How do you clean your brass?

[Chief]

I am using a Frankford arsenal tumbler,which I have had for years.
It works well enough,but I am considering getting something else.
Which is why I am posting here.
What are you using,why,is it better than tumbling,and so on?
I`m thinking ultrasonic,or mayhaps that stainless steel thingie that seems to be all the rage now.

[UPEgger]

I use a Thumblers Tumbler. The media is small stainless steel pins(.040" x .250"). I use 5lbs of the "pins" and a couple cups of water. I can easily do 200 of the 223Rem cases at a time. If I remember correctly I let them tumble for approx 2 hours. Been a while since i have cleaned brass. The drawback with this method is you have to dry the brass afterward. I use a board with 3" finishing nails and let the cartridges air dry. Some folks are using their oven with very low temps and a cookie sheet. The cases do look beautiful when finished. Carl L.

[pagosawingnut]

Lyman Tumbler with ground corn cob or crushed walnut shells. Works great and I don't have to dry the cases. I do have to check the primer flash hole for obstructions afterward and clear them but it's the only drawback I have found.

[hannu.k]

if i clean, i dont do this before its needed, i use a ultrasonic cleaner , and phosfor acid (think coca cola )

if a want shiny brass, i use brasso

[ROdell]

I use a Lyman tumbler with a Berry's bowl (it has a clear lid so I can watch them go round and round). I use the Lyman treated walnut shells and get a very fine finish. Everyone knows if you look good (shiny brass) you'll shoot good, right?

I also have an ultrasonic cleaner, I use it from time to time. I'm more likely to use it for gun parts than I am brass, although it works reasonably well. If one is going to use a "wet" process, you can't beat the stainless steel pins. That leaves the brass clean inside and out, including the primer pockets.

[stokesrj]

The stainless media is by far more effective than corn cob or walnut in a vibratory and ultrasonic. It does have a learning curve but once you get there it's worth it and you will never want to go back.
Bob

[Dom]

For years I tumbled in a Midway vibratory with dry media.

Then I switched to the Stainless Steel Pins in a Thumblers tumbler and never looked back. I first knock out all the primers with a universal deprimer, and let em run for 3 hours in the Thumblers (5lbs SST Pins, Water, pinch of Lemi Shine, 2 Tablespoons dishsoap). Cases come out like new inside and out, and the selling point is the primer pockets are also clean so that eliminates that PIA step.

Since this is a wet method, after rinsing I lay them all out in a line on paper towels and take a hair dryer to blow them dry.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

BEFORE


AFTER

[icebug]

Dom, where can I get a Thumler's Tumbler in Germany?

[Pigeon]

a bit of citric acid for 30 minutes in my supersonic cleaner... Like new! Just some water stains

[Dom]

Dom, where can I get a Thumler's Tumbler in Germany?

I do not think there is a Handler in Germany. I got mine direct from them, I see they now offer a 240v model, mine is 110v so I have to use a transformer. Now they have a kit where you get everything you need, I had to get Lemi Shine separately. Also, they offer two size pins, mine are the .041 size and work just fine. Not the cheapest outfit, but does a fantastic job and the pins last forever. Lemi shine and dish soap is the only expense (& some electricity), and they will do many loads.

http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/s ... age-2.html

[Grumulkin]

I also use a Thumler's Tumbler and stainless steel pins.

[Gun Barrel Ecologist]

I use a Lyman tumbler with the red "tuff nut" media followed by a quick wash in the ultrasonic to remove the red residue from the media.

The first cycles in the ultrasonic are with morning fresh dishwashing detergent, the next ones with clean water to rinse.

To speed up drying I immerse the cases in methylated spirits to displace the water and then allow them to dry on bamboo satay skewers held in a large jam jar - I should make up a drying rack

Because I use Hornady case lube I also tend to bung them through the ultrasonic after resizing.

On the topic of steel pins, are these only usable in a Thumler?

[Saugmann]

I started out using a tumbler with corn media.

I switched to ultrasonic cleaning when that got popular.

I was close to getting a tumbler with stainless steel media. After talking to a serious F-class shooter I followed his advice and switched to steel wool.

I use a case holder on an electric screwdriver. I use a bit of hand held steel wool on the outside and steel wool on a brush for inside of the case neck.

It's faster than when I used my ultrasonic cleaner, but of course I'm working each case. I just found the whole process of using the ultrasonic, including drying cases etc, slightly annoying. Steel wool works for me



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[deerhunter338mag]

Aldi ultrasonic cleaner $25 AUD then in the Lyman tumbler to help dry them out completely. I did try vinegar but I got sick of the fish & chip smell just got the Lyman Turbo Sonic Case Cleaning Solution and it works fantastic.