Wet Tumbling with Stainless Steel Pins - Media Separation Tips?

I take each case out of the tumbler, shake any pins out, then place it in the case dryer. Once dry, I shake out each case as it comes out of the case dryer.

Prior to resizing I look into the case as part of my inspection. I've never found a pin while following the unloading and drying procedures I noted above.

get one of these: https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...rs/wetdry-media-separator/507567.html#start=1

works well for me

The pins usually stay in the case when you fire them.
You have to check every single one by eye to make sure you don't have 2 bridged pins in the case near the head.

Use a strong magnet to scan the brass. If your using the magnetic SS pins.

I buy & sell lots of range brass. I wet tumble all of it.

I made a bunch drying racks to hang the brass on. I tumble for an hour, drain & rince the brass. Fill the tumbler back up and run another fifteen minutes. Drain the gray water, put the brass in a small bucket of warm water.
Grab a hand full if brass in left hand. Grab two pieces of brass in my right hand.
Swish them around in the warm water and place on the drying racks.
All the pins come out, I get an accurate count on the brass and it gives me a chance to inspect for damaged cases.



I tumble with hot tap water,
A 1/2 teaspoon of Lemi-shine,
a cap full of ArmorAll Wash n Wax,
A small squirt of Dawn Dish Soap,
And a cap full of Finnish Jet Dry.

I have a Dillon media seperator similar to the one cheesemaker linked. I fill my bottom tray mostly with water. Then I run the brass in the strainer basket around slowly with a lot of alternating back and forth swishing for a couple minutes. Keeping as many brass underwater when rotating the basket is the key. I have yet to find any SS pins left behind after using this method for many years. At first I checked every case, but after a year or so of not finding anything I no longer bother. My SS pins are not depleating either so all is good.

Cheesemaker said:

get one of these: https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...rs/wetdry-media-separator/507567.html#start=1

works well for me

Click to expand...

This is what I use as well, never had a problem. Dry in a old food dehydrator and check each piece.

FROGO207 said:

I have a Dillon media seperator similar to the one cheesemaker linked. I fill my bottom tray mostly with water. Then I run the brass in the strainer basket around slowly with a lot of alternating back and forth swishing for a couple minutes. Keeping as many brass underwater when rotating the basket is the key. I have yet to find any SS pins left behind after using this method for many years. At first I checked every case, but after a year or so of not finding anything I no longer bother. My SS pins are not depleating either so all is good.

Click to expand...

Same here. Dillon separator is built like a tank. The water in the tub helps the pins fall out nice and easy. When tumbled I drop them onto racks with an old towel on them. Give them a shake or 2 as they dry with a fan pointed at them. Theyre dry in the morning. If I need them fast, the oven at 250 for 15 minutes in an old cake pan is my route. Never got into the dehydrator thing. Just not enough capacity or speed.

The Glockodile said:

Do you get to feel them with the magnet through the brass?

Click to expand...

Nope

Highland Lofts said:

I buy & sell lots of range brass. I wet tumble all of it.

I made a bunch drying racks to hang the brass on. I tumble for an hour, drain & rince the brass. Fill the tumbler back up and run another fifteen minutes. Drain the gray water, put the brass in a small bucket of warm water.
Grab a hand full if brass in left hand. Grab two pieces of brass in my right hand.
Swish them around in the warm water and place on the drying racks.
All the pins come out, I get an accurate count on the brass and it gives me a chance to inspect for damaged cases.

View attachment 1088173

I tumble with hot tap water,
A 1/2 teaspoon of Lemi-shine,
a cap full of ArmorAll Wash n Wax,
A small squirt of Dawn Dish Soap,
And a cap full of Finnish Jet Dry.
View attachment 1088174

Click to expand...

I don’t know if this is cost effective as a business given labor rates but I think it’s a fun way to spend some time.

The Glockodile said:

Do you get to feel them with the magnet through the brass?

Click to expand...

I normally hear a click when the pin jumps up against the magnet/brass. 1 pin is not enough mass to pick up some brass.

I've sinced starting annealing my rifle brass after every firing. This allows me to check for pins. I have yet to find one. A good media separator is what I use. Changing directions frequently and taking your time seams to get all of them out. The handling for the annealing is a second check.

To effectively separate all the pins from the brass, use a rotary separator filled with water. The water breaks the surface tension on the pins, and they all fall to the bottom of the separator after the squirrel cage is rotated a few times. The water gets dumped and all of the pins can be returned to the tumbler drum.

https://stainlesstumblingmedia.com/media-separator-deluxe.html

Bayou52

Blue68f100 said:

I normally hear a click when the pin jumps up against the magnet/brass. 1 pin is not enough mass to pick up some brass.

I've sinced starting annealing my rifle brass after every firing. This allows me to check for pins. I have yet to find one. A good media separator is what I use. Changing directions frequently and taking your time seams to get all of them out. The handling for the annealing is a second check.

Click to expand...

Only place Ive ever seen a pin bridge and not come out was 223. But your absolutely correct, Ill catch it when I anneal that batch. Once dry, any pins in the cases generally just fall completely out while handling them.

CQB45ACP said:

I don’t know if this is cost effective as a business given labor rates but I think it’s a fun way to spend some time.

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Cost effective, not really. But it is an enjoyable time in the reloading shed. I look at it as a hobby that helps out a little to pick up what I need and it helps others looking for what they need. . I am close to two tons of brass that I bought and moved that would of ended up at the recycling center and would of been sent to China.
Same with lead. I buy scrap lead, seperate it, melt it down and resell it. I have moved a couple of tons of lead too.
I really enjoy processing lead. It still amazes how everything floats up to the top to be skimmed off and when fluxed with sawdust and then candle was it almost becomes mirror like and everything that come up to be skimmed off is dry as dry could be floating on top of a liquid.

I use the Dillon media separator with the tub full of water. The water isn’t just as a rinse but it reduces the surface tension soap has on pins.

Another option would be to just tumble without the pins. The brass banging against each other will thoroughly clean the exterior of the case, and the agitation and vibrations will cause nearly all of the interior of the case to be clean(just not polished looking). Only downside is the primer pockets don't get as clean.

Highland Lofts said:

Cost effective, not really. But it is an enjoyable time in the reloading shed. I look at it as a hobby that helps out a little to pick up what I need and it helps others looking for what they need. . I am close to two tons of brass that I bought and moved that would of ended up at the recycling center and would of been sent to China.
Same with lead. I buy scrap lead, seperate it, melt it down and resell it. I have moved a couple of tons of lead too.
I really enjoy processing lead. It still amazes how everything floats up to the top to be skimmed off and when fluxed with sawdust and then candle was it almost becomes mirror like and everything that come up to be skimmed off is dry as dry could be floating on top of a liquid.

Click to expand...

That’s awesome. I get it, believe me. Now just do it safely to protect your health and have many decades of enjoyment.

jebova2301 said:

Another option would be to just tumble without the pins. The brass banging against each other will thoroughly clean the exterior of the case, and the agitation and vibrations will cause nearly all of the interior of the case to be clean(just not polished looking). Only downside is the primer pockets don't get as clean.

Click to expand...

Funny, I retumble mine IF the pockets aren’t clean enough.

I have the big one it will handle around 3000 45 ACP cases per batch.



You can see how full of water I have the tub, on the right.

Yes, I do keep a little magnet handy for stray pins. Generally catch a few in the crack between the two halves, pick them up with the magnet when opened.

Looks like I didn’t start wet tumbling until 2011 or so but it’s held up that long.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/homemade-wet-tumbler-for-stainless-steel-media.628974/