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ultra sonic cleaner
tomcat_blackknights
Member Posts: 67 ✭✭
Thinking about purchasing one of those ultrasonic cleaners. Any one have much experience with them? (i.e. brand, solution etc). Do they eliminate the need for a tumbler? I get a ton of used bulk brass where I work. Most for cals I don't even own, but I like cleaning it and sorting and re selling/trading at gun shows. But some of what I get is pretty dirty/corroded.
Comments
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/118839/lyman-turbo-sonic-6000-ultrasonic-case-cleaner-110-volt
Its a great tank for the money. It has 2 transducers Vs. the 3 in my lab units (that you don't need for brass!) Note: this does not polish brass it cleanse the pours of any residue impurity's etc.
If you need more info fire away-[:)]
My brass doesn't gleam like a diamond in a goats butt, but it does a good job & it cleans inside too.
case lube will severely shorten the life of polishing media.
Degreasing will extend the life of media to like 20X vs 2X for greasy brass.
The sonic will not polish brass just remove the crud inside and out and even the primer pockets.
It sat in the basement for several years until I got it out thinking I would use it to clean brass. I fired it up, let the smoke out, and it died. I checked on getting it repaired and they wanted $750, with no guarantee that they could fix it.
Fast forward a few years and I got the bug to try another ultrasonic cleaner, so I bought one for about $80. The results were mediocre at best, and downright disappointing at worst.
Then a week ago I received my new Thumlers Tumbler, and I couldn't be happier. My brass comes out looking brand new, inside, outside, and in the primer pockets. Plus you can throw away your vibratory tumbler, it's not needed any more.[:D]
I think I can guarantee that for the money spent on a Thumlers unit, you can't buy a new ultrasonic that will clean as well. If you can find a used professional ultrasonic unit that works, you may be happy, but the consumer chinese units that a lot of companies are selling are designed for jewelry, and don't do a very good job at that.
Back when I had my camera repair shop, I had a professional ultrasonic cleaner with multiple tanks and baskets. That thing would really make the bubbles dance, cleaning everything sparkling clean.
It sat in the basement for several years until I got it out thinking I would use it to clean brass. I fired it up, let the smoke out, and it died. I checked on getting it repaired and they wanted $750, with no guarantee that they could fix it.
Fast forward a few years and I got the bug to try another ultrasonic cleaner, so I bought one for about $80. The results were mediocre at best, and downright disappointing at worst.
Then a week ago I received my new Thumlers Tumbler, and I couldn't be happier. My brass comes out looking brand new, inside, outside, and in the primer pockets. Plus you can throw away your vibratory tumbler, it's not needed any more.[:D]
I think I can guarantee that for the money spent on a Thumlers unit, you can't buy a new ultrasonic that will clean as well. If you can find a used professional ultrasonic unit that works, you may be happy, but the consumer chinese units that a lot of companies are selling are designed for jewelry, and don't do a very good job at that.
Ultasonic cleaners are not meant to make brass look pretty, that's the tumblers job. They merely clean the microscopic pours inside and out of impurity's that tumblers can't get or leave behind.
Comparing my (micron level) lab grade units to the reloading versions
are based on wattage and transducer size. Yes, The Lyman that I have is smaller, but for the price and performance it is not junk. It will do and does the same Job as my Branson's for 1/3rd the price.
Just my opinion-[:)]
One thing I learned that most of them put in their directions is;
Don't let the brass get into bunches. Clean one layer at a time.
I never felt that the machine I used did a real good job, but one thing it did do was clean the crap out of the primer pockets pretty well, or at least it softened it up enough that it was easy to clean out with a tool, and that was one of my main complaints.
If I remember right the pro model I had was rated at 750 watts. The newer one was somewhere around 60 watts. Huge difference in cleaning abilities.[:)]