Sonic cleaner any good for cleaning BP brass

chiefr · February 7, 2013, 08:21 PM

I have always dreaded cleaning brass cases after firing Black Powder (BP).
I own 3 tumblers. My tumblers removes all BP traces from the outside in 6 hours. I must tumble 2-3 days to remove BP residue from the inside, but the inside remains black.
I have never tried any sonic cleaners to clean brass. Seems everyone manufactures sonic cleaners now.
My question is has anyone used the sonic cleaners to clean BP reside from their brass and will it clean inside the brass as good as vibratory tumblers clean brass from the outside?

Hawg · February 7, 2013, 08:27 PM

It won't help with old brass that's been used with bp but drop it into a jug of Windex right after you shoot it and your tumbler will clean it right up.

Bishop Creek · February 7, 2013, 09:52 PM

My Cabela's tumbler does a good job in cleaning my cases after shooting black powder, but they never come out perfectly shiney and new looking. Some tarnish is visable. Quite reloadable though. Curious about a sonic tumbler myself.

TomADC · February 7, 2013, 10:25 PM

I use a old Thumblers Tumbler, and I bring a plastic jar with soapy water in it, the fired brass goes straight to that, when I get home I rinse with hot water they dry pretty fast and into the tumbler I do deprime first.

blfuller · February 8, 2013, 03:34 PM

Have you seen the stainless steel tumbling media? They say they work really well with some soap and water. These are only supposed to be used in an actual drum tumbler, they don't work in vibratory case cleaners.

Go here...Stainless tumbling media

maillemaker · February 8, 2013, 04:30 PM

People have claimed great results with the stainless steel pins for tumbling as it gets into primer pockets.

But holy cow are they proud of that stuff!

Well, looks like the price is down on sale now $44 instead of $64 for 5 pounds of the stuff.

Steve

blfuller · February 11, 2013, 03:48 PM

Brownells has the stainless pins on sale.

February 7, 2013, 08:21 PM	#1
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	Sonic cleaner any good for cleaning BP brass I have always dreaded cleaning brass cases after firing Black Powder (BP). I own 3 tumblers. My tumblers removes all BP traces from the outside in 6 hours. I must tumble 2-3 days to remove BP residue from the inside, but the inside remains black. I have never tried any sonic cleaners to clean brass. Seems everyone manufactures sonic cleaners now. My question is has anyone used the sonic cleaners to clean BP reside from their brass and will it clean inside the brass as good as vibratory tumblers clean brass from the outside?

February 7, 2013, 10:25 PM	#4
TomADC Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: San Diego County Posts: 795	I use a old Thumblers Tumbler, and I bring a plastic jar with soapy water in it, the fired brass goes straight to that, when I get home I rinse with hot water they dry pretty fast and into the tumbler I do deprime first. __________________ US Navy Retired,NRA Life Member,SASS member, Time magazine's Person of the Year 2006!

February 8, 2013, 03:34 PM	#5
blfuller Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Location: Washington State Posts: 246	Have you seen the stainless steel tumbling media? They say they work really well with some soap and water. These are only supposed to be used in an actual drum tumbler, they don't work in vibratory case cleaners. Go here...Stainless tumbling media Last edited by blfuller; February 8, 2013 at 03:43 PM.

February 7, 2013, 08:27 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	It won't help with old brass that's been used with bp but drop it into a jug of Windex right after you shoot it and your tumbler will clean it right up.

February 7, 2013, 09:52 PM	#3
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	My Cabela's tumbler does a good job in cleaning my cases after shooting black powder, but they never come out perfectly shiney and new looking. Some tarnish is visable. Quite reloadable though. Curious about a sonic tumbler myself.

February 8, 2013, 04:30 PM	#6
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	People have claimed great results with the stainless steel pins for tumbling as it gets into primer pockets. But holy cow are they proud of that stuff! Well, looks like the price is down on sale now $44 instead of $64 for 5 pounds of the stuff. Steve

February 11, 2013, 03:48 PM	#7
blfuller Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Location: Washington State Posts: 246	Brownells has the stainless pins on sale.