 45ACP. Neglected to take a before but just threw in 100 .308 and still have some that need a proper pin cleaning so hope they will show the difference. I think the .308 were cleaned in a walnut shell vibrator and they were anything but well done. IF they do show a discernible difference will post pictures.

The dirt that came out was unbelievable, absolutly filthy water and little bits of ????. The huge difference is the inside of the 45 is shiny clean.

[enfield303t]

Just for you Jim. Think the difference is pretty obvious.

[CINDERS]

Nice job I am looking at 1 ACP case I can just make out the primer is in Rt side against the side of the container 1.5" from the bottom.
When I sonic my cases they have been sized and no primer is present so it pretty much cleans that as well do the rotary tumblers have a Heat capability like the sonics not that you need it but I sometimes use it, the liquid gets pretty warm anyway from the sonic action.

[enfield303t]

Cinders, the 45's were not worked at all so need to be deprimed etc for the next step. We just wanted to try to see how good it was, am impressed to no end.

We just finished 100 .308's and they were already resized and trimmed to length and they are just as good as the 45's. The big thing is the inside of the cases are clean which you just don't get using a dry medium. From now on I will deprime, then clean then resize and trim to length. A clean case will be easier on the die which is not a big deal but helps.

The one negative is the pins occasionally will stick in the flash hole, not much of a issue in .308 but easier in a .223, I was told rarely you will find a .308 with 2 or 3 stuck in the flash hole, too large for a single pin to stick in it. There is a great magnet designed to pick up the pins and a pull of the handle and they are released. Also a "basket" available to rotate them in using clean water to rinse off the soap/lemi shine used in the tumbler.

Shook them in a towel and will now let them air dry for a couple of days which is overkill IMO. You can dry them in the oven but won't bother with that.

Have two friends that use this method and one has been on my case for a couple years to buy one, my only regret is not getting it in the beginning. Anyone new to reloading and needs a walnut vibrator in excellent shape...I won't ship it but if passing thru the price is right.

[browningautorifle]

Just for you Jim. Think the difference is pretty obvious.

Yes I agree, it's about what I expected to see. There's a man here uses SS pins too and I saw his brass at his shop. It all looks new. There's no better description.

There is a great magnet designed to pick up the pins and a pull of the handle and they are released.

That's what he uses to, this friend that uses SS pins. It's the way to go. You can put the pins into a ziploc bag by turning it inside out, put the magnet inside and then use it. Turn the bag right side out and release the pins. That way they all start inside.

[CINDERS]

Yes I have seen the Magnet advertised of fleabay I may move onto the next step as whilst the sonic is good there is always room for improvement the only thing I really have a problem is getting the minister for finance & war on my side to justify the $200-300/AU to procure one as the reply will be you already have a tumbler also the sonic cleaner hhhhmmmmm its problematic but I will think of an excuse.........!!

I had some case cleaner that you just add to the water in fact I have had it for about 5 years only used it once then got a tumbler you just added it 2 fl/oz to a quart of water soak your cases and presto clean brass so me thinks I will use it in the sonic as the Hornady stuff is $40/AU a container is getting pricey some of Jims philosophy manifesting in me grinching it..
So I measured 40fl/oz of distilled water like I normally do then I thought just @ 2 fl/oz of this cleaner would suffice bbzzzzt wrong? stuff me drunk as soon as I tipped it into the water with the shells they went from toned & dirty to bright brass in about 10 seconds thank god the sonics bath is stainless anyway I also thinks that toning down the amount to 1/2 fl/oz to 40 fl/oz distilled water may be a better ratio.
I am tumbling the brass now but I have my reservations about its integrity now as it was just pretty much instantaneous I was like seriously gob smacked anyway I think seeing as they are only seconds for a 308 and as I was given 1000 once fired Winchester cases I wont miss 40 of them.

[enfield303t]

We use water, a tiny bit of 'Lemi Shine" and a couple squirts of liquid dish soap so very inexpensive and no dust which is a big advantage.

It has a 3 hour timer and seems that is sufficient however one friend told me he sometimes does it longer, guess starting condition would be taken into consideration.

PS...Lemi Shine that I need is about as scarce as a winning lottery ticket here. One friend gave me a container, he has 4 more and all were purchased in the USA. My son tried to order it on amazon and delivery time was 2 to 5 months???

[browningautorifle]

I originally witnessed a demo using the SS pins and two dozen .50 brass off the military range. The difference was definite.

[milboltnut]

both... corn cob media to dry out cases after sonic cleaning.