DRY TUMBLING VERSES WET TUMBLING

Highland Lofts

Highland Lofts

Member
Joined
May 1, 2019
Messages
3,035
Last night I had some extra time with nothing to do but drink some beers. So I had some dirty range brass that I seperatedby calibers that can be tumbled together. 30/06, 308, 243, 223, 300 Blackout, 30 cal carbine.
I dug out one of my dry tumblers and dry tumbled the dirt brass in walnut media for two hours.
My Lyman dry tumbler
20230204_171937.jpg

The brass after dry tumbling.
20230204_153029.jpg

Then I put it in my Frankford Arsenal wet tumbler for an hour.
Look how much crude that was left on the cases after they were dry tumbled for two hours.
20230205_101153.jpg
The brass after I wet tumbled it.
20230205_115658.jpg

I dug out the old dry tumbler to actually see and compare the difference between two tumbling methods.

This is why I strictly wet tumble
I like my brass completely clean inside and out.

Does it have to be super clean?
NO, but if you take the time to tumble your brass why not get it absolutely clean.
I have three wet tumblers for when I buy large volumes of range brass.

I have several dry tumblers the are taking up space on a shelf.
 
Highland Lofts said:
Last night I had some extra time with nothing to do but drink some beers. So I had some dirty range brass that I seperatedby calibers that can be tumbled together. 30/06, 308, 243, 223, 300 Blackout, 30 cal carbine.
I dug out one of my dry tumblers and dry tumbled the dirt brass in walnut media for two hours.
My Lyman dry tumbler
View attachment 1131592

The brass after dry tumbling.
View attachment 1131593

Then I put it in my Frankford Arsenal wet tumbler for an hour.
Look how much crude that was left on the cases after they were dry tumbled for two hours.
View attachment 1131594
The brass after I wet tumbled it.
View attachment 1131595

I dug out the old dry tumbler to actually see and compare the difference between two tumbling methods.

This is why I strictly wet tumble
I like my brass completely clean inside and out.

Does it have to be super clean?
NO, but if you take the time to tumble your brass why not get it absolutely clean.
I have three wet tumblers for when I buy large volumes of range brass.

I have several dry tumblers the are taking up space on a shelf.
Click to expand...
Are you offering to give away the dry tumblers?
 
I when I get my shed finished I will be doing reloading classes out there. I have been buying a lot of used reloading equipment.
When someone takes a class and wants to get serious in to reloading I will have everything they will need to jump right into it.
I have spent thousands of dollars on extra reloading equipment for this project.
 
I'm not saying one way is better than the other............I dry tumble and don't really care what the rest of you do as long as it works for you.........

That being said, my brass has never come out of the dry tumbler looking as grungy as your pic.......it generally looks like the piece of bottlenecked brass right in the middle .........
 
Highland Lofts said:
Last night I had some extra time with nothing to do but drink some beers. So I had some dirty range brass that I seperatedby calibers that can be tumbled together. 30/06, 308, 243, 223, 300 Blackout, 30 cal carbine.
I dug out one of my dry tumblers and dry tumbled the dirt brass in walnut media for two hours.
My Lyman dry tumbler
View attachment 1131592

The brass after dry tumbling.
View attachment 1131593

Then I put it in my Frankford Arsenal wet tumbler for an hour.
Look how much crude that was left on the cases after they were dry tumbled for two hours.
View attachment 1131594
The brass after I wet tumbled it.
View attachment 1131595

I dug out the old dry tumbler to actually see and compare the difference between two tumbling methods.

This is why I strictly wet tumble
I like my brass completely clean inside and out.

Does it have to be super clean?
NO, but if you take the time to tumble your brass why not get it absolutely clean.
I have three wet tumblers for when I buy large volumes of range brass.

I have several dry tumblers the are taking up space on a shelf.
Click to expand...


i have an old sock and a buffing wheel. works for now. :rofl:
 
i tried wet tumbling and found no benefits over my corn cob blast media. Besides messier, wet tumbling adds other steps; rinsing and drying, Also wet tumbled brass is too clean and either needs a wax or lubricant as a separate step. I have no need for pristine primer pockets or case interiors. When I want shiny brass for easier pick up in the dirt, docks, trash of the "range" I just leave the tumbler (rotary) running a bit longer.

