Wet tumbling options

[eb in oregon]

I've been reloading for over 50 years and during that time I've tried dry tumbling (Midway vibrating tumbler with corn cob, walnut, and a mixture of both equal parts) and it works. When the media is new it works fine, when the media gets old not so much. I've also wet tumbled using 1/4 cup white vinegar, one quart water, and a good squirt of Dawn dish soap. A couple hours of that and it comes out like new. And it usually cleans out most the primer residue. What's left doesn't affect squat. You do need to place your brass in a bucket and run a hose into it and let it run for a bit. Agitate it well every five minutes or so for three or four times. Drain throughly. Drying is optional but best on a real hot day in the sun, stirring them a few times. I've also put them on a wood stove (not for long, you are pulling and replacing cases the entire time) which works well. I've not tried the stainless pins but may in the future.
The one thing I have learned is that brass doesn't need to be store bought shiny, it needs to be clean and free of carbon deposits. I've shot plenty of ammunition with dark surfaces, it works just fine. I've also shot plenty of dented cases. As long as it chambers it will fire just fine. It's no different than fire forming a case, you're just ironing out a dent.

Just a bit of my experience.

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[bcp]

I read somewhere recently about an economical alternative to SS pins. It looked like SS chunks of what you get around a drill press.

Bruce

 

[eb in oregon]

You could use chips, but they should be little chips. And they wouldn't get the primer pocket. Small chips could get caught in the primer pocket (I'm thinking guaranteed) and too big a chip could scar the brass. I'm thinking the pins are better as they don't wear out or get stuck in the primer pocket. But for the most part the solution works like gang busters and is cheap. You can even re-use it several times if your wallet squeaks.

 

[DizzyJ]

I've used the stainless chips. While they didn't get stuck in the primer hole they are VERY aggressive to the finish so you'll want to cut your tumbling time WAY down at least until the chips get a little worn.

 

[Lazyfaire]

I've used the SS pins in my Frankford Arsenal tumbler. After rinsing I spread them out on a dry towel and run a magnet over the top and pick up any pins that I missed. If there is a pin in a primer hole or inside a piece of brass the magnet will pick the whole thing up. I have baking sheets that I use to spread the brass out on and put in the over @200* for about 45 min.

Oh and I bought a bottle of the Frankford brass cleaner. One capful is all i need to add

 

[Cerberus Group]

CA - Citric Acid

SG - Simple Green

Dawn dish soap

 

[RVTECH]

2 hours with 'standard' SS pins, a few drops of Dawn and a 'shot glass' of lemon juice...

 

[robertvarner]

2 hours with 'standard' SS pins, a few drops of Dawn and a 'shot glass' of lemon juice...

View attachment 1962541

I also add a pinch or two of LemiShine with hot water and Dawn Dish Soap for my recipe. Then I wet tumble for 45-60 minutes, rinse well, then place in an old food dryer for 45-60 minutes at 140°F.

For me it has been much better than the dry tumble process I used to use.

 

[Camelfilter]

Chips I use are egg shaped. Sold by southern shine media, looks like thru T&B bullets.

When I bought mine it was via e-mail...

Use a FART, and key is to use one of those brass/media separators with some water in it to break the surface tension. Once done wet tumbling.

My brass/media separator is RCBS, however many co's make them.

 

[Caveman Jim]

I use the pins that came with my FART for 4-5 years so far, the end result has beyond fabulous. I do another step to insure that there are no pins left in the primer pockets as I've found before, I put the dried cases into the media separator. I believe some pins are undersized or broken in half.
I can't find the pics to show the offenders in the primer pockets.

 

[RVTECH]

For me it has been much better than the dry tumble process I used to use.

I only wish when my 'Dry' tumbler finally burnt up it would have done so MUCH earlier and I would have 'migrated' to 'liquid' tumbling sooner!

And a hint for all you 'liquid' tumbling enthusiasts - save your de-primed 'primers' as free 'media' for pre cleaning range pickup, dirty, but STILL primed brass.

Heck an hour or less with Dawn, lemon juice and they will be much nicer (and easier) on your dies for sizing and depriming. Heck, you may find them clean enough to go ahead and reload.

 

[Caveman Jim]

I've got a few sitting around…

 

[DizzyJ]

I only wish when my 'Dry' tumbler finally burnt up it would have done so MUCH earlier and I would have 'migrated' to 'liquid' tumbling sooner!

And a hint for all you 'liquid' tumbling enthusiasts - save your de-primed 'primers' as free 'media' for pre cleaning range pickup, dirty, but STILL primed brass.

Heck an hour or less with Dawn, lemon juice and they will be much nicer (and easier) on your dies for sizing and depriming. Heck, you may find them clean enough to go ahead and reload.

Just use the spent primers BEFORE you deprime the brass. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[RVTECH]

Just use the spent primers BEFORE you deprime the brass. Don't ask me how I know this.

Kinda why I mentioned

but STILL primed brass.

I learned the same thing on DE-PRIMED brass!!

 

[DizzyJ]

Kinda why I mentioned

I learned the same thing on DE-PRIMED brass!!

Talk about a PITA!

Who woulda thunk those little ba$turds would re-seat themselves so well into primer pockets. GAH!

 

[RVTECH]

Who woulda thunk those little ba$turds would re-seat themselves so well intoprimer pockets.

That was MY thought as well ! But it was a learning process as we both discovered!

 

[Brian Vedack]

I had great results by using a half cup of the Orange pumice hand cleaner and the pins. ran for a couple hours. rinsed brass in a colander. tumbled again with pins and Dawn.

 

[eb in oregon]

2 hours with 'standard' SS pins, a few drops of Dawn and a 'shot glass' of lemon juice...

View attachment 1962541

Two hours one quart water, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1 squirt Dawn.

 

[dangerranger60]

I used pins for a few years, and then tried Southern Shine Chips, I like the chips so much better. I clean a lot of range pickup brass, and the SS Chips are so much faster. It leaves the brass with a satin finish. If I want shiny, I still dry vibrate theme in three steps.
I used to make the shiny rounds for friends' dress uniforms, Cowboy Action Shooters, and for a Photographer that used them in advertising. DR

 

[Caveman Jim]

Caveman is like Magpie, likes shiny things. Ughhh