Sonic Brass/Parts Cleaner Set-Ups...any good?

REDLINE · July 07 2013 11:46:14 AM MDT

Thoughts on sonic cleaners? There are quite a few out on the market now.

I have yet to own a product for cleaning my used brass. Wondering if one of these it the way to go.

cmemiss · July 07 2013 03:18:08 PM MDT

I picked up the small sonic cleaner at Harbor Freight. It works okay on small parts, but not real sure how good it is on barrels as I don't have anything to compare it to. Haven't tried brass yet since it seems small for the number of cases I load at a time. I wouldn't highly recommend it, but someone else's opinion would be better to judge it on.

sqlbullet · July 08 2013 08:55:18 AM MDT

I would be curious to hear some opinions as well.

My harbor freight vibratory tumbler has been a great device for brass as well as other odds and ends.

gofastman · July 08 2013 09:27:46 AM MDT

you can get this same one at Harbor Freight for a lot cheaper:

the transducer (ultrasonic "shaker") in the thing is pretty weak, it works ok, but not great

I think the best way to clean brass is with stainless media in a rotary tumbler

Ramjet · July 08 2013 12:18:53 PM MDT

They all look like deep fryers......lol ${$default_cool_smiley}$

sqlbullet · July 08 2013 04:46:16 PM MDT

Uuuughhhhhh...droooooolll

Beer battered deep-fried 10mm brass.

REDLINE · July 08 2013 07:13:36 PM MDT

Quote from: Ramjet on July 08 2013 12:18:53 PM MDTThey all look like deep fryers......lol ${$default_cool_smiley}$

They do! ${$default_laugh_smiley}$

REDLINE · July 08 2013 07:20:23 PM MDT

Quote from: gofastman on July 08 2013 09:27:46 AM MDTyou can get this same one at Harbor Freight for a lot cheaper:

the transducer (ultrasonic "shaker") in the thing is pretty weak, it works ok, but not great

I think the best way to clean brass is with stainless media in a rotary tumbler

Maybe that's because it is a cheaper version from harbor freight and not created equal to the one with Lyman's name on it. Who knows.

gofastman · July 09 2013 07:46:37 AM MDT

I kinda doubt it, Im guessing they are all from the same plant in China. But like you said, who knows

gandog56 · July 09 2013 03:50:08 PM MDT

If you want to get that carbonized black crud out of the inside, and especially the primer pocket. Rotary wet tumbling is the way to go. I just got a Thumler's model B. Here is a comparison between the Thumlers, and my Frankford vibratory tumblers. The 6 cases on the left were with the Frankford, the 6 on the right using my new Thumler's. See the difference?

Retired Squid · July 12 2013 04:23:23 PM MDT

I used to use the little gemstone tumbler like yours years ago, but it wasn't big enough to suite my needs and as it got older it started jumping off the rubber or belt would come off.

The RCBS Sonic cleaner at the bottom of the cleaners above is what I use and it has heater for 4 temp ranges, the largest transducer of all of them, time and etc. It cleans the barrels of my 1911 like they were never fired. Not sure why the lead seems to longer, and brass looks like new afterward will all carbon gone inside and out. Most brass I have had in it at one time was 300+ outdoor range brass that was in bad shape. With this set up you can drain the fluid like I do thru a coffee strainer and reuse it and get a lot more use out of the cleaning solution.

gandog56 · July 13 2013 07:29:58 AM MDT

Really? And ultra sonic cleaner will get the primer pockets as clean as the wet rotary tumbled brass I showed? I'm surprised.

Retired Squid · July 13 2013 09:45:27 AM MDT

I didn't believe it till I saw my shooting buddies results, and bought one myself. I suspect it's all in transducer.

gandog56 · July 13 2013 01:39:12 PM MDT

Well, I'm not about to buy a THIRD cleaner! ${$default_laugh_smiley}$

REDLINE · July 20 2013 12:43:08 PM MDT

Quote from: Retired Squid on July 12 2013 04:23:23 PM MDTI used to use the little gemstone tumbler like yours years ago, but it wasn't big enough to suite my needs and as it got older it started jumping off the rubber or belt would come off.

The RCBS Sonic cleaner at the bottom of the cleaners above is what I use and it has heater for 4 temp ranges, the largest transducer of all of them, time and etc. It cleans the barrels of my 1911 like they were never fired. Not sure why the lead seems to longer, and brass looks like new afterward will all carbon gone inside and out. Most brass I have had in it at one time was 300+ outdoor range brass that was in bad shape. With this set up you can drain the fluid like I do thru a coffee strainer and reuse it and get a lot more use out of the cleaning solution.

Thanks! That's enough said that I'm going to get one as my very first brass cleaning setup. Not sure which one yet, but I like what you said about the RCBS unit and will compare all others just by their specs and general advertising and make a choice at some point.

Thanks again! ${$default_cool_smiley}$

Any further comments are certainly still welcome.