Thread: Case cleaners .... Who uses what ??

I use a cheap ultrasonic cleaner. Does a great job of cleaning inside and out and does a brilliant job of the primer pockets.

Lyman Turbo 1200 Pro Tumbler. Makes my brass nice and shiny.

Would like to get an ultrasonic cleaner, but as I mainly work in batches of 25/50, it doesn't take long to clean primer pockets and inside the necks. Just a few twists with the tools for each and onto the next.

I tend to tumble the brass quickly before running them through the die, then tumble again once all the brass prep is done to make them super shiny.

Really like your DIY setup ebf. Think I'm going to have to build something similar but unfortunately I don't have a lathe. Do have a 1hp 230v motor kicking about though.

How long does it take to clean them up in that rig?

30 mins max nibblet.

1hp should be more than enough, it's only a 4lt bucket.

You'd need to get the speed down, that's the main thing, otherwise it does not tumble, only sticks to the side of the bucket

There is an interesting clip on YouTube about a DIY sonic setup made by bungee-ing a 1/4 sheet sander to the side of a flat sided bucket.

Originally Posted by P38

I still use the tumbler and walnut media.

Works well for me.

Cheers
Pete

Whats walnut media? Is it just walnut chips or something complety differnt

Originally Posted by Toby

Whats walnut media? Is it just walnut chips or something complety differnt

It's the same granular stuff, like the corn cob stuff? 1-2mm sized grains?

Originally Posted by ebf

If you just want to wash cases without polishing, use warm water, citric acid (baking section of supermarket) and dish soap.

Yep this is what I use, it fine for me, I don't polish the cases. You just need to get the crap off the cases so they don't crap in your dies or plug up your primer pockets. I usually do 250 9mm cases at a time-easy as! The primer pocket cleaning tool gets any left over in the pocket. I find this method cleans as well as a tumbler and there is no media or dust in the case to clean out after tumbling.
Just dry fully!

Cheers.

lactic acid. is what I use.