Recommendations for sonic case cleaners

pjames777 · September 2014

Looking to add sonic case cleaner to my reloading. Any and all suggestions are gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

Patrick :cool2:

Teach · September 2014

What's the advantage of an ultrasonic cleaner over the 3 vibrators and one tumbler that I've been using for 20-something years?
Jerry

jaywapti · October 2014

One advantage I found was cleaning real dirty crud filled "barn guns" , remove the stock, and the gun comes out spotless, even removes some copper and lead fouling.
I never owned one but used one at the airline, we also would put our hands in for a couple of min. it got all the grease, oil off and cleaned your fingernails.

JAY

Fisheadgib · October 2014

knitepoet wrote: »

can get ALL the carbon off/out of a fired case in 24 minutes, including cleaning the primer pocket.

My vibratory cleaner/polisher leaves the primer pockets and inside dirty, but it DOES make the outside shinier. So I'll polish my brass afterwards if I want it shiny.

Then how long does it take to rinse and dry them so that they can be used?

Big Chief · October 2014

I had a Hornady NIB I inherited from my brother.............didn't work for beans, an early smaller model. I even bought their $20 a quart cleaner, no go. Plus you have to dry the brass when done.

So for now I'll stick to one of my media cleaners. Not saying ones that work don't work, but mine didn't so I gave it away.

olesniper · October 2014

Fisheadgib wrote: »

Then how long does it take to rinse and dry them so that they can be used?

Rinse in boiling water, then dump them in a salad spinner. They're dry in a couple of minutes.

Big Chief · October 2014

Not saying they don't work, but the one I had sure didn't. In fact, I don't thunk it was even emitting ultrasonic sound waves and the only cleaning my brass got was from a wash in the Hornady fluid.

Can you notice anything going on in the tub when you turn yours on? Does the liquid move any or do your hear anything from the device as it generates sound waves?

tennmike · October 2014

Big Chief wrote: »

Not saying they don't work, but the one I had sure didn't. In fact, I don't thunk it was even emitting ultrasonic sound waves and the only cleaning my brass got was from a wash in the Hornady fluid.

Can you notice anything going on in the tub when you turn yours on? Does the liquid move any or do your hear anything from the device as it generates sound waves?

If an ultrasonic cleaner is operating the surface of the water should be doing a good dance, and the machine case should be vibrating enough to feel. At least the ones I got to use in the nuke plant did. I set a sewing needle on the lid of one once, and it seemed to levitate above the lid.

N320AW · October 2014

Vibrating cleaner is the way to go:

Corn cob media for average dirty case,

Walnut media for REALLY cruddy cases . . .followed by corn cob.

Never used, or will I ever, use this sonic-cleaning stuff! $$$$$$

Big Chief · October 2014

There are a lot of homemade concoctions (instead of the expensive stuff) I read about when I had one using regular household supplies folks also use.

Gene L · October 2014

Think I'll stick with the vibratory polishing tub I have. I don't know the value of having the inside of the case free of carbon, and I can clean the primer pocket in about 5 seconds. I like my brass shiny.

Johnny reb · October 2014

I have a rcbs ultrasonic cleaner. I like mine it's quiet no dust doesn't take long. Yes the cleaner is 25-30 but you use so little it lasts forever. You can throw all you're small parts in one and clean them bolts, pistol barrels,you're wifes jewelry