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Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

Twisted .308

Twisted .308

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 1, 2011
301
3
62
South Tx. in a van , down by the river
I have a Lyman Turbo media tumbler ( it's a small tumbler )...using basic media in it right now ...Thinking of getting a Sonic Cleaner ??? or maybe using Stainless Steel media ???

Question is ...are the Sonic Cleaners the Cats Azz ?? After the cases have been cleaned by the solution ...what else has to be done ??
Thinking of getting one of these if it's worth it and not alot of hassle
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

SS is easy, cleans brass spotless, but from a pure accuracy point dirty brass shoots better, I use SS media to clean blasting ammo brass(AR15 and Pistol), my precision rifle brass is tumbled in Walnut media, necks brushed out, but not polished, the left over carbon aids in consistent bullet release, ie lower spread between shots.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

^^^+1

I have used the stainless method for a year and I find it to be superior to sonic and vibratory cleaning.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

+1 for stainless. I'm not a good enough shooter to know whether the absence of leftover carbon is causing any issues for me as far as consistent bullet release is concerned.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted .308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a Lyman Turbo media tumbler ( it's a small tumbler )...using basic media in it right now ...Thinking of getting a Sonic Cleaner ??? or maybe using Stainless Steel media ???

Question is ...are the Sonic Cleaners the Cats Azz ?? After the cases have been cleaned by the solution ...what else has to be done ??
Thinking of getting one of these if it's worth it and not alot of hassle </div></div>

Hopefully you do realize that stainless steel media is a wet process and not compatible with your Turbo tumbler....
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

I use the ultrasonic cleaner, a couple of 600ml Kimax/Pyrex beakers and a solution of anhydrous citric acid, distilled water and Dawn dishwashing soap. It works fine. The cases are cleaned inside and out, including the primer pockets. This is an issue largely of personal preference, and I prefer the ultrasonic cleaner.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted .308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...if it's worth it and not alot of hassle ...</div></div>

By far the least hassle method is what you're doing now. You dump the brass into the tub, wait, dump it in the separator, and it's ready to go.

Wet processes are definitely more hassle, and the stainless is definitley more hassle than sonic.

With stainless:

- Dump brass in tumbler
- dispense lemishine
- dispense soad
- dispense water
- tighten 6 nuts
- wait
- loosen 6 nuts
- flick extra pins back into the water
- dump out tumbler into separator
- add more water
- spin
- remove squirrel cage
- decant water
- dump pins back into tumbler
- add more water to separator
- dump out rest of pins into tumbler
- spin squirrel cage more to fling off more water
- dump into dryer, or lay out on towel to dry

None of this is "hard", but it is certainly a "hassle"... However, stunningly bright shiny brass with perfectly clean primer pockets is addictive.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BirdEyes</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted .308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a Lyman Turbo media tumbler ( it's a small tumbler )...using basic media in it right now ...Thinking of getting a Sonic Cleaner ??? or maybe using Stainless Steel media ???

Question is ...are the Sonic Cleaners the Cats Azz ?? After the cases have been cleaned by the solution ...what else has to be done ??
Thinking of getting one of these if it's worth it and not alot of hassle </div></div>

Hopefully you do realize that stainless steel media is a wet process and not compatible with your Turbo tumbler.... </div></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold">No I did not ! Thanks !</span>
And for what I am doing I guess its not worth the extra hassle to change ...I usually toss in the brass and turn tumbler on to run overnight or longer till I get back off work , it works good just wanted a faster way to clean ..( better mousetrap ?? LOL )
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

Just find a buddy with the STM system and give your brass to them, and get it back after it is all cleaned. That way you will be just like all my friends and not have to do anything to have clean brass:) Drop it off dirty, pick it up clean. They will tell you that is by far the best system out there.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

"Best" of anything is opinion and our opinions differ depending on what each guy wants. No one would prefer second or third best so if there was a best of anything it would capture the market and all others would disappear.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skyking</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just find a buddy with the STM system and give your brass to them, and get it back after it is all cleaned. That way you will be just like all my friends and not have to do anything to have clean brass:) Drop it off dirty, pick it up clean. They will tell you that is by far the best system out there. </div></div>

My partner uses that method, except he gets his brass back sized, SSM cleaned, trimmed via Giraud and soon, annealed via Giraud.

He pays me in primers.

He is *very* happy with this method.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

I've tried them all,stainless is the best.
smile.gif
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

I agree with Stainless if you want new looking brass. I still use vibratory tumbler for handgun as it is a little easier and I do not deprime handgun brass.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

I just use crushed walnut shells (about $25/50 pounds at industrial safety supply) and run them in the Thumbler's tumbler for 24 hours or so with the primers in. It only cleans the outside, and the extra step is running the decapped shells on a brush rotating in a drill I clamp into my bench vice. It is stlll alot less steps than messing with steel pins media. The used walnut shells with the nitrates goes into the garden for flowers.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

I use RCBS tumbler with kitty litter a commercial media, with a dryer sheet to keep media cleaner.

Dad has ultrasonic cleaner and likes it. I haven't tried it

I keep throwing around idea about getting another tumbler and SS. Don't know yet.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

Twist...I've tried tumbling with cob/walnut media (everything in the room was covered with media dust), sonic (works but not as time efficient as tumbling IMO) went back to tumbling but with treated dry rice from the grocery store. Now I'm never out of media and no dust.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

In my experience, using a cheap homemade ultrasonic solution will clean cruft from deeper places than a tumbler, it will not get everything. I end up tumbling after ultrasound anyway to polish away water spots (personal pref).

The single fear I have of SS media, is if you ever leave media in the brass (caught in a flash hole), the media will destroy your barrel when fired, but this is extremely rare, so grain of salt...
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LastManOut</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Twist...I've tried tumbling with cob/walnut media (everything in the room was covered with media dust), sonic (works but not as time efficient as tumbling IMO) went back to tumbling but with treated dry rice from the grocery store. Now I'm never out of media and no dust.
</div></div>
This sounds interesting ! may have to grab a bag of rice or two and give it a try ...
Thanks
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

Stainless hands down.
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

Just got my stainless media and tumbler last week and man I don't know why I waited so damn long to switch over to stainless steel media...do it, you won't regret it!!!
 
Re: Best Brass Cleaning Method ??

I 1st wash my brass in a citric acid/vinegar/dish soap solution and then tumble. I've tried treated walnut, gound corncob, and rice and all three would get stuck in the flash hole so I went back to treated walnut.

I'd love to have an ultrasonic cleaner but can't "afford" a good one like a Crest or Branson but a friend of mine has one and swears by it. He uses his for cleaning gun parts. I watched him take apart an extremely fouled suppressor one day and put the parts in his Crest. It wasn't very long (10-20 minutes) and the parts were spotless and looked brand new. I'm not sure on how well the cheaper ones work but from everything I've read, it depends on your pods.

I plan on making a homemade stainless media tumbler (notice I said "plan"
whistle.gif
) 'cause I do like the shiny brass!
 
The pot scrubber setting works well and let air dry, its much cheaper than the olive oil and hydrochloric acid used by the Italians.

brass_washer_zps0a008878.jpg
 
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