What's your preferred method to clean up your brass?

[teddy12b]

The other night I was dumping polished brass out of my Franklin tumbler and found the bottom of the bowl was cracked. The Franklin was supposed to help supplement my smaller Lyman, which is my second lyman because the first ones motor broke loose. Long story short, I don't always have great luck with tumblers and I wouldn't mind finding the last brass cleaning solution that I'll ever need.

Back when I got started reloading, all the wet tumbling with soap and stainless steel pins wasn't a thing. The ultrasonic stuff didn't exist either. I don't need my brass so clean and polished that they'll pass a drill sergeants inspection, but I do want to knock the crud off them and feel good that they're ready for another round of use.

Any suggestions?

 

[Slow Hand]

Depends on what you mean by preferred….

I’ve used vibratory cleaners for years and they do a decent job but I’ve never been impressed with them really cleaning the inside of cases.

I tried the stainless pins/wet tumbling method and was super impressed with the results. But it takes more labor time with separating the pins from soapy water and cases. I have given it a try without the pins and it seems to clean darned near as well.

So, if I have some really grubby cases (internally), I’ll dump them in the wet tumbler. But after getting them cleaned like newX I’ll run them through the vibratory cleaner for the next few firings.

 

[billybob44]

I have been happy with Dillon Vibratory case cleaners.
My first some 30 years ago was the large 2001. It lasted around 25 years before the motor went out=A new motor is about 80% the cost of a new complete 2001 unit. I then bought their smaller 750 model.
When I found a source of volume .223/5.56 brass, I bought another 2001 new tumbler from Dillon.
I have been VERY Happy with the service that my Dillon's have given me..Bill.

 

[Leo]

The Hornady vibratory polisher was a little more money but it is built heavier than the Lyman or Midway units which both worked good until they failed.

 

[700 LTR 223]

Been using a Lyman 1200 for the last 35 years.

 

[Hawkeye7br]

I started wet tumbling with a Frankford a year ago. A friend suggested without pins. I did one batch with pins , and tumbled pinless since with no regrets. I'll wash a 2 batches with the same water.

 

[Bill2905]

I have used vibratory cleaners with corn cob media for 30 years. If the brass needs a really good cleaning, I let it tumble over night. I went through a period of time wet tumbling 223 cases with steel pins and although it gave me good results, I finally concluded that it wasn't worth the extra effort for me. I agree that the pins do a better job of cleaning the inside of cases if that is important to you.

 

[tomcat13]

Spring & Fall (when I can stand to go outside), I use:

Winter time, I use a Franklin Tumbler w/Corn Cob media & got satisfactory results.
I've not yet had any Cracking/Breaking with mine & have run thousands of rounds through it (pistol & rifle)
Never tried the Tumblers with Steel pins-Yet.

 

[Tactically Fat]

Kimball @ Bobcat Armament told me to go to Harbor Freight and buy from them - as it's really not worth the $ in a high dollar brand name device that's literally trying to shake itself to death the instant it's first used.

YMMV.

For now I've decided that unless I literally stumble upon reloading gear at a garage sale or am given stuff; it's not a wise investment right now for me and my shooting "lifestyle".

 

[Whip_McCord]

Been using a Lyman 1200 for the last 35 years.

Been using mine for for over 41 years. They must be built to last.

 

[teddy12b]

Been using mine for for over 41 years. They must be built to last.

Sounds like you guys got yours from a good era.

 

[snapping turtle]

Mine is a Timbler Tumbler. I got it used in the late 1980's and still use it today. More of a rock tumbler than a brass tumbler. Works well and it is not something I have to take out of a room to talk on the phone. Some are just loud as a rock concert speaker.

Normally corn cob media made for small animal bedding as I am cheap.

To me Clean brass is nice but I really don't care much what it looks like more about how it shoots.

 

[2in1evtime]

lyman tumblers are all i use now, one is close to 20 years old. i have 2 set up on there own bench, i only use walnut media too. Bought a hornady and it died in just over a year. I keep a new one handy so if i would need to replace one i can quickly! I bought a wet tumbler, cheaper brand but it takes longer to clean and get the brass dried out to use so it just sets there on the shelf. You can get replacement bowls pretty cheap online for the lymans!!!!!!!!

 

[MarmotMountain]

Frankford wet tumbler with stainless steel pins. Brass comes out extremely shiny and I don't have to worry about lead dust as much with dry media.

 

[tsm]

Homemade wet tumbler with stainless steel pins.

 

[DadSmith]

Homemade wet tumbler with stainless steel pins.

Pictures please, and some details on how you made it if you don't mind.

 

[indyblue]

Frankford Tumbler with ss pins.
I like clean primer pockets and holes.

 

[tsm]

Pictures please, and some details on how you made it if you don't mind.

Pictures will have to wait till tomorrow, but I loosely based it on BIGGDAWG’s design on the AR15 forum (most of that info seems to have disappeared) and the modifications to Biggdawg’s design that imp22b (INGO poster) detailed in his 3/27/13 writeup (which is still available on INGO). The latter will at least give you an idea of how it’s done. Instead of welding a frame to hold the components like Biggdawg, I constructed a frame using parts from 80/20 (located in Columbia City).

 

[tsm]

Rotating container is 6" diameter and about 20" long. View looking inside shows the PVC stirring wings as well as the SS pins (stored inside when not using them).

 

[billybob44]

Rotating container is 6" diameter and about 20" long. View looking inside shows the PVC stirring wings as well as the SS pins (stored inside when not using them).

View attachment 247585 View attachment 247586 View attachment 247587 View attachment 247588

^^^THAT, my friend is a VERY Clean assembly+++ to you!!..Bill