A "different" wet tumbler

[LiveLife]

I guess building wife her "woman cave" over last Christmas paid off. When she got her new washer/dryer set, she looked at the old front-loading washer and said, "Can you use that for the garage?" thinking washing shop towels and rags separate from house laundry.

Can I use it? Absolutely! First thought that came to mind was a new wet tumbler for brass!

I thought about venturing into wet tumbling last year using stainless media, but too many projects came up and never got to it. I am new to wet tumbling. I have read posts where people used everything from 5 gallon bucket to stock pot on stove top!

The drum is stainless steel and I am thinking about starting with just laundry detergent/dish soap and small mesh drawstring bags to even out the loads using the gentle cycle. The cases wet tumbled will be deprimed pistol (9mm/40S&W/45ACP) and .223/.308 cases.

How much case can I put in the washer?
How about the temperature of the water?
Any wet tumbling recipes?
If I use fine enough mesh bags, I am wondering if I could use the stainless media?

 

[1SOW]

bds: I wash my pistol cases using an old NRA book formula for Colt 1911.

The original formula was pretty strong, so my version is cut in half or less.

In say 5 gallons of water, 1-2 cups white vinegar, 2 tablespoon salt and 1/4 cup of liquid laundry detergent (includes water softeners and good cleaning agents).

The distilled white vinegar at this mix hasn't harmed the brass at all "as long as you don't leave in too long". I leave it 20-30 mins max. Longer (2-3 hrs when I forgot a batch) and cases start to turn 'pink'. Zinc is being extracted from the brass. (I used the pink cases anyway with light range loads--no prblems)
I have over 16K 9mm cleaned this way--some reloaded and cleaned umpteen times. They get cleaned inside, outside and even in the primer hole. In a washer, it may be faster and do an even better job.
The solution CAN be reused. I reuse it til it gets cruddy.

I tumble after this cleaning and cases look mighty good.

 

[FROGO207]

I would think that the mesh bags would have a short life and be spilling the SS media all over the place. The internals of the washer have a lot of aluminum parts and I would watch out for corrosion on those (think back of drum tri support that holds drum to bushing in center for one).

 

[LiveLife]

Thanks for the info.

I think I am going to do some test runs to feel things out.

1) Small amount of 9mm brass and just water to see how loose cases do but no spin cycle as loose cases probably won't evenly distribute inside the drum (who knows, maybe they will)
2) Small amount of 9mm brass in several small mesh bags and see if they distribute evenly during the spin cycle
3) If 2) works out, I'll move to using the wash formula with bigger mesh bags

or

4) Just fill the washer with about 2-3 gallons of 9mm brass and let 'er rip! (I'll stop the washer before the spin cycle).
5) And if 4) works out, I can finally clean the 5 gallon buckets of brass I have in the garage!

I would think that the mesh bags would have a short life and be spilling the SS media all over the place.

You are probably right. I will be tumbling without the SS media first.

The internals of the washer have a lot of aluminum parts and I would watch out for corrosion on those

We put bleach in the washer and it's got to be more corrosive than vinegar.

 

[blarby]

Honestly, I would try and fit a smaller sealable drum inside the main wash drum, and simply use it( the machine) as the rotary portion.

Much easier to handle. You will never find a way to allow stainless steel pins through your wash cycle without permanently damaging the washer. A sep. bin would be removable, and you can make a separate screen lid for draining away the water and media into a different bucket- but leaving your cases.

You could probably use those 3 gal pails ( the 5 gallon pails little cousin) with some installed supports to hold it in place.

 

[capreppy]

In a regular washer, the SS media is pretty small and you WILL loose some. The preferred method for SS media is Thumlers Tumber because it is a closed system (no holes on the side for the SS media is to get lost.

Also, suggest Pellets, LLC. Contact them directly and tell them you're looking for SS media for Web Tumbling of brass. They'll know exactly what you are looking for and set you up. They are cheaper by a LARGE margin than other SS media suppliers. I've not purchased my SS media setup yet (later this year as funds permit), but I believe (you'll need to call to confirm), it is either $1 or $5 per pound. You'll need 5# for a Thumlers Tumbler, so don't know how much is needed for a washer setup.

 

[LiveLife]

blarby, a separate sealed container may work ... I am gonna have to look into if a support structure can be made inside the drum. Thanks!

capreppy, thanks for the link!

 

[brickeyee]

You are also going to be spreading lead residue from primers all over the washer, and whatever you then wash latter.

While metallic lead does not worry me much, the soluble lead compounds remaining after a primer is fired are not something I want all over my clothes (or the dish towels that go through the same washer).

If it is never going to see clothing again it should be fine.

 

[1SOW]

brickeyee: He already said this is just for his use--Mrs. bds got a new washer.

 

[blarby]

I believe that you could use attached carriage bolts ratcheted down, two per rotating spire quite well.

There are a number of flat head pieces that fit on carriage bolt threadings, that would be adjustable for your purpose.

Good luck in whatever choice you follow !

 

[LiveLife]

Yes, only for garage/shop laundry.


I do have an idea.

I thought about using screw-on type water-tight containers, say about 1 gallon in size.

Just to check, I was able to fit 8 coffee containers inside the drum. Now I need to locate the right container type/size that will fit snug inside the drum.

This method has several advantages:
- It is removable, so I can have normal use of the washer to wash shop towels/rags and floor mats, etc.

- Since I am using sealed containers, I have the option of using Stainless Steel tumbling media for rifle cartridges and match pistol cases.

- I can tumble different caliber cases in individual containers at the same time (9mm in one and .308 in another, etc.) so I don't have to worry about cases nesting inside each other.

