Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
- Thread starter Aimsmall55
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Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
I tried the Hornady when it first came out. Just couldn't get into it. It might be great for cleaning your metal watch band but, IMHO, did not do the job I thought it should on brass.
I tried the Hornady when it first came out. Just couldn't get into it. It might be great for cleaning your metal watch band but, IMHO, did not do the job I thought it should on brass.
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
Wonder if it would be better if used in conjunction with a reg. media tumbler?? Really bought it for ar-15 and my bolt guns. Also cleaning primer pockets
Wonder if it would be better if used in conjunction with a reg. media tumbler?? Really bought it for ar-15 and my bolt guns. Also cleaning primer pockets
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
Doesn't do a great job on pockets, otherwise I like mine. Have since switched to stainless, but still use my sonic for various things.
Doesn't do a great job on pockets, otherwise I like mine. Have since switched to stainless, but still use my sonic for various things.
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
After trying a vibratory tumbler and corncob media, I now use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean my brass. The ultrasonic cleaner does a good job cleaning the inside of the case, the primer pocket, and the flash hole. My cleaning solution mixes 2 tablespoons of anhydrous (powdered) citric acid in 1 gallon of tap water, with a splash of dishwashing detergent (such as Dawn).
1. Fill the ultrasonic cleaner tank with tap water, to 1" below the maximum fill line.
2. Fill a 600ml Pyrex or Kimax laboratory beaker about half-way with cleaning solution.
3. Place the beaker in the tank and allow the cleaning solution to go through 4 8-minute cycles. This will "de-gassify" the solution and enhance its cleaning ability.
4. Place 25-30 sized and de-primed cases in the beaker and run for 3 8-minute cycles.
5. 1 8-minute bath using hot tap water.
6. 1 8-minute bath using distilled water.
7. Place cases (mouth up) in a loading block and permit to dry (air dry or hair blow dryer).
This works great for me.
After trying a vibratory tumbler and corncob media, I now use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean my brass. The ultrasonic cleaner does a good job cleaning the inside of the case, the primer pocket, and the flash hole. My cleaning solution mixes 2 tablespoons of anhydrous (powdered) citric acid in 1 gallon of tap water, with a splash of dishwashing detergent (such as Dawn).
1. Fill the ultrasonic cleaner tank with tap water, to 1" below the maximum fill line.
2. Fill a 600ml Pyrex or Kimax laboratory beaker about half-way with cleaning solution.
3. Place the beaker in the tank and allow the cleaning solution to go through 4 8-minute cycles. This will "de-gassify" the solution and enhance its cleaning ability.
4. Place 25-30 sized and de-primed cases in the beaker and run for 3 8-minute cycles.
5. 1 8-minute bath using hot tap water.
6. 1 8-minute bath using distilled water.
7. Place cases (mouth up) in a loading block and permit to dry (air dry or hair blow dryer).
This works great for me.
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
My Hornady is used solely to clean primer pockets. My recipe is...
1/2 water
1/2 white vinegar
Tablespoon of lemi-shime
Tablespoon of dish soap
4-5 cycles has all the carbon out of the primer pockets.
My Hornady is used solely to clean primer pockets. My recipe is...
1/2 water
1/2 white vinegar
Tablespoon of lemi-shime
Tablespoon of dish soap
4-5 cycles has all the carbon out of the primer pockets.
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
I just got done with a batch of 85 lapua .308 cases and I must say I was impressed how clean the primer pockets were. Inside was pretty fair also. Now can any body give me advice on bolts. I have a gap crusader but there's no way in hell I'm putting any part of that rig in there without some advice. For example the bolt is cerekoted in od green. Will that ruin the finish of the bolt??
I just got done with a batch of 85 lapua .308 cases and I must say I was impressed how clean the primer pockets were. Inside was pretty fair also. Now can any body give me advice on bolts. I have a gap crusader but there's no way in hell I'm putting any part of that rig in there without some advice. For example the bolt is cerekoted in od green. Will that ruin the finish of the bolt??
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
I do quite a bit of cleaning of bolt bodies for fluting and coating. My go to cleaner is CRC automotive brake cleaner. Plenty of pressure to blast out the grit and grime. I have not damaged any Cerakote with it. Hope this helps.
Regards, Paul
I do quite a bit of cleaning of bolt bodies for fluting and coating. My go to cleaner is CRC automotive brake cleaner. Plenty of pressure to blast out the grit and grime. I have not damaged any Cerakote with it. Hope this helps.
Regards, Paul
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
I got the equivalent to the smaller Hornady LNL sonic cleaner, mine is called GemOro or something like that (got if off Amazon for $60!).
I'm very happy with how mine cleans. Like any new tool, there's a learning curve to finding out run times and which mixtures work for you. I'm so happy with mine that I don't even use the vibe anymore except for polishing brass and/or removing case lube.
My process:
1) Universal decap
2) Sonic clean for 3 480 sec cycles (mine automatically enforces a cool-down cycle after 3, and by then the cases look great anyway. I might try 2 cycles on my clean cases just to see, but some filthy range find definitely needs all 3 cycles.)
3) Case prep, incl sizing
4) vibe in the media if I had to lube
5) load
I'm using a mix with 50/50 distilled water and white vinegar, and 1 tbsp dish soap. Vinegar corrodes copper, so a thorough rinsing is in order after the cleaning. I tried baking soda soaks after I rinsed, but got no reaction which indicates my rinsing was adequate in removing vinegar, so I've since stopped the baking soda routine and just go straight to drying. In my Aridzona garage, laying cases on a towel or in a box for 10 minutes meant they were dry, but here in GA I run a box fan over them for around an hour to finish drying them.
That was the long way of saying that I'm very happy with my sonic cleaner, but you need to experiment with a method that works for you.
I got the equivalent to the smaller Hornady LNL sonic cleaner, mine is called GemOro or something like that (got if off Amazon for $60!).
I'm very happy with how mine cleans. Like any new tool, there's a learning curve to finding out run times and which mixtures work for you. I'm so happy with mine that I don't even use the vibe anymore except for polishing brass and/or removing case lube.
My process:
1) Universal decap
2) Sonic clean for 3 480 sec cycles (mine automatically enforces a cool-down cycle after 3, and by then the cases look great anyway. I might try 2 cycles on my clean cases just to see, but some filthy range find definitely needs all 3 cycles.)
3) Case prep, incl sizing
4) vibe in the media if I had to lube
5) load
I'm using a mix with 50/50 distilled water and white vinegar, and 1 tbsp dish soap. Vinegar corrodes copper, so a thorough rinsing is in order after the cleaning. I tried baking soda soaks after I rinsed, but got no reaction which indicates my rinsing was adequate in removing vinegar, so I've since stopped the baking soda routine and just go straight to drying. In my Aridzona garage, laying cases on a towel or in a box for 10 minutes meant they were dry, but here in GA I run a box fan over them for around an hour to finish drying them.
That was the long way of saying that I'm very happy with my sonic cleaner, but you need to experiment with a method that works for you.
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
Can I use the gun cleaning solution to clean some of my dies?? Not my redding comp dies but I have some lee dies that need cleaning. Will it hurt them??
Can I use the gun cleaning solution to clean some of my dies?? Not my redding comp dies but I have some lee dies that need cleaning. Will it hurt them??
Re: Hornady sonic case cleaner ..good?
I've done it. Just get all the water off and oil them - oil "sticks" and will flush water from the pores.
I've done it. Just get all the water off and oil them - oil "sticks" and will flush water from the pores.
