Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading
o

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-04-2021, 03:37 PM
Speedo2 Speedo2 is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Western Phraudsylvania
Posts: 1,670
Likes: 836
Liked 1,237 Times in 449 Posts
Default Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*

I ran into an old acquaintance at the range yesterday, a guy that I'd worked with at the local nuc plant and a person that I'd had a lot of respect for. Anyways, he had cobbled together a device that was pretty ingenious that I thought I'd share with this intrepid forum. It was a portable vacuum used to pick up brass. He called it his BRASS SNATCHER.

Basically it was/is a 20V Milwaukee battery powered vacuum that he'd removed it's filter bag and hogged-out its inlet a bit, with a couple of rigid tube inlet extenders fixed to its inlet. The brass was collected in its cyclone separator and thereby didn't go through its impeller. Its tank would hold around 200-300 9mm cases and he didn't have to do the chicken dance to pick up his brass. Since he was shooting a Mac-9, he had deposited much brass on the ground, and since he was a bit of a geezer (like me), he wasn't wrecking his back in the process.

He said that he had around $125 in it. He could probably put a snazzy sticker on it and market it to Franklin or somebody and make a small fortune. He demonstrated that it would pick up anything up to 223 brass. Anyways, I'm going to build one to save my own back. Photos at 11 (or sometime). -S2

Last edited by Speedo2; 09-13-2021 at 02:28 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-04-2021, 04:23 PM
Krogen's Avatar
Krogen Krogen is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 2,889
Likes: 8,818
Liked 5,227 Times in 1,841 Posts
Default

Looking forward to the photos. This sounds like a great idea.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-04-2021, 05:20 PM
kraynky's Avatar
kraynky kraynky is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 3,081
Likes: 11,368
Liked 5,118 Times in 1,946 Posts
Default

I don't have any electricity down at my range, so I use a wire basket (originally used to pick up walnuts) that I ordered from Dillon Precision. It occasionally picks up a stick or acorn, but it sure saves my back. Seems like it was about $40 bucks or so.

I would like to see pictures of the brass vac though. Sounds neat.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-04-2021, 10:34 PM
ArchAngelCD's Avatar
ArchAngelCD ArchAngelCD is offline
Moderator
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeast PA, USA
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 1,029
Liked 5,070 Times in 2,660 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kraynky View Post
I don't have any electricity down at my range, so I use a wire basket (originally used to pick up walnuts) that I ordered from Dillon Precision. It occasionally picks up a stick or acorn, but it sure saves my back. Seems like it was about $40 bucks or so.

I would like to see pictures of the brass vac though. Sounds neat.
The OP said the vac is battery powered so no electricity needed at the range.

It does sound cool, waiting on the pics...
__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Last edited by ArchAngelCD; 09-04-2021 at 10:35 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-05-2021, 09:13 AM
Ron IL's Avatar
Ron IL Ron IL is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Liked 127 Times in 48 Posts
Default

That sounds like a brilliant idea. I use the picking up brass as an exercise to keep my back working. But one of these days I will have to quit that. It would also be good for picking up all of those aluminum cases. Our range is almost an aluminum carpet. Between those and the pea gravel that is the floor, the walnut basket did not work very good. If a guy could find one of those at a yard sale for a couple bucks. hmmm
__________________
Ron
Southern IL
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-05-2021, 01:40 PM
boatbum101 boatbum101 is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Pensacola,FL
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 4,198
Liked 998 Times in 536 Posts
Default

I put a plastic shower curtain down beforehand . Easy to fold up @ end of the day .
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #7  
Old 09-05-2021, 02:36 PM
AJ's Avatar
AJ AJ is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
Posts: 9,404
Likes: 4,871
Liked 20,868 Times in 6,322 Posts
Default

It sounds like a great idea.
__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-05-2021, 02:49 PM
jag22 jag22 is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dallas
Posts: 701
Likes: 3
Liked 356 Times in 212 Posts
Default

Sounds nice but it means one more trip back to the car. I keep a small towel in my range bag, when it’s time to go I sweep everything in a pile, fold up the towel to be nice pad and go down on one knee to pick everything up. No bending over, much easier on the back.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 09-05-2021, 07:37 PM
Johnnu2 Johnnu2 is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NYS
Posts: 635
Likes: 0
Liked 989 Times in 362 Posts
Default

At my range, they use a long handle broom and a 'dust pan' also on a long handle.... I think it's been in use for about 75 years.... but it still works.

