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Sonic cleaner Vs Wet Tumbler

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  • Younggun

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    Probably gonna have to replace my vibratory tumbler in the next year or so and considering changing methods.

    Looking for pros/cons and advantages of sonic cleaners and wet tumbling with stainless pins. Will be cleaning brass from 9mm to .50 BMG.

    Also considering the large vibratory tumbler at HF. Currently I can only clean about 10 pieces of BMG brass at a time in a standard sized vibratory.
    DK Firearms
     

    dee

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    Probably gonna have to replace my vibratory tumbler in the next year or so and considering changing methods.

    Looking for pros/cons and advantages of sonic cleaners and wet tumbling with stainless pins. Will be cleaning brass from 9mm to .50 BMG.

    Also considering the large vibratory tumbler at HF. Currently I can only clean about 10 pieces of BMG brass at a time in a standard sized vibratory.
    I run ultrasonic. It doesn't get the brass overly shiny. They are clean but have a dullish/tarnished finish. Plus side is I can have them clean and dry within 30min.
     

    Dawico

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    Videos I have seen of the HF units in action are not impressive.

    Sonic sucks at cleaning the primer pockets but I only use soap and water, not that fancy solution. Plus I like shiny brass.

    If I was looking now I would go wet w/ pins but I am very happy with my dry tumbler.
     

    Younggun

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    Main reason I was leaning towards HF was the size. I can clean as much as I need in a batch of pistol brass or most any rifle. Just takes forever to do really large brass 10 at a time. My tumbler is beside my bench also so when I'm tumbling all the other reloading stops.


    I'd probably be a minimalist when it comes to cleaning solutions for any method.
     

    Dawico

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    I set my tumbler on the back porch and let it run all night. Man the brass comes out shiny and I don't have to listen to it run.

    I do have an expensive ThumblersTumbler but only because I got a great deal on it.

    The Frankfort I had 10 years ago worked well. My mom still uses it to shine up coins.

    I had a Hornady that worked well too. I bought a big Lyman tumbler and it died way too early.
     

    dee

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    This how mine come out of the ultrasonic. I use lemi shine and distilled water. Gets everything clean inside and out.
    3a84e00f004897ffabafafaa99ac037b.jpg
     

    Younggun

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    What size is your ultrasonic?

    How many BMG cases do you think it could handle?
     

    Dawico

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    This is my bigger RCBS untrasonic.

    I think you could clean 50 at a time but I am not sure how well they get clean while stacked. Yes, those are 50 BMG rounds.
    035a1fb40f0594ccbf7a3e3f9c681eb0.jpg
    ca154ba605fcb0911dad035ce0dc28d9.jpg
     

    dee

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    Mine's the really small unit from harbor freight. I bought it as an initial trial. It would likely only do 10-15 bmg. I typically stack 25 in the basket at a time. I'll see if I can post a before and after pic here in a bit. I'm about to size and clean a few.
     

    Younggun

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    Do you replace the solution after each cleaning?

    Looks like I'd need the larger model for BMG brass. May look for a larger HF model though, I'm sure the RCBS and similar will be more simply based on firearms specific marketing.
     

    dee

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    Do you replace the solution after each cleaning?

    Looks like I'd need the larger model for BMG brass. May look for a larger HF model though, I'm sure the RCBS and similar will be more simply based on firearms specific marketing.
    About every 200-300rds.

    I would go for a larger model as well.
     

    dee

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    No problem. Like I said I use lemi shine vs using the premade solutions. The factory lyman solution is pretty good if you want store mixed stuff.
     

    Army 1911

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    BiggDawg (spelling) makes great wet tumblers similar to that is SCS's photo. Mine does 650 .45 cases at a time. They also have larger tubes. Their tubes have vanes inside that tumble the brass and pins more than just rotating it.

    Dawn and Lemishine is the solution to like new brass.

    Deprime first for the cleanest primer pockets since ....well ever.
     

    ScS

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    NCM_0164.JPG
    I got some ideas from the dawg and others. I can do 600 223s but the limit in measured by weight of pins. Done right the pins should weigh more than the brass. I have 10# of pins, so I limit brass to 8#.
     
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