Cleaning brass is one of the most talked about steps in reloading but the least important. 99% cosmetic and I don't need to impress shooters to with my glossy handloads. FWIW in my early reloading ('70s, brown ammo was a sign of a reloader. Sorta a "badge of pride"
 
Both wet and dry systems were available when it was time for me to 'jump in'.
I bought a HF dual-drum. I was hooked after the first batch,,,
 
D537C9B3-DE90-4FFA-BF1C-0617A0313BE3.jpeg 2B454EF8-2F97-4CB3-AA87-A5D997AC11EE.jpeg
I hear you, the wet tumbling is perfect, the dry tumble is a pain to clean out the inside of each case even after shaking. I really like the results of wet tumbling and I use the dryer and get all moisture out of the cases. Plus it cleans the case inside as well, all powder residue is gone.
 
Highland Lofts said:
Does it have to be super clean?
NO, but if you take the time to tumble your brass why not get it absolutely clean.
Click to expand...

I own and use ultrasonic, wet pin tumblers and dry vibratory ones. For the “why not” always use wet with stainless pins question, it doesn’t have to be squeaky clean and if it is, it’s going to need some lube for the ride in and out of the dies.

For dry, I dump in and hit the button on the timer and come back later to get the brass and load. Wet, I have to make my mix, tumble for a shorter duration of time but then I have to get rid of my dirty water, rinse then dry all of the brass before I can load. If I add in depriming, because why not if I am going to get them absolutely clean, that adds another operation.

Ultrasonic is faster and probably cleaner than my method for my benchrest cases, where I clean them each by hand and a nylon brush for the neck but there is still the dry step.
 
I prefer dry-cleaning ...
Been cleaning them wet and dry since 1967 ... started out wet but have come full circle .
The trick is the right dry polishing media ... not lizard litter and liquid car polish .
What I like most about the dry method is ... No Drying to fool with . Remove from polisher and ready to load .
Everyone has to find "their" own way to do it ... no right , no wrong .
Gary
 
Highland Lofts said:
Last night I had some extra time with nothing to do but drink some beers. So I had some dirty range brass that I seperatedby calibers that can be tumbled together. 30/06, 308, 243, 223, 300 Blackout, 30 cal carbine.
I dug out one of my dry tumblers and dry tumbled the dirt brass in walnut media for two hours.
My Lyman dry tumbler
View attachment 1131592

The brass after dry tumbling.
View attachment 1131593

Then I put it in my Frankford Arsenal wet tumbler for an hour.
Look how much crude that was left on the cases after they were dry tumbled for two hours.
View attachment 1131594
The brass after I wet tumbled it.
View attachment 1131595

I dug out the old dry tumbler to actually see and compare the difference between two tumbling methods.

This is why I strictly wet tumble
I like my brass completely clean inside and out.

Does it have to be super clean?
NO, but if you take the time to tumble your brass why not get it absolutely clean.
I have three wet tumblers for when I buy large volumes of range brass.

I have several dry tumblers the are taking up space on a shelf.
Click to expand...
That range brass looks like it has been sitting awhile, or was wet at one point.
Any kind of green tarnishing means.....probably should wet tumble.
That crud takes a looooong time to remove in a dry tumbler.
 
Highland Lofts said:
This is why I strictly wet tumble
I like my brass completely clean inside and out.
Click to expand...

Not gettin' clean inside and out with the spent primers still in.........................:p

Highland Lofts said:
index.php
Click to expand...
 
Highland Lofts said:
I bought and sold over two tons of range brass in the past two years. When you send someone brass they want nice new looking brass not tarnished or dingy looking.
Click to expand...

That’s an impressive testimony for the FART, probably more that most would do in a lifetime.

I was asked to build some really big wet tumblers for a business that told me they had tons to clean.

