Tumbling trending to wet?

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Now that I think about it,I have won more matches with brass that was tumbled in corncob.

I did build some big wet tumblers though, 3 of these that are loaded with an overhead crane. They do 15 gallons of brass in each drum.

 
After reading all the recent hype about wet/pin tumbling, I was considering a change-over.
At the time I was using fine walnut with a splash of NuFinish that produced a good finish on the outsides, the insides/primer pockets...not so much.
That's when I read about adding OMS to keep the dust down and tried it.
The added bonus in this is the insides and primer pockets came out much cleaner.
So with about a pill bottles worth of a OMS and NuFinish mixture added to the walnut, I'm happy with the results and no longer considering a change to rotary/wet/pin tumbling.
:D
 
In all honesty the only thing that is stopping me from moving over to the wet tumble club is that I do all of my work in the garage. I have no water, sink or heat out there so dry tumbling is it for me at this time. If it were easy or convenient I would do it.

Sometimes I use a primer pocket brush attached to my RCBS Trim Mate. It takes about 1 second to clean the primer pocket per case. Not necessary and I usually don't do it.
 
I added a FART to my process when I started loading for pistol because all my brass was scavenged from my range and It's full of mud and whatnot.

I still do my rifle brass using corn cob. Tried it once using the FART and wasn't happy. The banging around in the drum caused quite a few of the case mouth's to get dinged.

I will also add that I don't get the "jewelry grade" shinny that some of you do with the wet process. I must be doing something wrong.
 
Wet tumbling is worth the small amount of extra trouble IMO.
Does the pristine looking brass shoot better, most likely makes no difference, do I like the way it looks Yes!
You don't need to decap first but looking at nice clean/shiny primer pockets gives me that warm fuzzy feeling so I decap first.

I use a Lyman Cyclone, got a excellent price on it when it was on sale.
So far seems to be holding up well.
Auto Wash and Wax + citric acid (available in the canning section of the supermarket)

Frankford has the name game won however with F.A.R.T.
 
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  1. Reloading Supplies
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Hornady Rotary Case Tumbler 110 Volt
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Clean and polish brass cartridge cases to a brilliant shine with the rotary action of the Hornady Rotary Brass tumbler, coupled with its steel pin tumbling media. Six-liter drum holds 5 pounds of brass cases. Set tumbler to run for up to eight hours in half-hour increments using digital timer.

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I decap all my brass and prime off press in big batches so wet tumbling follows easily.
Things I like: No dust, really clean brass and really clean hands, shiney case interiors
makes it really easy to see powder charges (think 357 magnum and Titegroup or Bullseye).
Shiney brass contrasting with powder coated bullets looks really cool. Clean reloading equipment.
Did I mention really clean hands?
 
Not for me. Sounds like a lot of trouble just to have shinier brass. Who cares??? I throw mine in the dry tumbler at night, squirt in some polish, turn it on and in the morning, it's done. If I forget to sift it for a couple weeks, it's fine. Seems to me that a lot of folks are reloaders (and casters) first, shooters second. I want more trigger time, not more reloading time.
 
I can do both wet and dry tumbling but dry tumble the most.

I tumble after resizing unless the cases are too cruddy from range dirt. Real dirty cases get tumbled before and after sizing.

Although the tumbling step itself is quicker with wet tumbling, the entire process requires more of my time. With dry tumbling, I load the tumbler in the evening, set the run timer and go to bed. In the morning, I separate the cases from the tumbling media.

The cases can sit in the dry tumbler for quite a while (days or a week or two) without ill affects, usually tarnish spots, from the tumbling media.

I've not experimented with leaving cases in the wet tumbling solution after the tumbling cycle has complete but I do feel any adverse affects, primarily tarnish spots, would kick in fairly quickly. So, when I wet tumble, I have to set aside a couple hours to be able to completely process the cases through the tumbling cycle.

The wet tumbled cases sure are clean though.
 
cfullgraf said:
I've not experimented with leaving cases in the wet tumbling solution after the tumbling cycle has complete but I do feel any adverse affects, primarily tarnish spots, would kick in fairly quickly. So, when I wet tumble, I have to set aside a couple hours to be able to completely process the cases through the tumbling cycle.
Click to expand...
This is only safe if you're not using any Lemishine or or other source of citric acid in your solution. The acid will leach the zinc out of the brass if given time to work, weakening the cases and giving them a pinkish appearance. It's best to use as little Lemishine as it takes to get good results, only tumble for as long as it takes to get good results, and rinse the cases thoroughly as soon as they are done to neutralize the acid. Once rinsed they can dry at any pace, but if there's any acid left in the water droplets they will form brown tarnish spots before they dry.
 
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Wet Tumbling with Pins have been around For Years In the commercial and Metal finishing. . Wet tumbling and Reloading is now all the rage But will pass. When Most find That There constant tumbled Brass. has been Ruined by peening.
Metal finisher Tumble once and sell the product.
After tumbling the same Brass over and Over again. Your Brass will have an Orange Peel effect . these are Micro Dents that give the effect. After firing Those tiny dents Pop out and Your brass looks Frosted.. after That they will not size well and will be NG
 
salpal48 said:
After tumbling the same Brass over and Over again. Your Brass will have an Orange Peel effect . these are Micro Dents that give the effect. After firing Those tiny dents Pop out and Your brass looks Frosted.. after That they will not size well and will be NG
Click to expand...

Just curious, have you experienced the "frosting" effect? I have a good amount of brass, so have only wet tumbled with pins twice on "few" for reloading. Changing my mind on future clean-ups......maybe.
Thanks salpal48

B.L.
 
There is no Rime Or reason.. Most Loader Including Myself use the same Brass over and Over again. The peening happen I believe from the first time. and then gets worst as you continue. with the same brass.. This happen to me On 45/70 starline brass. It was new brass. and I shoot a Lot of 45/70 . The roughness started around the 5th time I loaded that lot.. After that it got worst and would not go away even after resizing.. Then dumped them. Never uses pins again.
A friend Of mine who a machinist said The hardness Of the pins Pound the soft Brass everytime you use them..
This is just My experiance
 
You all have seen photos of my reloading area, the only thing I have that is not Hornady red is two Lee turret presses that I use to teach on and a RCBS media separator and my FART. Now being OCD the only thing I see when I walk in is that Damn RCBS green and that FART.

Hornady announced that they were coming out with the new 2018 products on the 26th of Oct. and Midway put it out on the 29th of Oct. but it is back ordered. I ordered it on the 29th in hopes that I would get it for X-Mass. IT'S STILL ON BACKORDER!!!

When it comes in I will give an honest review. But right now it has 1 point up...It's red. But I will let you know right now that I like the FART. The media separator, on the other hand, could use some improvements.
 
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