How do you wet tumble?

Skgreen said:

Been experimenting w additional rinsing/pin removal by filling the separator about 1/2 full of water. (Enough to get at least some of the cases submerged on every spin)

Seems to help some vs. using no water. (Of course, you'll want 'dry' spin 'em before you take 'em out to 'final dry')

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I fill it up with water. It does make a difference as it breaks the surface tension that causes the pins to stick. I rotate for at least 60 seconds, reversing direction several times. Then I use the other half of the "clam shell" with no water, and rotate the basket to remove as much water as I can.

Been curious about some of your experiences with pins not falling out readily......as I don't have any pins sticking. After reading the last post about surface tension, I think I might know why. Such sticking may just be caused by not enough Dawn. After all, the detergent ingredient is all about surface tension. That's how any detergent works....breaks water's natural surface tension.

Reminds me of what the wife uses to get rid of fruit flies in the fall. She sets out a small shallow glass salsa dipping bowl, with apple cider vinegar half filled....drops a button on the surface....it floats due to surface tension. Then she adds dish detergent drop by drop until the button sinks. then fruit flies attracted to the vinegar get overwhelmed (maybe drunk?) by the aroma and fall in.....they immediately sink to the bottom and drown.

ohihunter2014 said:

Used my tumbler today on 223rem with dawn and lemi shine, cold water and 3hr tumble time. Some cases were perfect inside and out and some still kind of black inside. Any idea why some didn’t come out 100% clean?

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First question I would ask is are you using enough pins, the weight of the pins should be more than the brass.
I use about 10lbs of pins to 8lbs of brass. If you're using enough pins, dawn alone will produce clean brass.

ohihunter2014 said:

My brass looks like @GW Staar brass where the inside has a slightly dirty look still.

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I think you are discerning shadows not dirt......they are pretty darn clean....inside and out.

ohihunter2014 said:

I'm using the 5lbs that came with the drum. I weigh the drum with pins, brass and water before each cycle and its never exceeded 20lbs. They still come out very dull on the inside. I have some brightfired wet tumbled brass from RMR and the insides shine like a mirror. Mine are clean where I can see any issues but not sparkly like everyone else gets. My brass looks like @GW Staar brass where the inside has a slightly dirty look still.

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My theory on brass cleaning.
Tumbler is always full of water, rather cleaning 1lb or 10lbs. Should be more weight in pins than brass, pin size is .047 x .255, brass must be deprimed for water flow, a big shot of dawn. Dawn alone, the brass will dull over time, hence the limeshine that some use.
If some of it's clean and some not, I would guess it's not enough pins, tumbler not full of water, or overload of brass.
As for myself, I used Dawn only for years with excellent results. Over time the brass would dull, but I'm OK with that, then I bought 10lbs of pins from a company called Guntap. They sent a free bag of soap with it, and I've been using ever since. The cost per load is double, but at less $20 per year for excellent brass every time without question, it's worth it to me. It's called Guntap BrassShine if you care to try it.

I quit using Dawn, and started using Armorall Wash-n-Wax, and the brass never tarnishes afterwards. I also have far fewer problems with 45acp cases sticking to the expander, as the wax film acts as sort of a lube.

Toprudder said:

I quit using Dawn, and started using Armorall Wash-n-Wax, and the brass never tarnishes afterwards. I also have far fewer problems with 45acp cases sticking to the expander, as the wax film acts as sort of a lube.

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I do this as well.

Toprudder said:

I quit using Dawn, and started using Armorall Wash-n-Wax, and the brass never tarnishes afterwards. I also have far fewer problems with 45acp cases sticking to the expander, as the wax film acts as sort of a lube.

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Do you use the Armorall to remove lanolin based lubes?

Kaldor said:

Do you use the Armorall to remove lanolin based lubes?

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I do.

The Frankford dry media separator that hold the cases and turns works really well at getting out the pins for me.

They still come out very dull on the inside.

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Try a bit more wash and wax I give it a generous shot maybe 2-4oz I never measure just a "dollop" and maybe a bit more citric acid/lemishine.\
The amount of acid makes a difference. How much are you using now?
Maybe try a small batch with double what you are using and see if it helps.

Kaldor said:

Do you use the Armorall to remove lanolin based lubes?

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scarletfire said:

I do.

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I don't use lanolin based lubes. I primarily use Royal spray lube, and have no problem cleaning that off with AA Wash-n-Wax.

@scarletfire @Toprudder

Thanks gents. Ill guess I will give it a shot.