Quiet case cleaning method

[SteveOak]

For the time being I am staying in an apartment and looking for a case cleaning method that is quiet or at least quiet enough to not annoy those around me.

In that past I used the run of the mill vibratory case cleaners, that certainly won't work.

I have an ultrasonic. It has been a while since I used it so I don't remember if it would be quiet enough to use in an apartment.

I would also like to coat some bullets so I was thinking about a tumbler. Something like this;

How noisy are these type of tumbler?

 

[Richard Coody]

wipe the cases off with a little ballistol on a rag. quiet and works just fine.

 

[JimSC]

for years I just dumped my cases into a old pot with a bit of soap and brought them to a boil, let them sit a few and rinsed. drained them then put them on a cookie sheet and baked an hour at 170F. It does not polish but it gets the dirt off


I use a rotary tumbler now and it is by no means quiet and it is the FA which has a thick rubber sleeve inside the drum

 

[JMayo]

For pistol brass I used the vinegar, water, dawn, salt soak. Worked well ....
Only a few pink cases !
I don't shine my rifle cases. Wipe off the lube after sizing and shoot em.

 

[RO JO]

Agree with Mr. Coody. This process is good because it does not remove the carbon inside the case neck. I never use my ultrasonic or tumbler. You can also use brass wool should you need to remove anything left over after the Ballistrol.

 

[SteveOak]

Ballistrol would address the outside of the case to protect the chamber. I am concerned that there would be an accumulation of carbon inside the case.

I will give the ultrasonic a try for cleaning cases. Not sure what I will do for applying coatings to bullets.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I use a vibrator to clean my brass with Walnut Shells. To eliminate the noise, I put the vibrator into a cooler and close the lid. You can't hear the unit running at all. The only problem I have, is I forget that it is running.

 

[Toolbreaker]

I occasionally use one of the little Harbor Freight tumblers w/SS pins. If the drums are filled properly with pins, cases and your favorite cleaning brew, the noise is very minimal...about as loud as a dishwasher. I run mine in the kitchen on top of an old phone book (dampens the cheap motor/pulley vibration) and can't hear it in my den, 35' away. If you're going to impact-coat bullets though, it might be a whole different ballgame.

 

[Richard Coody]

Ballistrol would address the outside of the case to protect the chamber. I am concerned that there would be an accumulation of carbon inside the case.

I will give the ultrasonic a try for cleaning cases. Not sure what I will do for applying coatings to bullets.

to each his own.
depends on what you want to accomplish. loading hunting, plinking and target ammo is all different.

for precision ammo i would never use an ultrasonic or wet tumble. that carbon in the neck is precious.

 

[snert]

for years I just dumped my cases into a old pot with a bit of soap and brought them to a boil, let them sit a few and rinsed. drained them then put them on a cookie sheet and baked an hour at 170F. It does not polish but it gets the dirt off


I use a rotary tumbler now and it is by no means quiet and it is the FA which has a thick rubber sleeve inside the drum

Add a little lemon juice or powdered citric acid and a good rinse to this and you are even better off.

 

[snert]

I use a vibrator to clean my brass with Walnut Shells. To eliminate the noise, I put the vibrator into a cooler and close the lid. You can't hear the unit running at all. The only problem I have, is I forget that it is running.

FWIW, i have had two "stall" and start to burn or overheat. Now I never leave them alone and make darn sure not to forget them. Not overloaded, just over used.

 

[Egg]

I brush the inside of the neck with the appropriate diameter bore brush and clean the primer pocket with primer pocket brush. That's it and it's very quiet. I was told anything more than that is just cosmetic. If I'm missing something, someone please let me know.

 

[dickn52]

Back to the OP original question. I use a tumbler and do not find them to be any quieter than a vibrator cleaner. In fact my Thumlers is darn noisy at times.

 

[retired]

you did not say so
but do not put dirty brass in your dies.

I brush the inside of the neck with the appropriate diameter bore brush and clean the primer pocket with primer pocket brush. That's it and it's very quiet. I was told anything more than that is just cosmetic. If I'm missing something, someone please let me know.

 

[dgeesaman]

I’d do an ultrasonic, in a cardboard box on carpet and covered with a blanket. High frequency noise like that should muffle easily.

 

[wedgy]

For tumbling bullets I use this one, not bad if you set it on something that won't vibrate, put a box with a blanket over it.

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-rotary-rock-tumbler-67631.html

 

[47WillysGuy]

Wash the cases in your kitchen sink, under hot water and couple drops of dish soap, rinse, and place on a cookie sheet in an oven. Set temp to 300 degrees for 3 minutes, turn off oven and let cases and oven cool back down. 1/2 hour minimum. Or!

If you live in South Texas , put cookie sheet and cases in-the back window of an ungargared car in the morning and retrieve in the evening when home from work. Dry dry dry! Saves a bit of power!

 

[#40Fan]

The Harbor Freight rotary tumbler is stupid quiet compared to a vibrating cleaner or even the FA. But to coat bullets, you need a vibrator.

 

[Paddyd]

I use this method and it's super cheap, easy and they get super clean.. First I soak them overnight in the RCBS /Water solution. Then I put them in a sock, Tie it off and throw it in the wife's washing machine with some old towels. Run them through a cycle and when done they are sparkling like new.

 

[Papa Charlie]

FWIW, i have had two "stall" and start to burn or overheat. Now I never leave them alone and make darn sure not to forget them. Not overloaded, just over used.

I have the Lyman, been using it this way for the last 5 years with no issues what so ever. I do make sure that it has plenty of room around the bowl so it isn't resting against the sides. I also put a piece of foam in the bottom to help reduce any noise transfer to the cooler.

This is the cooler that I use, it is taller than it is wider so the unit fits very well inside. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-60...ategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=dbUueqoG6Pi6lPDgDqTvzg