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#Post#: 15877--------------------------------------------------
Case cleaning
DIR By: babbyc1000
Date: October 2, 2013, 5:18 pm
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Been trying to keep things basic and low tech with the
reloading, I've finished prepping about 60 fired cases over the
last week or so, ready to be reloaded (when I get around to
getting powder etc ::) )
One thing I havnt been too sure of is the best way to clean
fired cases. I was torn between tumbling using media (walnut
maybe) and tumbling using steel pins and water, although in the
last few days ultrasonic cleaners have been playing on my mind
too. What does everyone else do, and what do you think gives
best results? I was leaning towards the steel pin method but
I've a little nagging doubt that it might shorten case life,
even though it gives good results; not sure about tumbling with
walnut or corn cob media, reckon would be a nightmare getting
media out of all the cases, and not sure how well itd clean
inside. Ultrasonic seems like the least hassle but havnt seen
any videos showing the results.
Ps so far I've thrown the deprimed cases in a milk jug with a
water/vinegar/washing up liquid mix (old recipe I found
mentioned a few times) and shook it up and let it sit for 2
hours, shaking every 15 mins. it sorta works but its not great,
and leaves the cases quite tarnished (more worried about getting
them clean than shiny tho) and the primer pockets still need
cleaned with a pocket cleaner afterwards
Cheers
#Post#: 15888--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: foxyloxy
Date: October 3, 2013, 6:47 am
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Ive a Lyman tumbler - pro 1200. I hear that corn cob is the best
media but so far i've only had the walnut stuff.
From what I've read, tumbling seems to be the best method of
cleaning them. As you say just be careful about media being
stuck in the flash-holes. I just have a safety pin handy if any
media is stuck in the hole.
The media just gets tipped out of the brass when ure finished.
Some lads don't bother cleaning at all.
FL
#Post#: 15889--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: semiauto
Date: October 3, 2013, 6:48 am
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what about those ultrasonic cleaners are they any good ?
#Post#: 15896--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: Al Dunn
Date: October 3, 2013, 10:19 am
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I normally just tumble my brass, but if the inside of the cases
are getting really bad, I use Sea Clean 2 in the ultrasonic
cleaner. It brings the brass up spotless on the inside as well
as out. It leaves a slightly dull finish, but you can simply
tumble them again afterwards to bring back the shine.
Maplins sell Sea Clean.
Al.
#Post#: 15897--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: Al Dunn
Date: October 3, 2013, 10:27 am
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Another point on brass preparation...
Get yourself a few decent prep tools. The Lee prep stuff really
isn't that good (although I think most of their stuff is
excellent). As far as primer pocket cleaning goes, RCBS have an
excellent tool - a bit like a tightly packed wire brush. As for
internal and external neck chamfering, Hornady or Forster make a
double ended tool which beats the Lee effort hands down.
For COL trimming, the Lee (calibre specific) cutter is a good
job, but get the wooden ball handle if you're going to be
prepping a lot of brass.
Hope that helps.
Al.
#Post#: 15899--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: babbyc1000
Date: October 3, 2013, 12:51 pm
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Thanks for the replies lads, defo useful. I agree al the lee
chamfering tool is awful, Ive seen the rcbs one and ill be
upgrading to it soon, and I might change the lee cutter for a
lyman one (and the lyman electroc model has a built in
chamfering tool as well). One thing I did see a guy talking
about was instead of using a hand tool for the primer pockets
was using a small brush in a dremel, takes all the work out of
it, ao ill be investigating that - havethe dremel already so itd
be rude not to lol
So if I had to pick one method of cleaning brass which would be
the best, ultrasonic cleaner then? Not too worried about then
being shiny (unless there's a reason why I should?) but I want
them spotlessly clean inside and out. It's maybe not a major
issue but when I start loading the subsonic/low power loads I'm
pretty much entering uncharted territory, especially if I'm
using the vihtavouri tin star powder as there's no .222 load
data available :o
Ps couple of useful links Ive been using (nb tinstar is
supposedly the vihtavouri answer to trail boss, but it goes a
couple of hundred fps faster)
HTML http://jeffersonian.therealgunguys.com/reload/reload.html
HTML http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/en-tin-star
HTML http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf
HTML http://www.handloadersbench.com/forum91/14308.html
#Post#: 15904--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: Lee
Date: October 3, 2013, 2:05 pm
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Babby try reloaders nest on the inter web there is some good
info on there.
#Post#: 15906--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: babbyc1000
Date: October 3, 2013, 2:29 pm
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Cheers will do, I've about 20 bookmarks of info saved on the
phone, had more on the laptop til I broke it ffs lol
#Post#: 15951--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: GEOFF.223
Date: October 4, 2013, 1:41 pm
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Ultrasonic cleaners will clean inside case aswell as primer
pocket there are various ultrasonic cleaners on ebay they will
all do ur job don't get ripped of by buying one with a rscb or
hornady sticker on it.
If ur wanting to keep it cheap buy some 0000 grade wire wool and
a lee case holder that fits in ur drill quick buff with wire
wool and there shinning.
I also have a diy tumbler which consists of a window wiper motor
and a popcorn bucket with a lid chuck in some reptile sand and
some polish jobs a good one
#Post#: 15964--------------------------------------------------
Re: Case cleaning
DIR By: babbyc1000
Date: October 4, 2013, 2:39 pm
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Cheers Geoff, I'd heard somewhere about cat litter being used in
tumblers as well? I'm goin to take a look when I'm at the club
tomorrow as I saw an ultrasonic cleaner in the shop, not sure
what peice it is so ill take a look and see, if its too pricey
ill go to ebay :)
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