Pink Brass "dezincification"?

[Local Loader]

I still say get a sonic clean, it cleans just everything out and can clean just about anything, brass, silver, gold, iron, plastic, steel and all you have to do is just rinse and dry after.

 

[Koda]

I still say get a sonic clean, it cleans just everything out and can clean just about anything, brass, silver, gold, iron, plastic, steel and all you have to do is just rinse and dry after.

I'm not against this idea, and I'm finding there are a few good ones on sale.
Do you have to use the sonic solution of the brand you buy or can you use anyone's sonic cleaning solution in any sonic cleaner?

Lyman Turbo Sonic 2500 Ultrasonic Case Cleaner

The Lyman Turbo Sonic 2500 Ultrasonic Case Cleaner delivers ultrasonic cleaning action that allows reloaders to clean cases inside and out in less than...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[rob1516]

Careful with sonic cleaners...they can leach zinc from brass too. Even with proper cleaner used, too long in it (talking multiple cycles) will do it.
Ask me how I know

 

[Koda]

Careful with sonic cleaners...they can leach zinc from brass too. Even with proper cleaner used, too long in it (talking multiple cycles) will do it.
Ask me how I know

seems like the safest or simplest way to eliminate the risk of zinc leaching is to use a tumbler with dry medium?

 

[DizzyJ]

Careful with sonic cleaners...they can leach zinc from brass too. Even with proper cleaner used, too long in it (talking multiple cycles) will do it.
Ask me how I know

Why……
How do you know?

 

[DizzyJ]

seems like the safest or simplest way to eliminate the risk of zinc leaching is to use a tumbler with dry medium?

You can also safely use a wet tumbler. Again, a dry tumbler will work well too.

 

[rob1516]

Why……
How do you know?

It was me being stupid, I sonic cleaned the batch of brass like 5-6 times (15min cycles) and they came out pink. Bad idea.

 

[Local Loader]

I'm not against this idea, and I'm finding there are a few good ones on sale.
Do you have to use the sonic solution of the brand you buy or can you use anyone's sonic cleaning solution in any sonic cleaner?

Lyman Turbo Sonic 2500 Ultrasonic Case Cleaner

The Lyman Turbo Sonic 2500 Ultrasonic Case Cleaner delivers ultrasonic cleaning action that allows reloaders to clean cases inside and out in less than...

www.midwayusa.com

As far as I know, no it doesn't matter. I use Hornadys cause they have brass and gun cleaner solutions and they're reasonably priced.

 

[Local Loader]

It was me being stupid, I sonic cleaned the batch of brass like 5-6 times (15min cycles) and they came out pink. Bad idea.

Yeah, that's way too many times.

 

[DizzyJ]

It was me being stupid, I sonic cleaned the batch of brass like 5-6 times (15min cycles) and they came out pink. Bad idea.

I bought some purple brass for my wife once. It came fully loaded straight from Winchester though.

Why did you run it that many times? Was it not coming out clean enough or shiny enough the first few times?

 

[Koda]

So it sounds like with liquid methods there is always some risk of zinc leaching but thats overcome with simple learning curves and not really an issue...?

Im probably overthinking everything.... but im leaning on a method that "best" cleans the inside of the case... it seems to me that is the ideal solution that most would eventually upgrade to later on in life?

 

[rob1516]

I bought some purple brass for my wife once. It came fully loaded straight from Winchester though.

Why did you run it that many times? Was it not coming out clean enough or shiny enough the first few times?

I was too lazy to take it out and rinse/dry it. So I would turn the thing on every time I pissed (sonic cleaner is on my toilet lid).

 

[DizzyJ]

So it sounds like with liquid methods there is always some risk of zinc leaching but thats overcome with simple learning curves and not really an issue...?

Im probably overthinking everything.... but im leaning on a method that "best" cleans the inside of the case... it seems to me that is the ideal solution that most would eventually upgrade to later on in life?

The best method to clean the inside is probably wet tumbling with pins.

I don't know that it will make a difference in group size or velocity consistency though.

 

[rob1516]

So it sounds like with liquid methods there is always some risk of zinc leaching but thats overcome with simple learning curves and not really an issue...?

Im probably overthinking everything.... but im leaning on a method that "best" cleans the inside of the case... it seems to me that is the ideal solution that most would eventually upgrade to later on in life?

Best bet to clean inside...SS pins. By far.

 

[DizzyJ]

I was too lazy to take it out and rinse/dry it. So I would turn the thing on every time I pissed (sonic cleaner is on my toilet lid).

Maybe you pissed in the wrong container.

 

[Local Loader]

So it sounds like with liquid methods there is always some risk of zinc leaching but thats overcome with simple learning curves and not really an issue...?

Im probably overthinking everything.... but im leaning on a method that "best" cleans the inside of the case... it seems to me that is the ideal solution that most would eventually upgrade to later on in life?

Nothing wrong with over thinking it, there really isn't one size fits all for cleaning, everyone has different methods and setups, just learn and use what works best for you.
SS pins aren't a bad way to go either but personally I have seen them leave divets or dimps in cases before. Both SS pins and sonic cleaners will give you clean brass inside and out, personally I think sonic cleaned brass comes out a little shinier than SS pins do.

 

[DizzyJ]

Nothing wiping with over thinking it, there really isn't one size fits all for cleaning, everyone has different methods and setups, just learn and use what works best for you.
SS pins aren't a bad way to go either but personally I have seen them leave divets or dimps in cases before. Both SS pins and sonic cleaners will give you clean brass inside and out, personally I think sonic cleaned brass comes out a little shinier than SS pins do.

How many .223 cases can you do at a time with your sonic cleaner?

 

[po18guy]

Season Cracking is a term used to describe the chemical effect of ammonia on brass. The British military discovered this in India, when .303 ammo was stored near stables. Elephant stables. Lots of urine > ammonia created there.

As to cleaning brass, I still have the same Thumler's Tumbler Model B that I bought in '76 or so. Designed for tumbling rocks for one month or more in continuous running, brass is a piece of cake. I formerly used jeweler's rouge with walnut shell media, but have switched to flitz for cost and availability.

 

[Koda]

Nothing wiping with over thinking it, there really isn't one size fits all for cleaning, everyone has different methods and setups, just learn and use what works best for you.

I have the day off today and can (over)think it, it helps that Im finding good brands in all the methods withing my price range so it makes me pause and think... what would be the method I would eventually settle on.

My take:
Sonic: fastest, simplest way. Best cleaning on inside of case. Bonus it cleans small gun parts.
Rotary wet method with pins: Best cleaning on inside of case. Slower process than sonic cleaners and costs about the same.
Tumbler with dry medium: Good cleaning of brass, Slower process than sonic but no drying step needed, a little bit more affordable to buy (cheaper).

It doesn't sound like perfect cleaning inside the case affects reload performance.

Question about sonic cleaners, are there DIY options for the cleaning solution? (similar to using Lemishine....)

 

[Local Loader]

How many .223 cases can you do at a time with your sonic cleaner?

I clean anywhere between 50 to 100 at a time when I clean them. You can do more but that's the number I found works best for what I want. It lists for most sonic cleaners that you can do 300 to 500 223/5.56 case at a time, but the more you do at one time the longer the clean time.