Ultra Sonic Cleaners and Tumblers

[Ladynoisy]

So now I have all of my own reloading stuff I'm looking at purchasing and ultrasonic cleaner or a tumbler.
Do people prefer one over the other? Do I need both?
Lots of different items on eBay. Is there much difference between jewellery or branded specific gun cleaners?

[brett1868]

I've progressed from dry tumbling to ultrasonic and now onto wet tumbling with stainless pins. My preferred approach now is to dry tumble in corncob for as couple hours to knock the bulk of the carbon off the neck. I then lube and full length resize before giving the cases 3 hours in wet tumbler with stainless pins using plain tap water and an egg cup of the Hornady LnL ultrasonic concentrate. The pins do a much better job of cleaning primer pockets compared to ultrasonic and inside the case is just as shiny as the outside. I only use then ultrasonic now for cleaning muzzle brakes and other parts.
I bought the frankford arsenal tumbler from Cabelas in the U.S but you can find the pins on eBay and search for rock cleaners as they are essentially the same thing and may be cheaper to find locally, just make sure it's water tight and the drum is rubber lined.

[TheDude]

I've not tried an ultrasonic cleaner. I de-prime using a lee universal depriming die then 2-3 hours in a wet tumbler with stainless pins and MP103 burnishing compound from Aussie Sapphire. I've got a model B tumbler from stainlesstumblingmedia.com.

[Rocker]

Is there much difference between jewellery or branded specific gun cleaners?

They're all just ultrasonic, not different types for different items.

Just the quality of the unit itself.

If you want to try one on the cheap ALDI had them for about $30 a little while ago.

[Ladynoisy]

I bought an ultrasonic unit from Super Cheap branded ToolPro. I given that a go but after looking at the tumblers with the stainless pins I want that too!
Aussie Sapphire have tumblers a lot cheaper than the Model B so thinking I might go that way..

[pomemax]

I am trying one from evilbay so far results are ok
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Multipurpose ... 3f41af28a9
I have done 400 9mm case at once for 30 min and reloaded all ok all up about 3000 cases all ok

[Wobble]

Ultra sonic or stainless is the go these days IMO.

People winge you have to dry them after, but you have to tumble all the crap out of your cases when you use the usual media tumbler so it's not like that's work free afterwards.

I'd rather just leave them in the sun then have to sit there tipping them out one by one. No dust to deal with either.

[David Brown]

My process;
Ultrasonic cleaner when I get home….into a tub for storage. This cleans the carbon residue out.
When enough to do a batch, de-prime and neck size only, then into the corn cob tumbler. This cleans the outer and primer pockets a bit.
Then load.

[Bills Shed]

I have done the dry vibratory cleaners and now use the model B tumbler. Chalk and cheese. I can use the tumbler to clean my .22 LR cases prior to derimming, after annealing and polishing up the final .224 projectiles. The stainless pins make even those little cases easy to clean. Inside and out perfect.

Bill

[pomemax]

had the mrs make me 4 bags out of an old towel when i wash the cases i throw them in the bag tie the neck shut and throw in the tumble dryer for 20 min on high dry as

[brett1868]

had the mrs make me 4 bags out of an old towel when i wash the cases i throw them in the bag tie the neck shut and throw in the tumble dryer for 20 min on high dry as

What a fantastic idea and perfect for pistol and small rifle cases, I'll try this out myself on the weekend Thank You

[David Brown]

Heck…my laundry fairy could do that at the same time as the clothes go in…..(not sure exactly how that process works)

[RDobber]

had the mrs make me 4 bags out of an old towel when i wash the cases i throw them in the bag tie the neck shut and throw in the tumble dryer for 20 min on high dry as

Sounds peaceful

[Ladynoisy]

Really happy with the results from my new stainless steel pin tumbler from Aussie Sapphire!

image.jpg (130.1 KiB) Viewed 6331 times

[brett1868]

I know how the ladies love shiny things so I bet you're happy with the results One thing I've noted is that the case mouths can get knocked about a little depending on case weight and how many are tumbled so I chamfer and debur after tumbling. Gives me a chance to check the case and ensure no pins are stuck along with a general condition check. Last step is to anneal so they have that new brass look

[Ladynoisy]

I know how the ladies love shiny things so I bet you're happy with the results One thing I've noted is that the case mouths can get knocked about a little depending on case weight and how many are tumbled so I chamfer and debur after tumbling. Gives me a chance to check the case and ensure no pins are stuck along with a general condition check. Last step is to anneal so they have that new brass look

So much to learn! Lucky I have Noisy!

[brett1868]

So much to learn! Lucky I have Noisy!

I would hazard to suggest that he's very lucky to have a lady in his life that shares this hobby / passion / obsession with him. My missus is jealous of the reloading press, says I spend more time fondling it then I do her....

[Broom]

I'll tell her she should sprinkle smokeless powder and 750gr projectiles over the bed to get your attention