January 13, 2023. If you have read Jason Baney’s lengthy article on Ultrasonic Case Cleansing, you will be able to see the amazing results that this method can achieve, as shown in the photo. Ultrasonic cleaning offers many advantages over traditional tumbling techniques of case cleaning. Ultrasonic cleaning is much more effective than traditional tumbling methods of cleaning cases. There is no residue or dust to remove from the brass and the cases shine inside and out. Brownell’s staff compares the results using Mpro-7 as well as HCS 200 cleaning products. The tests were done with both once-fired and five-fired tactical 20 (Tac20), cases, as well once-fired Rem Cases. The article also compares ultrasonic cleaning to tumbling in walnut media. Below are Brownell’s results using the HCS 200 (nonacidic solution) for Tac20 cases. Brownell’s article has Rem 260 and MPro7 results. After the solution was de-gassed for fifteen minutes, 63 Tac20 case were placed in a single layer in a stainless steel mesh basket. The starting solution temperature was 102? F. The temperature at which the cases were taken out was 110? F. Once-Fired Twenty Cases (HCS 200). — Observations
5 minutes: The exteriors of the cases do not appear to be significantly brighter/cleaner. The interiors of the cases and primer pockets are still dirty.
10 minutes: The exterior of the cases is brighter. 70% of cases show some cleaning of primer pockets. There is little difference inside the case, but the mouths of the cases are cleaner.
15 minutes: The case brightness remains the same. Although only 70% of primer pockets are still clean, a greater proportion of each primer pocket is cleaner. A Q-tip taken inside the cases shows that powder and carbon residues are being loosening.
20 minutes: The exteriors of the cases are getting brighter. The primer pockets are 90% to 90% clean. The insides of the cases are cleaner, as well as the case mouths.
25 minutes: The cases are brighter/cleaner that even new brass. The primer pockets are almost entirely clean in 80-85% of cases. The interior of the cases is clean from 80-90%.
30 minutes: The interiors of the cases and mouths of the cases appear completely clean. 87% of primer pockets are almost 100% clean. 13% of cases had stubborn primer pockets residue that could not completely be removed.
60 minutes: Eight cases (13%) were placed in the tank and left in there for another 30 minutes in order to remove any residue from their primer pockets. Six of the eight cases were completely clean. Five-Times Fired Tac20 cases — Observations
30 minutes: Based upon the above observations, I only began to observe these 5-time-fired cases after 30 minutes. The exterior cases are bright/clean. The cases are brighter than the new ones. 75% of the cases have primer pockets that are 75% clean. The primer pockets on the remaining cases were only 25% clean. The interior of the cases appears to be clean.
65 minutes: 25% were 95% clean, 25% were 90% clean, 25% were 85% clean, and 25% were 80% clean.
75 minutes: 75% were 90% clean in the primer pockets. How does ultrasonic cleaning work?
According to Brownell’s Benchtalk article, Ultrasonic cleaning uses high frequency sound waves (generally between 20 and 80 kHz) in order to remove contaminants from objects submerged in liquids. Cavitation is the result of high-frequency sound waves. As the sound waves pass through the solution, they create a three-dimensional wave with alternating positive and negatively pressure areas. Microscopically small cavitation bubbles will form under negative pressure and continue to grow until they reach resonant sizes. The pressure rises rapidly as the positive sound wave passes and impels these tiny bubbles. These tiny bubbles store a lot of energy before they explode. These bubbles can reach temperatures of 10,000 degrees and can store up to 50,000 lbs per square in of pressure. Although this sounds alarming, you should remember that these bubbles are microscopic in their nature and pose no danger to anything – unless you are a carbon/powder residue deposit on cartridge cases! When the cavitation bubble explodes near your brass case it transforms into a jet approximately 1/10th its size. This jet of energy can travel up to 400 km/hour. This happens 43,000 times per second at 43 kHz. This micro-burst is responsible for removing contaminants on the surface of cartridge brass. Ultrasonic cleaning can reach into tight spaces and remove any surface debris that cannot be cleaned by other processes. “Photos and quotes by C. Brownells(R), Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission.
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