Tumbler/vibrating vs sonic cleaners

Jokerxx · February 8, 2013, 12:15 PM

I'm sure this is a newbie question but I would like inputs for the pros and cons of the cleaners. I have read on the threads on the different manufactures of the cleaners. I have found ultrasonic cleaners that are more for tattoo, dental use,that have much longer run times than the 8 minutes.

Am I comparing apples to oranges?

I'm willing to pay a little more for a better longer lasting product.

And yes I'm new to this just trying to learn, I have read the ABS's (I'm going to read again) and have 4 manuals that I have read.

Thanks.

velillen · February 8, 2013, 01:09 PM

The three main types all have their advantages and disadvantages. I'll list what comes to mind in no particular order

Vibratory with media.
Only cleans the outside of the case.

Best to not deprime as the media gets stuck in the primer hole

Can take a few hours to clean

Pretty much can get tumblers that do small batches up to thousands of cases at a time

They are cheap and media lasts a decent amount of time.

Ultrasonic

Can be expensive. 100 bucks for a cheap one.

Needs a formula to clean. Just water doesnt work the best. But the mixture can be used a couple times if filtered

Usually short timers so have to be around it to reset it. But cleans faster than media

Small size means limited case capacity. The common ones don't hold a lot of cases though larger ones are available.

They clean the whole case. Deprime first and clean outside, inside, and primer pocket at once.

Stainless pins

Expensive. Cost is going to be around 200 to start.

Pins last forever. Only time you have to get more is cause you lose them during sorting or whatever.

It's just water, dish soap and Lemishine. About 15 bucks and it'll last a long time. A squirt of soap and small amount of lemi Shine is all that's needed.

A media seperator or some sort is a must. The pins a small so have to pick something that'll work.

Cleans the whole case like an ultrasonic.

Time wise it takes probably a quarter of the time vs the media tumbler.

Both the ultrasonic and stm require washing and drying of the brass after. Not hard as just washing under a sink and drying can be done in different ways.

I'm sure others can add but that's the just of them. I personally have all three. Use stm to clean the cases. Use the media for case lube removal, and use the ultrasonic for small batches of brass and for cleaning other things around the house

hounddawg · February 8, 2013, 01:18 PM

I used to use a rotary tumbler, which was nothing more than a piece of 4 inch PVC clamped in a lathe with caps on the end and crushed walnut. When I sold the lathe a year or two back I started to use do soap water and lemon juice in a old stainless pan, it gets the dirt and tarnish off inside and out. Leaves a good shine on most brass inside and out. I use a nylon mesh laundry bag for drying. Been thinking about getting a vibratory tumbler just to do a final polish with walnut and some wax in it but always find something else I would rather spend my money on

bottom line you can spend as much or as little as you want, from the bottom end like I do to several hundred dollars on a ultrasonic or stainless pin setup. But the brass will still load and shoot about the same no matter what method you end up using.

spacecoast · February 8, 2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Only cleans the outside of the case.

I'm not sure why you say this of vibratory cleaners. The media fills up the case. Since the powder ignites inside the case, there are stains there that are not easily removed, but anything that really needs to come out does.

velillen · February 8, 2013, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacecoast

I'm not sure why you say this of vibratory cleaners. The media fills up the case. Since the powder ignites inside the case, there are stains there that are not easily removed, but anything that really needs to come out does.

Sorry should have been more specific. Knocks out the chunks but won't leave it "like new" clean on the inside which a ultrasonic and stm will.

hounddawg · February 8, 2013, 06:19 PM

Quote:

orry should have been more specific. Knocks out the chunks but won't leave it "like new" clean on the inside which a ultrasonic and stm will.

thing is once the powder, bullet and primer are in. They all look and shoot the same

February 8, 2013, 12:15 PM	#1
Jokerxx Junior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 9	Tumbler/vibrating vs sonic cleaners I'm sure this is a newbie question but I would like inputs for the pros and cons of the cleaners. I have read on the threads on the different manufactures of the cleaners. I have found ultrasonic cleaners that are more for tattoo, dental use,that have much longer run times than the 8 minutes. Am I comparing apples to oranges? I'm willing to pay a little more for a better longer lasting product. And yes I'm new to this just trying to learn, I have read the ABS's (I'm going to read again) and have 4 manuals that I have read. Thanks.

February 8, 2013, 01:18 PM	#3
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	I used to use a rotary tumbler, which was nothing more than a piece of 4 inch PVC clamped in a lathe with caps on the end and crushed walnut. When I sold the lathe a year or two back I started to use do soap water and lemon juice in a old stainless pan, it gets the dirt and tarnish off inside and out. Leaves a good shine on most brass inside and out. I use a nylon mesh laundry bag for drying. Been thinking about getting a vibratory tumbler just to do a final polish with walnut and some wax in it but always find something else I would rather spend my money on bottom line you can spend as much or as little as you want, from the bottom end like I do to several hundred dollars on a ultrasonic or stainless pin setup. But the brass will still load and shoot about the same no matter what method you end up using. __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

February 8, 2013, 01:09 PM	#2
velillen Member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 93	The three main types all have their advantages and disadvantages. I'll list what comes to mind in no particular order Vibratory with media. Only cleans the outside of the case. Best to not deprime as the media gets stuck in the primer hole Can take a few hours to clean Pretty much can get tumblers that do small batches up to thousands of cases at a time They are cheap and media lasts a decent amount of time. Ultrasonic Can be expensive. 100 bucks for a cheap one. Needs a formula to clean. Just water doesnt work the best. But the mixture can be used a couple times if filtered Usually short timers so have to be around it to reset it. But cleans faster than media Small size means limited case capacity. The common ones don't hold a lot of cases though larger ones are available. They clean the whole case. Deprime first and clean outside, inside, and primer pocket at once. Stainless pins Expensive. Cost is going to be around 200 to start. Pins last forever. Only time you have to get more is cause you lose them during sorting or whatever. It's just water, dish soap and Lemishine. About 15 bucks and it'll last a long time. A squirt of soap and small amount of lemi Shine is all that's needed. A media seperator or some sort is a must. The pins a small so have to pick something that'll work. Cleans the whole case like an ultrasonic. Time wise it takes probably a quarter of the time vs the media tumbler. Both the ultrasonic and stm require washing and drying of the brass after. Not hard as just washing under a sink and drying can be done in different ways. I'm sure others can add but that's the just of them. I personally have all three. Use stm to clean the cases. Use the media for case lube removal, and use the ultrasonic for small batches of brass and for cleaning other things around the house