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Post by seancass on Jun 4, 2016 11:07:36 GMT -5
Mildly relevant: I typically don't deprime before (wet)tumbling. I deprime on the press then immediately reprime without cleaning the primer pocket. This brass has probably been reloaded 20-25 times(9mm). This has me questioning the necessity of cleaning primer pockets.
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nashtn
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 31 
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Post by nashtn on Jun 5, 2016 19:31:08 GMT -5
I just got my FA wet tumbler, and I am very pleased with its performance. However, I don't see my primer pockets, nor the inside of the cases, coming out like new. Cleaner, but not new. Like seancass, I stopped using the pins. Pins = PITA! As time goes by, I may have to use the pins every 5th cycle, or so. We'll see.
--NashTn--
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 19:50:15 GMT -5
I still use both. I have an elderly Lyman 1200, and an equally old Lyman 600 tumbler, both around 25 years old, and still on their original motors. The 1200 is getting kind of wheezy lately though. I also have a Thumlers rotary Model B that I bought used a few years ago. This is one of the older lower speed models, intended for rock polishing. I use steel in it of course, adding Lemishine, and a car wash soap that has wax in it. This seems to be the hot ticket for wet tumbling, and it does work very well. Being the analytical type, I like to make things more difficult, so I generally tumble pistol brass in walnut long enough to remove any dirt & grit from the cases, then I size & decap them, and run them in the wet tumbler for a couple of hours. I allow extra time because as I mentioned, I have the "slow" tumbler. After separating the cases from the pins, I run the cases one more time in the dry tumbler, this time to dry the cases completely, then I sift them out, and store the brass in plastic bags until needed. I've heard a number of complaints about people punching through primer that were left in while wet tumbling, so I make sure all cases are decapped before they go into the Thumlers. Bottleneck rifle cases are done almost the same way, but I blow the water out of the wet tumbled cases with compressed air before dropping them into the dry tumblers for drying. Of course, I only handle the cases after wet tumbling while wearing rubber gloves. Is simple, no? Is simple, no.
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Post by Rimfire69 on Jun 6, 2016 8:08:10 GMT -5
Thats to bad, I hoped for better results. Do they seperate easily, or does the pins stick inside the cases, I have wondered about that. How do you seperate them.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2016 22:05:33 GMT -5
The best way to separate the pins from the cases is to use a media separator filled with water, mine is an RCBS separator. If the cases are filled with water, there is no surface tension to make the pins "stick" in the cases. The media will sink to the bottom of the separator as you rotate the basket. It actually works pretty slick. Even 223 cases give up their pins. Failing that, you can hold each case under water upside down, and the pins should fall out. It's tedious, but it does work too.
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Post by Rimfire69 on Jun 11, 2016 9:03:47 GMT -5
Thanks
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nashtn
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 31
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Post by nashtn on Jun 15, 2016 20:01:38 GMT -5
I just got my FA wet tumbler, and I am very pleased with its performance. However, I don't see my primer pockets, nor the inside of the cases, coming out like new. Cleaner, but not new. Like seancass, I stopped using the pins. Pins = PITA! As time goes by, I may have to use the pins every 5th cycle, or so. We'll see. --NashTn-- Jun 15, 2016 -- UPDATE I gave the FA another shot at cleaning my brass to a 'like new' result inside the case, and in the primer pockets. But, this time I used 10LBs of pins, 525 45lc cases and ran the FA for 3 hours. [last time it was 5lbs pins,1000 cases and a run time of 1 1/2 hours] [active ingredients: FA's brass cleaning solution (3 capfulls), healthy squirt of Dawn detergent, and cold tap water] WOW: it worked. They really do come out looking just like they did out of the Starline shipping box! So, I have to say: the FA works as advertised so long as you don't stuff it too full of cases, use too few pins, and run it just a short time. I still hate the pins, man, they end up all over the place. But help has arrived, I hope. I bought Lyman's case/pin sifter from Midway and plan to use it this weekend. Really hoping it does the job.
--NashTn--
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JSilva
.30 Stingray
Posts: 184
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Post by JSilva on Jun 15, 2016 20:23:25 GMT -5
After my fluid packs ran out, I ordered a mega pack of Lemi shine and absconded with a partially filled dish soap squirt bottle.
I'm still practically full on both products. About a 44 special worth of powder and a single drop of soap for me and I'm set. I usually use the whole lot of pins regardless of what I wash. Having a big magnet for reclaiming your runaways is a big plus. Highly recommend that tool.
After it's done tumbling, I dump the contents into a large plastic punch bowl half filled with water and rinse the brass under the faucet till the water is clear. After that, drain what water I can and dump the whole lot into that clam shell sorting basket. Brass, pins, water and all. Close her up and spin forwards, back whatever.
From that point, dry as you see fit. Some lay them on a towel like I do for a couple days, other toss them into a old jerky maker/food dehydrator.
The towel option is fine for me, no need to rush it.
Hope you don't mind my sharing my method. I've seen a lot of YouTube videos where folks get all flustered at the sorting part. Keeping the mess confined in that 2 part enclosed bin is huge for keeping pins around and for disposing of the last bits of water.
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Post by chris623 on Jun 15, 2016 20:42:31 GMT -5
About 6 years ago I got a tumbler at Harbor freight. I think it was just a bit under 50 bucks. That and their crushed walnut shells have served me well until this past winter. The threaded shaft up the middle that holds the lid is getting stripped.The wing nut barely holds now. The wing nut is too hot to handle right after I turn it off as well. Loosening has created friction in the wrong places.Definitely time for an upgrade. I have been thinking about getting a wet tumbler with the stainless media but it seems like a whole bunch more who ha to got through. If you are using a wet tumbler with stainless is it worth the extra initial investment and added procedure? What brand tumbler have you guys used for a dry media tumbler and how long has it been serving you well? I can't believe I've just now noticed this thread. I should get a commission from these guys: www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/ My old vibratory tumbler died a couple of years ago and I decided to go for the stainless steel pin solution. Couldn't be happier and wouldn't ever go back. I shoot'em, de-prime 'em, tumble 'em and toss 'em in the toaster oven for 60 minutes at 150 degrees. Never been happier. Cases are clean inside and out..........as well as the primer pockets and holes. Never had a primer fail to shoot because of moisture left behind. My brass come out looking just like it did the day I received it from Starline. Had a problem with the tumbler in the beginning (which turned out to be my fault) and they stood by their product and took care of it.........even after I admitted my mistake. Good bunch of folks...........much like Dillon. I think everyone should have the pleasure of using their product. In fact, if you're in my area of Oklahoma, drop by and we'll clean your brass and you can see for yourself.  |
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Post by dougader on Jun 16, 2016 9:03:37 GMT -5
60 minutes @ 150? Mine are dry in about 6 - 10 minutes at 170, or 15 minutes on an old cookie sheet outside when it's sunny
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Post by chris623 on Jun 16, 2016 12:35:47 GMT -5
I've always been paranoid about ruining primers. 150 degrees for 60 minutes doesn't harm the brass, so I figure why not?
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Post by seancass on Jun 16, 2016 18:11:28 GMT -5
Interesting. I do 195 for however long I happen to leave the oven on. Somewhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours. Or, on occasion, four hours. With the oven door cracked open. I've done 215, but the brass changed colors. Probably just flash-tarnishing. I need to go make some ammo!
Also, I deprimed some 38 brass and cleaned it with pins. Worked out great! Made shiny brass! Which slowly tarnished into regular looking brass.
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