97B703CB-4223-456E-9A0B-0DE6C6B0AAA0.jpeg


I built 3 of these for them, 15 gallons of brass per drum using a gantry crane to load and unload them.

 
mdi said:
I don't need to impress shooters to with my glossy handloads. FWIW in my early reloading ('70s, brown ammo was a sign of a reloader. Sorta a "badge of pride"
Click to expand...
Today, If I saw someone in the next lane shooting brown ammo, I'd assume it was old mil-surp,,, :).

My Dad reloaded in the 60-70's. When asked about case cleaning, he mentioned just manual cleaning with a rag.

I'm glad we have several option to chose from today.
 
Last edited:
I prefer wet to dry… But I think it all depends on the recipe used for each. I’m not seeing everyone’s favorite yet, that would make this thread complete.
 
I use both wet and dry tumbling methods depending on the condition of the brass. Dirty stuff gets wet tumbled with pins. Subsequently, it's several load cycles with dry tumbling before another round of wet tumbling.

Wet tumbling with pins requires considerably more effort, partially due to the need of larger batches for best results. And some wet tumblers do a much better job than others. Dry tumbling is quicker and less work.
 
lordpaxman said:
I prefer wet to dry… But I think it all depends on the recipe used for each. I’m not seeing everyone’s favorite yet, that would make this thread complete.
Click to expand...

Dry:
11lbs of Corn Cobb
Add in 1 cap full of Dillon polish until no longer dusty.

Good for ~ 1000 +/- pistol cases.

Ultrasonic:
1QT hot water
1 cup vinegar
1T salt
1T dawn

Good for ~ 50 small rifle cases.

Wet with SS pins.
10lbs of pins.
2 gallons hot water
2T dawn
1/2t Lemishine

Good for ~3000 +/- pistol cases.
 
gwpercle said:
I prefer dry-cleaning ...
Been cleaning them wet and dry since 1967 ... started out wet but have come full circle .
The trick is the right dry polishing media ... not lizard litter and liquid car polish .
What I like most about the dry method is ... No Drying to fool with . Remove from polisher and ready to load .
Everyone has to find "their" own way to do it ... no right , no wrong .
Gary
Click to expand...
Gary, what is the right dry polishing media that you use?
 
jmorris said:
Dry:
11lbs of Corn Cobb
Add in 1 cap full of Dillon polish until no longer dusty.

Good for ~ 1000 +/- pistol cases.

Ultrasonic:
1QT hot water
1 cup vinegar
1T salt
1T dawn

Good for ~ 50 small rifle cases.

Wet with SS pins.
10lbs of pins.
2 gallons hot water
2T dawn
1/2t Lemishine

Good for ~3000 +/- pistol cases.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recipes, I also use the Dawn and the Lemishine and it works great and no residue or stains after drying. A lot of us are on a smaller scale when cleaning brass and I enjoy doing different batches of various calibers. I don't mind the extra steps because while things are tumbling or drying, I can reload other calibers that are ready or de-prime the next batch. Being retired who's in a hurry anyways, I've got nothing but time.
 
Fine Figure of a Man said:
Are you not aware of the monumental problem with wet tumbling brass? How to dry it?
Click to expand...
May through September in the Columbia Basin, lay it out on a towel on the deck (afternoon temps between 80 and 105 degrees), other months a couple hours in a $50 food dehydrator. Remove primers prior to tumbling to clean and dry primer pockets, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

trigga
  • Locked
why do people dry tumble and not wet tumble?
2 3 4
Replies
91
Views
21K
Rule3
Rule3
Highland Lofts
  • Locked
Tarnished Brass & Tumbleing
2
Replies
44
Views
2K
Highland Lofts
Highland Lofts
I
  • Locked
Wet tumbled nickel plated brass - turned "gray"
Replies
6
Views
2K
Rule3
Rule3
coloradokevin
  • Locked
Wet Tumbling Brass - Strange Discoloration
Replies
19
Views
3K
Toprudder
Toprudder
tcoz
  • Locked
Wet tumbling question
Replies
23
Views
1K
WeekendReloader
WeekendReloader
Back
Top