Cleaning brass: Vibratory vs Rotary vs Ultrasonic

[bluetopper]

Here's my rotary dry tumbler. I use course corn cob or fine walnut shell, each with a tad of liquid car wax. I do good size batches at a time.

 

[dr. mordo]

Gents - thanks very much!

This is great info I'll have to read through a few times before I really make up my mind.

I really appreciate y'all taking the time to educate me on this.

Thanks again!

 

[rockquarry]

Perhaps I'm missing something here, like a dust problem when using dry media. For those who have dealt with dust, doesn't the tumbler lid keep dust inside the tumbler? As for dust when shaking the media from the brass, do it outdoors. Any minimal amount of dust quickly dissipates outside.

 

[rsrocket1]

Perhaps I'm missing something here, like a dust problem when using dry media. For those who have dealt with dust, doesn't the tumbler lid keep dust inside the tumbler? As for dust when shaking the media from the brass, do it outdoors. Any minimal amount of dust quickly dissipates outside.

Yes the dust problem is not during tumbling, it's during the separation process.

For those who don't use cut used dryer sheets and have to deal with dust, the dust does contain soot, some of which is primer compound (lead styphnate) and more of it would fly around when sifting out the media. Do it often enough outdoors in the same place and you'll have a higher concentration of the nasty stuff than if you don't deal with the dust. Is is bad? I don't know but it is at a higher concentration than if you eliminate almost all of it with the dryer sheets.

The brass will also have a higher coating of dust on it when loading if you don't deal with it during the tumbling process. Is it annoying? I don't know, but it is so easily eliminated without any additives that IDK why anyone would not use something that is so simple and free. Even cut up paper towels (the cheaper the better) work better than nothing.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Caveats, I shoot from the back yard or (more often in winter) covered porch and tumble in the adjacent breezeway, my rounds go from pocket to cylinder to pocket to tumbler.

I find dry corn cob media to do a surpurb job of cleaning and lightly buffing the brass with next to zero effort on my part. I dump the contents of the tumbler through a seive into a plastic bowl reserved for this purpose, and return the media for another tumble. Tumbler has set "outside" for years and doesn't seem the worse for it.

 

[BE Mike]

I'm old school. I have a Lortone QT-12 and use ground walnut shells and liquid Flitz. No reason to change. The same tumbler has been serving me well since the mid-80's. Lortone QT-12 Rotary Rock Tumbler | eBay

 

[chief38]

The best method and the cleanest Brass comes from wet tumbling with stainless steel pins IMO.

I do NOT use that method because I have my outfit for 35 + years now and all the accouterments to go with it. I use a Dillon Vibratory Tumbler with Lyman Green media and it works good enough for me. While my Brass does not come out as shinny as the wet method, it still shines up well and works flawlessly. I am interested in flawless ammo function more than cosmetics - but someone who really takes pride in Classy Brass should probably go wet.

If I were starting out today, I'd more than likely go wet - but don't feel the cosmetics are worth switching at this point (at least for me).

 

[Rule3]

Yes the dust problem is not during tumbling, it's during the separation process.

For those who don't use cut used dryer sheets and have to deal with dust, the dust does contain soot, some of which is primer compound (lead styphnate) and more of it would fly around when sifting out the media. Do it often enough outdoors in the same place and you'll have a higher concentration of the nasty stuff than if you don't deal with the dust. Is is bad? I don't know but it is at a higher concentration than if you eliminate almost all of it with the dryer sheets.

The brass will also have a higher coating of dust on it when loading if you don't deal with it during the tumbling process. Is it annoying? I don't know, but it is so easily eliminated without any additives that IDK why anyone would not use something that is so simple and free. Even cut up paper towels (the cheaper the better) work better than nothing.

They do have these.

If your media is very dusty it is old and worn. Some dust can be eliminated by a few drops of Mineral (baby) oil into the media,(from Lyman product QA)

Yes, there will always be some dust, keep your back to the wind.

Most are actually molded by Berry Bullets

RCBS Rotary Case Media Separator - MPN: 87076

 

[Al W.]

I use the Dillon vibrator, its dusty I suppose , but compared to what ?
I wear a mask when I run it through the rotary strainer. I'll warrant that most of the debris sticks to the polishing medium which is corn cob. If your not overly vigorous when your straining it its not that dusty.
Wear a particle mask.
You should wear one when you load anyway.
If your punching out your primers and sizing and seating your already making plenty of lead dust.
So be careful . A 3M mask with lead rated filters costs about 30 bucks.
Keep the lid on the vibrator. Your good to go.

 

[rwsmith]

Some cleaning is necessary.....

I'm an economist. I did w/o cleaning for a long time, but got to where brass that was just plain grody wasn't good for my guns. I started washing brass in hot soapy water and drying them, which as adequate, but labor intensive, so I got a vibrator cleaner and really like it. The ONLY problems are the dust it generates and the cases getting stuck together with the media.

I could solve the dust by running the machine outside.

I could keep the cases from getting stuck together by not putting incompatible cases in each batch. (.32s get stuck in everything) Don't mix .40s with 9mms.

I bought a sieve and a big bucket to easily separate the media, but when I'm putting the brass in another container, I have to give the cases a mouth down tap or media will go with them. I also wipe the cases to get the dust off. So, it is more time and trouble but when I see my GLEAMING brass I feel like it's worth it.

I never cared about appearances but now I wouldn't go back. My thing in reloading was to be as ECONOMICAL as possible, even cheap to keep budget under control.

 

[IAM Rand]

I use an old rock tumbler with crushed walnut shells and a little Brasso in the mix. 1 hour later it is good as new. There is powder residue but can easily be wiped off. A brush for the inside as well. If you are that anal you can rinse them off.

 

[hdwhit]

chief38 wrote:
The best method and the cleanest Brass comes from wet tumbling with stainless steel pins IMO.

The "best method" is a matter of opinion. If someone's definition of "best" is cleaning brass with the minimum investment, wet tumbling with steel pins doesn't even come close.

As far as the "cleanest" brass, that will be determined by the acids, detergents and surfactants you choose, not the media.

As far as "shiniest" you would need to use cut bronze wire (85% Cu, 15% Sn) in place of your stainless steel pins.

 

[AZ2VET]

In my experience the least labor intensive method is by far a vibratory tumbler with crushed walnut. Put the media in your tumbler and add the brass,maybe some Mothers metal polish or NuFinish, turn it on and walk away. Come back later and seperate the brass and media with your preferred method; slotted spoon, colander and 5 gallon bucket or a media separator. Takes me less than 30 minutes total.

I have borrowed a friends FA wet rotary tumbler and SS pins which did a great job of cleaning some extremely dirty brass but I spent about an hour or more dealing with each batch and that was not even dealing with drying them which I laid them out in the sun.

Wet tumbling pistol brass gets them squeaky clean and causes them to drag in carbide dies then needing to be lubed.