How does the Hornady m-2 cleaner work? Any others I should look at?

I do not have that brand but would imagine it works as well or better than any other. I have Lyman but they are all pretty much the same.

50 reviews on Midway seem to like it.

M-2 Case Tumbler 110 Volt

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Still Running Against the Wind

50 reviews on Midway seem to like it.

M-2 Case Tumbler 110 Volt[/QUOTE]

I have 2 Lyman Turbo Pro 1200's. One feature I like about the Hornaday is it comes with 2 lids, one slotted. I think I will make 2 slotted lids for mine. Would make for some handy media dumping with vibration to boot!

I see that Midway has them on sale to boot.

Thanks to both of you for the Midway information. Getting an order ready.

One thing that I recommend is if it has a slotted top/cover. Take some Duct tape and cover it on the top and bottom. It is a real hazard (IMHO) to have a open top while tumbling. All the dust full of lead and other toxic crud will fly out into the surrounding area. So if you use it a room or basement you will have build up of toxins all over. I use mine in the garage with the door open and use a shell sorter/sifter outside to remove the media.

If it has a solid top, you are good to go but still would not use it inside the home.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have been using a Dillon vibratory tumbler/cleaner, Walnut media along with their polishing fluid for 30+ years and has always worked for me. Since this method of cleaning brass is not very high tech, I would suspect that pretty much any reputable brand of equipment would work well. I will tell you that Dillon has the BEST customer service and no BS lifetime guarantee on their products, (not sure if it does cover electric motors though).

Chief38

I have a Hornady M-2 tumbler and I really like it. It works as good as my Dillon tumbler and cost alot less.

I have noticed that many forum members use tumblers-vibrators, etc to clean their brass. I have always favored a liquid case cleaner, and have gotten acceptable results using the commercial products available, but lately I have been looking around for an alternative to these relatively expensive products, wanting the cases a little cleaner than these products seem to get them.Some of these commercial cleaners require hazmat shipping, I think I remember. Anyway, I came across a thread discussing different things that can be mixed up at home, and I have gotten some positive results using citric acid, and Castrol Super Clean mixed with hot water. I am recording my results, and for the first attempt, I used 1/8 cup of citric acid, and 1/8 cup super clean in apx a gallon of hot water. I am using pool chemical jugs that are for 3 inch chlorine tabs, that I have THOROUGHLY cleaned. I put water in to the top of the lable-a little more than half full-and then add the two ingrediants, and mix them around a little. Then I put a couple hundred 45ACP cases that were pretty putrid in the solution, closed the lid tight, and shook the fire out of the whole thing. I opened the top after just a minute or so, and dipped out a few cases, and the results were amazing, even in that short a time. I decided that I would leave them in for 5 minutes on this first test, shaking them vigorously several times. After 5 minutes, I put an identical top on the jug that I had punched a series of 1/4 inch holes across 1/2 of the lid, and used this to pour off the chemicals into an I dentical jug, so I could keep the solution to see if it retained its strength-and how long;I will test it in a week or so. I took the drained jug with the brass in it and put fresh hot water in it, shook it good, and poured it out, and followed this with 2-3 cold water rinses, shaking it each time, and then dumped the brass on a cloth to dry over night. This brass was real dirty, some of it had been fired multiple times, and I use Unique. Most had been lubed with that Lee stuff that the whole bullet is rolled in, and they had all been fired out of revolvers-I threw the moon clips in with the brass. The change was dramatic. The brass looks like onced fired stuff that is in good shape. I will try a little more chemicals, and a little more time each time I clean brass until I don't see improvement that warants an increase, if there is an increase at all! Whether the stuff lasts and can be re-used will be interesting to see, but the cost of what I did today is so rediculously cheap, that I don't care; I've found my case cleaner. If you decide to try this, it's your call. I suggest you look at the ingredients and make a decision as to whether this is something you want to do, but always use all appropriate safety measures. Go safely. Flapjack.

You are mixing a Acid (Citric) and a Alkaline solution together, If you have not checked the MSDS of the Castrol a FYI. I would think it not brass friendly over time. Mixing a Lye containing product with a acid can cause serious health issues.

http://deltaindustrial.com/MSDS/Clea...SuperClean.pdf

The basic solution of several cups of white vinegar a few tablespoons of salt and a drop or so of dish soap mixed with water makes a pretty good cleaner that is safe and cheap.

No,you will not need sunglasses for a bright shine but certainly clean enough.

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Still Running Against the Wind

An old crock pot cooker with 1 or 2 teaspoons of citric acid crystals, soaked for a few hours, stirring periodically, works well. If de-primed first, the pockets are clean.

2 or 3 tablespoons citric acid in a quart of hot water, add brass, soak and stir for 2 minutes, rinse 2 - 3 times in clean water, dry. Re-use solution if needed. Quick, simple, cheap way to clean brass.

I appreciate the feedback, and I will certainly considder other combinations, but keep in mind that I used 1/8 cup of each in a gallon of water. That is a tiny ammount of each, and I rinsed them real good. I think the rinsing is very important. I just brought them in after drying over night, and they look great, and are much cleaner inside as well. Thanks for the thoughts. Flapjack.

I use a Harbor Freight vibratory tumbler along with crushed walnut media and a coupla used dryer sheets.Nice shiny,clean brass,who could ask for more?.

There seems to be two versions of the Castrol out there. One says biodegradable. On your version what is the "signal" word on the container???

"Caution, Warning or Danger" If it is Danger a taste to a teaspoon call kill a person.! or cause severe eye damage.

Regardless, there are safer alternatives than mixing chemicals, just the mild acids, citric, vinegar work well.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have reloaded for 30 years and used Mid way and other but none will beat the new Lyman Turbo Sonic case cleaner!! My wife got me one for me and boy do I wish I had one away before now. I cleaned over 1600 40 and 9mm in about 1hr and was load them in 45min when they was dry. You do not hear it run 8min per 800rd a lot less ELT and faster they look new when done.

Hi again-I read the link that was posted, and thank you again. They don't want you to get this stuff in your eyes, or inhale it, and of course, like most non-food items, they don't want you to swallow it! 1/8 cup = 2 tablespoons-that's how much of each ingredient was in a gallon of hot water-not much! I have used super clean since it came out years ago-and I have gotten a nose full of the fumes while using it outside on automotive applications, and it will definitely dry out the skin on your hands if you get it-or leave it on there, but so will the citric acid, and it's a food product, like white vineger (acid). The link's only dangerous rating was from ingesting the stuff. We have to keep kids and animals away from all kinds of chemicals, etc, but I would estimate that many of us use and handle much scarier stuff than this on a regular basis without much of a thought. I read the exstensive list of uses on the lable, and it looks like I am somewhere in the mix with my application; the only admonition is to make sure it is well rinsed from metal. I am not advocating this solution, as I said, that is up to the individual, so I don't see the need for a protracted discussion. If you want to considder a dangerous material, maybe we should all be more careful handling lead. Annie Oakley died of lead poisoning, after yaers of handling bullets. Thanks again for your thoughts. Flapjack.

Yes, there are many toxic things in our everyday world. If it is the product I posted the MSDS for, Sodium Hydroxide (AKA Lye) with a LD50 of 40mg/kg is dangerous stuff.

So with anything, use at your own risk.

Be safe.

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Still Running Against the Wind