Tumbler with stainless steel media

[jeff43]

Anybody use this to clean brass?How well does it work?
Thanks

[runco]

I do.  When I made my decision, it was only after reading 100s of messages on message boards about what reloaders regretted, or switched too after reloading.   No dust, and very shiny, reusable for life.  You do have to contend with the wet element, but I really like mine. 

[quickbiscuit]

Wet tumbling works great. It takes a little more time and effort, but the results are amazing. The biggest drawback is the need to deprime each piece of brass before wet tumbling. If you wet tumble with the spent primer still in the pocket, water will enter the pocket and is very hard to dry. Some people get around this by drying brass in an oven or dehydrator, but that seems like a lot of trouble as well. I deprime all my brass so I don't have to worry about it, and the primer pocket gets squeaky clean too.

I bought my setup from stainlesstumblingmedia.com

[leroy]

I think the "wet tumblin" thing is the ultimate way to clean brass... It would be ideal for the black powder cartridge shooters among us...

 

leroy

[Ron Padilla]

others talk about how great ultrasonic cleaning is, but I don't think it comes any where near what stainless wet tumbling does it is just great. You can start of small by getting the harbor Freight tumbler and they have 2 sizes, then when your ready you can jump up to a bigger system. That is what I did, then when I was ready and the price was right I bought the Frank Ford Arsenal wet tumbler at Mid south and haven't looked back. Again start small if need be then get or build a bigger system you wont regret it. There are steps that you need to follow to make sure that they come out just right, but like anything trial and error.

[jeff43]

Where the best (cheapest) place to get SS media?Also what size media?

[runco]

This is what I purchased:

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/635839/pellets-brass-cleaning-media-stainless-steel-pins-5-lb-bag?cm_vc=ProductFinding

 

 

but you might want to try ebay too:

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=stainless+steel+media&_sacat=0

 

 

I also purchased the Thumlers Tumbler model B I think from this vendor, which is also a good source for stainless steel media:

 

http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/reloading-products/tumblers/thumler-s-tumbler-model-b-high-speed.html

Edited October 5, 2015 by Runco

[chances R]

I have used it for 4 yrs now.  One time purchase of the SS media.  No dust.  IMO no need to deprime  before tumbling unless you are making truly match-grade ammo and I am not sure that would make any difference.  There is no cleaner brass and it is simple to do.  Plus has to be healthier as there is no dust to breathe.  Would not change if someone gave me any other set-up.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I will try to find it again but I found media for like $3.50 a pound.

For a cheap tumbler use a tread mill with some PVC tubes with lids. Plenty of how to videos or webpages on how to do it.

[Grunt67]

I will try to find it again but I found media for like $3.50 a pound.

For a cheap tumbler use a tread mill with some PVC tubes with lids. Plenty of how to videos or webpages on how to do it.

 

 $3.50 lb. is mighty cheap for stainless media. Bear in mind, not all stainless pins are the same. Some

are alloyed & will rust. Usually get what you pay for.

 As you said, there are plenty of ways to do this. Some use a small cement mixer. Limited only to the 

imagination & ingenuity of the user.

 I bought the Thumlers Tumbler from stainlesssteelmedia, got the Model B, which is sturdier & holds 15 lbs.

Works as advertised. I de-cap before tumbling, gets the pocket & flash hole clean also.

 JMHO   YMMV

[gr8smiles]

I bought a thumbler's tumbler with the ss media. I use it to clean my suppressor baffles. It works great. I disassemble them, throw them in, and let it spin overnight. They come out spotless.


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[Sunfish]

Over on Cast Boolits board there is a gentleman that sells top quality SS pins for cheap. A tip for anyone using city water that is not softened. Buy a thing of Lemi shine detergent booster you will be glad you did and the 12 ounce bottle lasts a long time. Sunfish  

[runco]

Lemshine is great, but I must have been over doing it, I am only getting about 3-4 runs to a container.

 

[URL=http://s963.photobucket.com/user/runco0318/media/lemshine_zpsarvxtvih.jpg.html][/URL]

[Dolomite_supafly]

These were it.
https://www.bestbyte.net/1-lb-047x-255-in-stainless-pellet-pins-tumbling-media.html
 
I am pretty sure they were on sale about four months ago for the $3.50. I did not realize how expensive they are. Had I known I would have jumped on it for $3.50 a pound.
 
The expensive part is the tumbler itself but you can use a treadmill to tumble your brass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwZOsU2oLh0

Here is an even cheaper version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNhLF2_J8pI

[Grunt67]

@ $3.50 /lb. that would have been a bargain. @ $6.50/lb. X 5lbs ( what I use in mine ) is $32.50 for 5 lbs., is around the norm.

Most are around $40 +.  I'm not likely to need any more, but I bookmarked it, just in case, LOL.

Thanks for the tip, Dolomite.

[Ron Padilla]

if you were only getting 3 0r 4 cleanings per jug of shine they ya you were way over doing it, how did the brass look after a couple of days?

[runco]

if you were only getting 3 0r 4 cleanings per jug of shine they ya you were way over doing it, how did the brass look after a couple of days?

No change, I still have a ton of brass.  Whenever I acquire brass, I clean, deprime, and clean again.  Was I suppose to see a change, like in dull? 

[Ron Padilla]

Yes I would say so, my major problem is that I dont at times write down what recipe works best. I have some that I wet tumbled and not only is the insides including primer pocket squeaky clean the outside is bright shiny brass, and some become dull after a few days. Now to be fare to myself some of it was pistol brass, and some was converted 300blk brass, so I dont know if the makeup of the brass is different, but I would think you should see a different. My mixture is usually a small measuring cup of a cleaner degreaser, a little pinch of lemashine, a solution that is used in dishwasher to remove spots, and let it rip.

[Wingshooter]

I know someone that uses a rock tumbler from Harbor Freight and the SS pins sold on ebay. Very cheap setup and works great. I plan to give it a try someday.

[Grunt67]

Lemshine is great, but I must have been over doing it, I am only getting about 3-4 runs to a container.

 

 

 I use 1/4 teaspoon in mine. I have the Thumlers Mod. B 15 lb. drum.  Also, 2 tbls. Dawn dishwashing detergent.

Varies with size of drum in your unit. Better to error on the size of less.

[deafdogdief]

I see wet tumbling more and more. Does it not wear on the brass?

[chances R]

I see wet tumbling more and more. Does it not wear on the brass?

Not near as much as shooting and reloading it,.....No.

[chances R]

I use 1/4 teaspoon in mine. I have the Thumlers Mod. B 15 lb. drum.  Also, 2 tbls. Dawn dishwashing detergent.
Varies with size of drum in your unit. Better to error on the size of less.

In my experience dawn doesn't add any benefit. Agree with minimal amount of lemishine.

[Grunt67]

I see wet tumbling more and more. Does it not wear on the brass?

 

 No.

[Grunt67]

In my experience dawn doesn't add any benefit. Agree with minimal amount of lemishine.

Dawn, like any detergent is mainly to keep dirt in suspension. If it doesn't work for you, then don't use it. Works for me.

To each, his own.