Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

[remiglockoholic]

Hey Hide

The issue of the day (atleast for me that is) bought a hornady sonic cleaner used it once or twice got nice results, but yesterday i ventured on to wickenburg to hunt coyote and left about 50 pieces of brass in the Hornday Tank with its acidic solution for about 14hrs or so and now it appears as though the brass has rust lines on the body. A kinda orange tinge streaks runnig vertically along some of them. I think i'll toss them and replace them but wanted to know is there any rescuing these things.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

cut one in half and see how bad the inside looks. I would probably toss them.

 

[remiglockoholic]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

i tossed them and returned the hornady sonic cleaner, it worked well but i cant have cases being destroyed overnight. Bought a regular tumbler

 

[jonaddis84]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

What kind of acidic solution are you talking? If only 50/50 vinegar and water, I think you threw away perfectly fine brass, just with some surface discoloring. I wouldve run them in some clean water in the USC for 15 min before trashing.

If you run a piece of bare polished steel (ie 1911 barrel) in this 50/50 mix it will come out looking like it is all rusted also, but its fine, just needs wiped off with oil.

 

[vman]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

A problem does not exist with the equipment. If the operator does not adhere to proper methods/procedures how can you ensure your brass will still be fine?

IMO if you go from ultrasonic, to a walnut media tumbler, all because you didnt adhere to the cleaning method... you would be taking a big step back.

Its the same as powders... you dont leave them in your hopper once your finished loading. You put it back in its container.

 

[Rotortuner]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

Get an outlet timer, turn the sonic cleaner on, set the timer for how long you want to run it and it will automaticaly shut off if you forget about it. if you still want to get rid of the sonic cleaner let me know, I was getting ready to order one.

CJG

 

[zuke]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

Did you weigh them to see if any material had been removed?
Metal removal would be THE sign to me of damage, discolouration would not be.
Tried Stainless media yet?

 

[jonaddis84]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rotortuner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get an outlet timer, turn the sonic cleaner on, set the timer for how long you want to run it and it will automaticaly shut off if you forget about it. if you still want to get rid of the sonic cleaner let me know, I was getting ready to order one.

CJG </div></div>

It wasnt a matter of it still running, the machine has a timer built into it, he just left them sitting in the solution.

 

[remiglockoholic]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

You can find higher watt output machines online by gemology i believe for around 60$.. The hornady was about 100$ plus 24$ for the solution.

 

[remiglockoholic]

Re: Did i ruin my 60$ lapua brass?

I don't weigh cases now, im upgrading all my rifle components over the next few months so I'm just reloading to get the technique down and will develop lots as i get deeper into hand loading. But the fact that the brass itself didnt "feel" smooth anymore had me concerned so I may have carelessly tossed brass but as many others who remember starting out new to reloading "it's the cost of doing business" most people starting out are going to make some expensive or even somewhat careless errors, i happen to have realized watching over brass in a chemical solution is riskier and requires more energy than what i feel is needed. Treated walnut media is perfectly fine for the batches of 50 .308 cases and doesnt require constant checking.