Tweet
I pride myself on laziness. Let me qualify that a bit: I like to optimize my workflows whatever I do so that the minimum effort affects maximum result.
I spent a bit of time cleaning the primer pockets on some range pickup .223 brass this morning. I found a thread recommending using a flathead screwdriver if one didn't have the "proper" pocket cleaning tools.
Tried that - took 30s just to scrape out the gunk, and it really wasn't "clean".
Next I tried using standard cotton swabs (q-tips) manually. It got the pocket clean, but i could tell it was a wrist-injury (RSI) waiting to happen.
Then I got the bright idea of cutting the swab into two parts, and chucking one of the ends into my drill.
Worked GREAT. Got the pockets clean and FAST, especially at 2500 rpm. But the kicker is that i could only get three to four pockets cleaned out before the cotton got pushed back far enough that the plastic/paper shaft butt up against the flash hole. This was enough to prevent the cotton strands from cleaning the gunk at the base. I tried trimming back the shaft, and that worked, but doing that every three cases got old fast.
Ok. Next bright idea? I knew I wanted whatever I ended up using to chuck up to a drill, so thin/light. I also know i didn't want metal anywhere near the pocket, so screw bits were out. And of course, it needed to fit the pocket.
I happened to glance at bundle of zipties sitting on my work table, and then it hit me. The large ties may just fit...
Took one, cut it the floppy lead off to get the thicker stepped plastic:
2012-10-11 10.37.26.jpg
Chucked it into my drill:
2012-10-11 10.37.49.jpg
2012-10-11 10.37.37.jpg
Does it work? Since I'm relatively new to reloading, I'd love feedback on this - would this be acceptable to your own workflows?
Before:
2012-10-11 10.36.41.jpg
After:
2012-10-11 10.37.06.jpg
The picture showing the ziptie "gunked" up is after 30ish cases. You can see that the corners are a bit rounded. I didn't find this to be a problem as off-center chucking caused enough "random orbit" in the pocket to get to the corners, even rounded off. If it does become a bit ineffective, I plan on trimming back the gunked up part (1/4" or so).
I started out by running the pocket as centered as possible on the plastic, but that wasn't getting some spots out in the really crusted up pockets. I currently wiggle the shell up and down for 2-3s. That seems to be enough to get 99% of the pockets cleaned up. For the tough ones, I re-clean them adding a bit more force; works a charm.
So, is this clean enough?
I spent a bit of time cleaning the primer pockets on some range pickup .223 brass this morning. I found a thread recommending using a flathead screwdriver if one didn't have the "proper" pocket cleaning tools.
Tried that - took 30s just to scrape out the gunk, and it really wasn't "clean".
Next I tried using standard cotton swabs (q-tips) manually. It got the pocket clean, but i could tell it was a wrist-injury (RSI) waiting to happen.
Then I got the bright idea of cutting the swab into two parts, and chucking one of the ends into my drill.
Worked GREAT. Got the pockets clean and FAST, especially at 2500 rpm. But the kicker is that i could only get three to four pockets cleaned out before the cotton got pushed back far enough that the plastic/paper shaft butt up against the flash hole. This was enough to prevent the cotton strands from cleaning the gunk at the base. I tried trimming back the shaft, and that worked, but doing that every three cases got old fast.
Ok. Next bright idea? I knew I wanted whatever I ended up using to chuck up to a drill, so thin/light. I also know i didn't want metal anywhere near the pocket, so screw bits were out. And of course, it needed to fit the pocket.
I happened to glance at bundle of zipties sitting on my work table, and then it hit me. The large ties may just fit...
Took one, cut it the floppy lead off to get the thicker stepped plastic:
2012-10-11 10.37.26.jpg
Chucked it into my drill:
2012-10-11 10.37.49.jpg
2012-10-11 10.37.37.jpg
Does it work? Since I'm relatively new to reloading, I'd love feedback on this - would this be acceptable to your own workflows?
Before:
2012-10-11 10.36.41.jpg
After:
2012-10-11 10.37.06.jpg
The picture showing the ziptie "gunked" up is after 30ish cases. You can see that the corners are a bit rounded. I didn't find this to be a problem as off-center chucking caused enough "random orbit" in the pocket to get to the corners, even rounded off. If it does become a bit ineffective, I plan on trimming back the gunked up part (1/4" or so).
I started out by running the pocket as centered as possible on the plastic, but that wasn't getting some spots out in the really crusted up pockets. I currently wiggle the shell up and down for 2-3s. That seems to be enough to get 99% of the pockets cleaned up. For the tough ones, I re-clean them adding a bit more force; works a charm.
So, is this clean enough?
Comment