Tumblers vs ultrasonic

[Kansas91]

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are on the two. I own both but tend to use the ultrasonic more (worried about case dings) I do however like the tumbler as the ultrasonic leaves water spots and drives me nuts call me OCD. What are your feelings with the tumbler and possible case dings when it comes to your benchrest shooting??

 

[JRS]

I use a tumbler for plating bullets and other objects. I clean my brass in a vibratory tumbler using either ground corncob or walnut hulls, and have never dinged-up the brass. I don't use ultrasonic cleaners.

 

[savagedasher]

I use a tumbler for plating bullets and other objects. I clean my brass in a vibratory tumbler using either ground corncob or walnut hulls, and have never dinged-up the brass. I don't use ultrasonic cleaners.
[/quote. Plus one 👌
My bullet seat the same every time Larry

 

[bigedp51]

I do not have a ultrasonic cleaner but have a question about the water spots.

Can LemiShine be added to the mixture for the ultrasonic cleaning process to prevent the spots.

This is one of the reasons its used in dish washers. (and used in wet tumbling for the "bling" factor)

 

[bigedp51]

I do not have a ultrasonic cleaner but have a question about the water spots.

Can LemiShine be added to the mixture for the ultrasonic cleaning process to prevent the spots.

This is one of the reasons its used in dish washers. (and used in wet tumbling for the "bling" factor)

Also Because of the LemiShine shortage, Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid is 97% citric acid and used as a replacement, so start looking for shooters at the range with green hands and shiny brass.

 

[Webster]

After removing the cases from a tumbler or vibratory cleaner, immediatley rinse in distilled water. Shake them up and change the distilled water several times. You can buy distilled water in stores for a buck a gallon. I have a Harbor Freight single drum polisher. It holds about 60 cases. I rinse three times, maybe excessive, shake the water out of each case and roll the cases in groups of about 5 on a paper towel. Sounds excessive but I only reload about 50 cases a month. Have not tried it yet but my basement dehumidifer puts out about 2 gallons of water a day. It's not distilled but it should be mineral free. Then I dry them in kitchen oven at 190F for several hours.

 

[Rpbump]

I de-prime fired brass and use a Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner to get rid of the dirt. Then rinse using an old colander. I then use compressed air to dry the cases and then tumble the cases in walnut shell pieces. It may be obsessive/anal to do this but clean bright brass will allow cracks/faults to be more easily detected.

Rpbump

 

[normmatzen]

I would be VERY careful using an ultra-sonic cleaner to clean brass. I was using one 100% with dilute vinegar and a spot of dish washer soap. Well, they clean too good! I started having hard bullet seating and a couple cases ruined when my LEE collette neck die mandrel cold welded to the squeaky clean case neck interior!
There may be a safe cleanser to use, but the ultrasonic vibration intensifies what ever solvent or acid you are using. You would be amazed how good pure distilled water will clean in an ultrasonic cleaner. The vibration causes the liquid to boil at the interface with the metal objects and impinges on the metal with great force.

 

[loneranger04]

I'm still experimenting tumbling in a wet tumbler and annealing verses vibratory tumbling then annealing. It's easier to see the results of annealing after wet tumbling but seating is smoother if I just run it through the vibratory then anneal. Either way I'm using graphite on the inside of the neck and it helps.

 

[dennisinaz]

I would be VERY careful using an ultra-sonic cleaner to clean brass. I was using one 100% with dilute vinegar and a spot of dish washer soap. Well, they clean too good! I started having hard bullet seating and a couple cases ruined when my LEE collette neck die mandrel cold welded to the squeaky clean case neck interior!
There may be a safe cleanser to use, but the ultrasonic vibration intensifies what ever solvent or acid you are using. You would be amazed how good pure distilled water will clean in an ultrasonic cleaner. The vibration causes the liquid to boil at the interface with the metal objects and impinges on the metal with great force.

When I am loading ultrasonically cleaned cases, I lightly wipe the bearing surface of the bullet with sizing wax to prevent any bonding in the case. It also smooths out seating pressures.

 

[Mozella]

.......................... tumbler and possible case dings when it comes to your benchrest shooting??

I wet tumble all my brass using SS media. I have never seen any evidence of case dings.

 

[bigedp51]

.......................... tumbler and possible case dings when it comes to your benchrest shooting??

I wet tumble all my brass using SS media. I have never seen any evidence of case dings.

Then break out the magnifying glass or take a close up photo, I could not see this with my naked eye. This is once fired Lake City 5.56 brass that had been trimmed to length and tumbled, and when the base of the case hits the soft annealed case during tumbling the mouth of the case gets hit and dinged up and shit happens.