ultrasonic cleaning process

[r bose]

I received a hornady magnum cleaner and the proper hornady brass cleaner concentrate for christmas and I'm starting to use it. I've read varying methods on how to clean brass. Some have said they decap primers, tumble first to get any excess dirt off, lube, resize, do any other brass work, then put brass in the sonic cleaner. Then load.

Others are decapping, sonic cleaning first, then lubing, resizing, etc., then either into a tumbler for final polishing OR into the sonic cleaner AGAIN to re polish and remove the lube.

SO, what's best?

SO far I've decapped and tried the sonic cleaner on some very old, very dirty brass at 145 degrees and 60 minutes just to give it a try. WOW this thing works great.

 

[jonbearman]

Does it clean the primer pockets real well?

 

[TimP]

I remove the spent primers then sonic clean, anneal, size then tumble. I like to tumble after sizing because I feel I get a more consistent bullet seating pressure/feel... When cases come out of the sonic cleaner the inside of the case neck has a little to much grip IMO.

Yes the primer pockets come very clean.

 

[jonbearman]

Where did you buy it? How much roughly? How many case's can you do ,say you are doing .260 remington for example.

 

[r bose]

jonbearman, it cleans the primer pockets like new. I was very impressed. I searched for the oldest, dirtiest, dullest brass I could find to use and it did great. It was a Christmas gift so I'm not sure of exact cost but I saw them on midway's site for 200.00+both solutions for 43.00. The unit comes with a basket that you need to suspend by the hooks, the basket should not touch the bottom of the tank. So the 3 liter tank only holds 2 liters of solution and 135, 308 cases in the basket. I've heard it also does wonders on AR bolts and carriers, revolver cylinders, and other small barrels, parts that fit in the basket.

TimP, I've heard that also. Some say the neck is too clean. Are you using about the same temp as me and same time?

 

[TimP]

r bose, I found 130 to 140 degrees seems to be where you want to be. I only clean for 20 minutes but I clean my cases after each firing so they are not very dirty. I could see how range brass could take much longer to get clean.

 

[rwk]

Whats the best juice to used in these cleaners.

 

[mshelton]

Just throwing this out there in case you're thinking of doing it, do not use it to try and clean a blued Citori receiver....

 

[r bose]

I have the Hornady brass cleaner and the hornady gun parts cleaner. I've only used the brass cleaner so far. also, the primer pockets are so nice to put primers into. so smooth.

 

[jsthntn247]

I remove the spent primers then sonic clean, anneal, size then tumble. I like to tumble after sizing because I feel I get a more consistent bullet seating pressure/feel... When cases come out of the sonic cleaner the inside of the case neck has a little to much grip IMO.

Yes the primer pockets come very clean.

What do you plan on doing to fix the case neck grip issue?

 

[C Valentine]

I have the Hornady (though not the Magnum), but I prefer the tumbler/SS pin route. Does a better job, IMHO, both inside and out. If I am in a hurry I will use the sonic with Hornady's Brass cleaner, a dash of Lemi Shine and a dash of Dawn detergent. I decap first (no sizing) then proceed with neck sizing and the rest of the case prep AFTER cleaning. Why clean before decaping when you just have to go back and clean every pocket? And I just don't like the idea of running sizing dies into a dirty case, so I avoid the decap/size combo. But that's just me and my OC.
For what it's worth, I got a cheap 3lb rock tumbler from Harbor Freight just to see if I liked the SS pin method. Figured if I liked the results and the Chinese thing died, I would spring for a Thumler. Problem is, the darned thing is like the EverReady rabbit...it just keeps going and going and won't die, and I wont give myself permission to buy a Thumler until it does.

 

[Juma]

US compared to SSM is like Carl Lewis saying I can run the 100m fast until the big dude from Jamaica fronted up and erased all memory of Carl's efforts. US will go the same way as the dodo bird. My 2C.

 

[TimP]

I remove the spent primers then sonic clean, anneal, size then tumble. I like to tumble after sizing because I feel I get a more consistent bullet seating pressure/feel... When cases come out of the sonic cleaner the inside of the case neck has a little to much grip IMO.

Yes the primer pockets come very clean.

What do you plan on doing to fix the case neck grip issue?

The residual dust from tumbling in the corncob media helps to act as a lubricant.