Wet tumbler media? Stainless steel pins?

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Smokepole14

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I’ve always used aquarium gravel in my tumbler to clean brass with good results. I never tried to use the stainless pins that everybody else is raving about. Watching videos it seems to work extremely well. Is there a special type of pins to use? Or will any ole pin work? Looks to me like the small pins that comes out of bearings.
 
The ones I bought are cut ferritic (attracted to a magnet for pick up) stainless wire. The least expensive I could find when I started. They came from Pellets LLC.
 
I didn’t think about them rusting. So basically a stainless steel grade that’s magnetic! My gravel is working great I was just curious if the pins would do better. Thanks guys!
 
I have both pins and chips. IMHO, there are slight advantages and disadvantages to each.

Currently using pins as their size makes 'em easier to see/corral.
Wet chips seem to 'pour' from the separator back into the drum easier.

I never have had a pin stick in a flash hole, but I used to occasionally have one lodge itself sideways in my 223 cases. (I've since refined my tumbling/separating technique and that issue has disappeared)

Chips don't get stuck, but some of mine are so small they resemble tiny slivers. :(

Never have used any other type of media,
 
Done correctly the cases come out looking like new, unfired brass. Inside and out. This generally takes 30-90 minutes in my tumbler.

These are the pins I use.

BAB169DB-89D6-4496-82EF-46886C944EF9.jpeg

When I first built my tumbler I was curious about what happened if they were left going for an extended period of time. So I tumbled one batch for more than a day and they turned OD green, everywhere the pins could touch.

2940DDC8-AC9D-4BF3-9680-371B61CF9478.jpeg

They still ran fine but are permanently altered by way too much time.

I must say it’s nice during the summer to be able to clean 3000/cases in an hour.

32308B2A-9260-4C46-A897-2ACD78E3D56E.jpeg

of course drying them is another chore if you don’t have hot sunny days.
 
I bought guntap pins on Amazon when I used the Harbor Freight tumbler. I used them for several thousand cases and didn’t have a single issue. The pins that were included with the FA Rotary Tumbler were thinner and shorter. I didn’t like that. I felt there was potential for a pin to get stuck inside 9mm case and flash hole. The Guntap pins are thicker and slightly longer.

I use 5 pounds of pins and about 800 9mm cases no problem in the FA Rotary Tumbler. 800 cases? Because that’s about how many fit in Costco cashew containers.
 
My SS tumbling pins have a diameter of 0.047”. Two of these pins won’t get stuck side by side in flash holes. Pins of 0.041” or smaller can stick side by side in flash holes.

Just, FYI…

Bayou52
 
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I used the ones provided with my tumbler (Frankford Arsonal), I was concerned that since they seemed to be everywhere I must be losing them by the pound. I picked up 5 more pounds and stopped being concerned. I have noticed the odd broke or shorter pin now and then. I just have not had any issues with the originals.
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I use National Metallic (MidwayUSA house brand) stainless steel pins. They work great and seem to be a good size to avoid issues.
 
Southern Shine media stainless chips are the way to go, if you insist on using media at all.

I wet tumble with no media, 30min and my cases look shiny as if new on the outside, and the bulk of my pocket and internal scums are clean. I’ve played a bit with wet tumbling with primers in place even, and by and large, they come out as clean as I’d ever functionally need them to be, even for PRS competition.

Buy a brass dryer. They’re expensive for what they are, but they are cheap, and they make life SO much easier. Hour and a half to two hours, I can tumble and dry, half hour wet, hour dry, and be ready to load again.
 
Does the pins ever wear out or need replaced?

The SS pins never wear out. They do not need to be replaced owing to wearing out.

However, they can be lost if not careful with your handling techniques. I’ve been SS wet tumbling since 2012. My techniques in handling pins are refined and well honed.

As a result, I have very few escapee pins on most batches.

Bayou52
 
I use the same pins as jmorris. For fun I tried running some batches with primers removed and no pins. They took longer to shine up and the primer pockets and inside the brass were still somewhat dirty.
This coming from a guy that would just take fired brass, wipe it with a rag, and then reload it as is for many years.
 
I buy & sell a lot of range brass. After separating the brass I'll run it through the Frankford for 45 minutes to get all the curde off the cases.
My personal brass gets deprimed then tumbled. The cases are 100% clean inside & out. The primer pockets are always 100% clean.
Does the brass need to be that clean?
No, but if you are going to tumble your brass why not make it cllok the best it can. Like new or better then new.
Every one adventually has their way of doing it. What works for some people doesn't work for others.
I have two of the larger Frankford wet tumblers and use the pins that came with them. I did buy an extra five pound box of pins which just sit on a shelf.
No matter how careful you are you are going to find pins in places that you never would of imagined they could of got there.
I made & use case drying racks to dry my brass.
20220220_162219.jpg

Never tried useing a electric dehydrator, the way I look at it Ship runs down hill, payday is on Friday and never chew your finger nails.
Gravity is your best friend. Damp cases will always misfire. Hanging upside down everything drains out.
 
I used the ones provided with my tumbler (Frankford Arsonal), I was concerned that since they seemed to be everywhere I must be losing them by the pound. I picked up 5 more pounds and stopped being concerned. I have noticed the odd broke or shorter pin now and then. I just have not had any issues with the originals.
View attachment 1084899
My experience as well.

I have the small Frankford and use two batches (ten pounds) of pins. So I’m running more pins than brass most of the time. 200 45ACP is a max load.

(The full length/size pins seem to simply wear down to shorter lengths and smaller diameters over time which is normal I suppose.)
 
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Generations from now may see the pins wearing out........

Hey!
Use care out there!

B.L.
I think I do see them wearing smaller (wouldn’t call it “out” cause they’re still banging around doing their job.)

Edit: I’m not sure I even agree with my own comment above. “Strike that” as they say in the court room.
 
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The SS pins never wear out. They do not need to be replaced owing to wearing out.

However, they can be lost if not careful with your handling techniques. I’ve been SS wet tumbling since 2012. My techniques in handling pins are refined and well honed.

As a result, I have very few escapee pins on most batches.

Bayou52
Not sure I agree that they never wear smaller. Each use I’ll find some smaller, some stainless “glitter” and other evidence they’re taking a beating.

Now I’ll grant you there is a possibility I’m finding the same ones each time but seems hard to believe these pins banging against other pins don’t get worn down.
 
^^^ Interesting. My pins now have ten years of use on them with no appreciable change in size or shape. They still look brand new, in fact.

Thanks,

Bayou52
Mine look brand new too but then I tumble then clean often:)

The more I think about this the more I doubt I see much if any obvious wearing out. It would just take too long and changes wouldn’t be obvious.

At the same time I can’t believe wear isn’t occurring.

Oh well, I’m just going to enjoy the hobby and not over think it.

Cheers
 
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