You gotta love his ingenuity though.....
J.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-06-2021, 01:39 PM
mikld's Avatar
mikld mikld is online now
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: S. Orygun
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 1,962
Liked 1,827 Times in 987 Posts
Default

I don't think it would work for me as I shoot outdoors. The "range" is dirt with rocks and trash that would get picked up too. Same with the "nut collector", I'd get 10% brass and 90% rocks and shotgun shells. So to save my back I made my "case picker upper". I used an old squegee telescoping handle and a piece of spring steel rod, 1/8" dia, tapered and 1" or so, bent 90 degrees. attached the rod to the "working end" of the handle and it telescopes down to about 36" and lives in the bed of my truck. I walk around and "hook" brass and deposit it in a coffee can in my other hand. A broom stick with a rod stuck in one end will work just as well...

Last edited by mikld; 09-07-2021 at 12:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-07-2021, 09:41 PM
Engineer1911's Avatar
Engineer1911 Engineer1911 is offline
US Veteran
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 6,113
Likes: 6,644
Liked 6,156 Times in 2,666 Posts
Default

I shoot revolvers, don't have to bend over for anything. Bolt rifles deposit brass on the bench. Ar-15 has a brass deflector that tosses everything into a 20" circle on the ground.

My brass "group" is smaller than some of the other shooter's groups with scoped rifles -- just sayin' ! ! ! !
__________________
S&WHF 366
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-13-2021, 02:46 PM
Speedo2 Speedo2 is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Western Phraudsylvania
Posts: 1,670
Likes: 836
Liked 1,237 Times in 449 Posts
Default

Update w/ pics:

Here's the Milwaukee vacuum. The device itself was $120, but with battery and charger it added up to around $210:

It does pick up a lot of dirt, 22's and aluminum:

I found it best to dump the container onto a bench, then hand separate the debris from the brass that I wanted to save, and then sweeping the remaining debris into a trash can.

My recovery rate was around 94%, but more then made up for my losses with other range pick-ups. I picked up around 2lbs of stray brass in about 15 minutes without hurting my back. "Payback" should be around 1-year, going to the range once a week in terms of scrap brass prices.

Of course, as Engineer1911 says, the best back saver is one of these things:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20210913_122547.jpg (202.9 KB, 94 views)
File Type: jpg 20210913_110838.jpg (177.7 KB, 80 views)
File Type: jpg 20210913_125248.jpg (151.8 KB, 74 views)
File Type: jpg 20210913_115635.jpg (182.1 KB, 75 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #13  
Old 09-14-2021, 02:05 AM
Nemo288's Avatar
Nemo288 Nemo288 is offline
Member
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Badgerland
Posts: 2,371
Likes: 557
Liked 1,496 Times in 786 Posts
Default roto-pix!

I have taken the liberty of rotating those pictures.
Nice idea!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg BrassVacuum1.jpg (116.1 KB, 34 views)
File Type: jpg BrassVacuum2.jpg (105.0 KB, 29 views)
File Type: jpg BrassVacuum3.jpg (91.5 KB, 28 views)
File Type: jpg BrassVacuum4.jpg (106.1 KB, 30 views)
__________________
NEMO
"Everything 44"

Last edited by Nemo288; 09-14-2021 at 02:15 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-14-2021, 09:26 AM
Nick B Nick B is offline
US Veteran
Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS* Smarter then the Average Bear *PICS*  
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S.W. Fl.
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 677
Liked 1,157 Times in 448 Posts
Default

I use a 7’X10’ piece of precut screen I bought at Home Depot .
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear Quiet 1 S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 8 07-08-2019 10:28 PM
Do you ever wish you were smarter? pharmer The Lounge 75 07-31-2017 02:34 PM
I'm smarter than you are and I bet you don't know how to do this! thompsonmike82 Smith & Wesson M&P10 Rifles 17 10-23-2014 09:59 PM
Walmart getting smarter captken Ammo 59 03-31-2014 11:44 AM
Need some advice and a smarter son. Senior Citizen The Lounge 58 07-11-2013 03:38 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:21 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)