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Your take on ultrasonic cleaners
- Thread starter PAMom
- Start date
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subtlesixer03
Expert
- Apr 22, 2010
- 896
- 18
Im am wondering this as well. midwayusa has the hornady one on sale for $80 this month I believe. My house is small and the last thing I need making more noise is a tumbler.
I have often wondered, could I take 4 or 5 ..... uh... things that vibrate and hang them over the edge of a bucket full of cleaning fluid and see what happens the next day?
Would the fluid damage the rubber / latex? most likely.
hmm.
There has to be a cheap way of doing this.
Would the fluid damage the rubber / latex? most likely.
hmm.
There has to be a cheap way of doing this.
If you read this recent thread some people really like them.
I personally use a tumbler and the noise doesn't bother me because it is out in the garage.
https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/ammunition_and_reloading/179869-sonic_cleaners.html
I personally use a tumbler and the noise doesn't bother me because it is out in the garage.
https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/ammunition_and_reloading/179869-sonic_cleaners.html
Last edited:
I also commented in the other thread, which covers a lot of ground.
I use the Hornady Magnum unit. (I think they might be coming up with an even bigger unit early next year?) But if you're going to get one, it seems to be worth it to use one with a temperature control. They work better when the water is hot.
If you're worried about noise, be aware that the ultra sonic makes noise too. Not nearly as much as a tumbler, but some. Though it's white noise and is easy to tune out.
As I said in the other thread, they're fine for cleaning brass, especially primer pockets. But they are great for gun parts.
I use the Hornady Magnum unit. (I think they might be coming up with an even bigger unit early next year?) But if you're going to get one, it seems to be worth it to use one with a temperature control. They work better when the water is hot.
If you're worried about noise, be aware that the ultra sonic makes noise too. Not nearly as much as a tumbler, but some. Though it's white noise and is easy to tune out.
As I said in the other thread, they're fine for cleaning brass, especially primer pockets. But they are great for gun parts.
Take standard ultrasonic cleaner. Use water and Dawn dish detergent. Cases are clean in about 8 minutes and "completely" clean in about 30 minutes. "Completely" meaning that almost all trace of black residue is gone from inside and primer pocket.
Now, you have to rinse and dry your cases.
Take standard tumbler and 20/40 corn. Cases are clean in 15-30 minutes. Even if you leave cases in for 24 hours, the black residue, that causes absolutely no problems, will still be there.
Out of the tumbler, you will have fairly shiny cases.
Out of US cleaner, you will have clean cases.
Both activities are far in excess of any cleaning needed for perfect function and accuracy.
Problem I see on several US cleaners is that they only run for 8 minutes, max, and you would have to keep turning them back on.
The use of citric acid/LemoShine speeds up cleaning.
I don't use any high acid content cleaner as the acid can leach out zinc from the brass.
Also, in general, don't go for the largest tumbler/cleaner. You should be cleaning your cases after each range session, so 2-300 cases should be all you need to clean at one time.
Tumblers required sorted brass, of the cases tend to trap smaller cases.
US cleaners do not require sorted brass, but you will need to sort the brass at some point.
Simply putting cases into boiling water with Dawn, turning off the heat, and letting them soak overnight will do a lot of what the US cleaners do--and you probably already have a pot to boil water in.
Now, you have to rinse and dry your cases.
Take standard tumbler and 20/40 corn. Cases are clean in 15-30 minutes. Even if you leave cases in for 24 hours, the black residue, that causes absolutely no problems, will still be there.
Out of the tumbler, you will have fairly shiny cases.
Out of US cleaner, you will have clean cases.
Both activities are far in excess of any cleaning needed for perfect function and accuracy.
Problem I see on several US cleaners is that they only run for 8 minutes, max, and you would have to keep turning them back on.
The use of citric acid/LemoShine speeds up cleaning.
I don't use any high acid content cleaner as the acid can leach out zinc from the brass.
Also, in general, don't go for the largest tumbler/cleaner. You should be cleaning your cases after each range session, so 2-300 cases should be all you need to clean at one time.
Tumblers required sorted brass, of the cases tend to trap smaller cases.
US cleaners do not require sorted brass, but you will need to sort the brass at some point.
Simply putting cases into boiling water with Dawn, turning off the heat, and letting them soak overnight will do a lot of what the US cleaners do--and you probably already have a pot to boil water in.
Sorry for the repeat thread. Apparently my search skills need refined.
Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions and links. I currently do the hot water/Dawn soaking method, so I really don't mind the drying time. Since I am a perfectionist, I clean the primer pockets by hand. I know this freaks my husband out, too.
Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions and links. I currently do the hot water/Dawn soaking method, so I really don't mind the drying time. Since I am a perfectionist, I clean the primer pockets by hand. I know this freaks my husband out, too.
The Keymaster
Master
The only thing I use my ultrasonic for is my 5.7 x 28 brass. That brass is lacquer coated, and cannot be tumbled. Everything else goes in the tumbler.