- I can choose to tumble rifle cases with SS media and pistol cases without it for general/plinking rounds - and they can be tumbled at the same time.

- High production level - If I put 200-800 cases per container depending on caliber, I could feasibly wet tumble 3000-6000 pistol/rifle cases at the same time.

What do you think?

 

[capreppy]

This is very much an estimate, but from what I've read.

SS Media in a 6# container (roughly the size of your coffee can in the pic above), you would be looking at
2# Water
2# SS Media
2# Brass (which isn't a heck of a lot)

To give it swishing room (is that even a word?), you really want to go 2/3's full, so you are realistically looking at 4lbs total per container (1.3# of each water, SS media, & brass) which is even less brass. Depending on weight of brass, you are looking at significantly less than 200 to 800.

I think you are on the right track however, but you would need a custom setting on your washer for a 90 minute cycle (realistic amount of time it would take to process the brass using SS media).

 

[LiveLife]

capreppy, thanks for the bouncing board.

This was just a thought I had after dinner tonight while munching on a chocolate donut. Looks like I am gonna need to do some testing.

you would need a custom setting on your washer for a 90 minute cycle (realistic amount of time it would take to process the brass using SS media).

I am looking into hacking the washer to add a continuous "gentle tumble" option with no spin cycle but for now, I am thinking about running the washer with a timer and repeating the tumble before the spin cycle.

 

[x_wrench]

to me, there are 2 concerns. 1) if the stainless media gets loose, and into the inner workings of the washer, you will have a repair job at best, and ruin the washer at worse. and 2) as perviously said, the thought of lead from the primers is a scary thought. you would not be able to wash any of your shop rags, coveralls, car wash/dry towels, etc. in it, or you would expose yourself (and kids?) to lead poisoning. not worth it to me!

 

[EMC45]

I have been using a coffee container with lemon juice and Dawn. After about 5 minutes of shaking and sloshing around (by hand) the brass comes out looking like it was tumbled for several hours. I set it out to dry and it is good to go!

 

[LiveLife]

My father is a retired electrician and we did our own repairs on appliances including washers/dryers. I had a friend for over 10 years who did appliance repair and he taught me to service several models of washers/dryers and feel confident about disassembling this washer if it need it (already disassembled the topside to clean out the detergent/fabric softener path into the drum - front loader are actually simpler than top loaders).

1) if the stainless media gets loose, and into the inner workings of the washer, you will have a repair job at best, and ruin the washer at worse.

I could install a removable trap/screen on the drain hose before it gets to the pump.

2) as perviously said, the thought of lead from the primers is a scary thought. you would not be able to wash any of your shop rags, coveralls, car wash/dry towels, etc. in it, or you would expose yourself (and kids?) to lead poisoning. not worth it to me!

Well, my shop rags get more toxic solvents on them than lead. I could certainly run a wash/rinse cycle before washing any shot rags. I know the inner plumbing workings of the washers and this front loader has simpler water channels to/from the drum.

I would like to hear comments from those who are more familiar with washers to see if the lead issue is a true concern even after running wash/rinse cycle. I would also consider running a lead-binding agent in the wash/rinse water. Hmmm ... I could do some post tumbling sampling to see what the lead levels are before and after a wash/rinse cycle.

 

[blarby]

Better idea, using the containers you have :

Pool noodles.

Cut them to length and insert them in the blank space, acting as a pressure buffer.

Multiple types to tumble in the same load is excellent.

 

[amlevin]

You need a wife that is stone deaf to get away with using the washing machine to clean brass. You might also need to live a ways away from the neighbors.

Rather than using a washing machine I might be inclined to find an old paint shaker that could accommodate a 5-gallon can.

Should handle about 5 times as much brass and ss media as a standard tumbler.

BTW, small cement mixers work well if you can stand the noise.

 

[OldLincoln]

>> Rather than using a washing machine I might be inclined to find an old paint shaker that could accommodate a 5-gallon can. <<

I have been thinking along this line. Has anybody actually done it?

 

[LiveLife]

My original wet tumbler idea was based on sealed 5 gallon bucket on two rollers driven by an old garage door opener motor.

I may revisit that idea and maybe scale it up to accommodate two buckets as the washer/dryer set may be headed to a needy family.

 

[FROGO207]

Sorry double post

 

[FROGO207]

I am in the process of building one out of an old photocopier, some plywood for base, and a piece of 10" PVC SDW (green colored PVC pipe), and some hard rubber rub rails from an old speedboat to act as paddles in the drum. I will be using flat Lexan panels glued to the ends with a smaller hole cut in one side with an access door cut into it and secured with wing nuts and a rubber gasket. The rollers for the copier will make great drive wheels for the drum and it comes with the chain, sprockets, and other stuff to make use of the drive train already fit to the motor and rollers. I only will have to buy the Lexan and some SS hardware if all goes well. BTW a 5 gal bucket is tapered and you will have to adjust the rollers so the drum will not move from side to side and bind up on the frame, so I chose the large diameter plastic pipe instead.

 

[Borg]

Don't want to be a wet blanket, but a washer's RPM is WAY too fast for cleaning brass.
RPM's should, with that size of tumbler, be about 8 to 10 RPM's.
Think cement mixer.
Borg

 

[LiveLife]

When THR moved to the new servers, it dropped many recent posts.

What I had already posted (that got dropped) was that the old washer/dryer set was going to a needy family.

I am planning to revisit the 5 gallon bucket idea.

 

[RustyFN]

bds here is a link to a homemade tumbler that a friend made. I thought you might find it interesting.
http://www.glockpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7785