Ive got a duel drum rock tumbler. Now Ive been told that you can use water with cleaner/degreaser to clean fired brass. My vibratory tumbler makes a ton of noise and is getting remarks from roommates that cant stand anything out of the norm. Anyone used a rock tumbler? With water?
Chicago rock tumbler
- Thread starter Visionz45
- Start date
- Status
I've been using that same tumbler for a good three years and I think that wet tumbling is great. One caveat - I do not require really shiny brass that looks factory new. My brass comes out clean but with a matte finish to them.
I do not follow the common procedure. I normally will stack up brass in a plastic colander, spray them with lube (the frankford arsenal stuff from midway), size/decap, then start the tumbling. Washes off the lube and cleans the primer pockets, so it's very efficient.
I typically get 125 .223 cases per drum or 300 9mm cases per drum. I use hot water and a couple drops of dishwashing liquid and a capful or two of concentrated lemon juice. Tumble for 30-60 minutes, drain and rinse, refill and tumble again for another hour, then rinse and dry.
I dry in a dedicated toaster oven, 150 degrees for 45 minutes and they're ready to trim and prime.
The longer you run them, the shinier the brass will be. I let one batch run for around four hours once, by mistake, and they came out looking like new brass. But as I said, I do not need my brass to look like that.
While it will be less noisy than a vibratory, it's still not exactly quiet. Also, get extra drive belts, mine break every six months or so. I run three batches (750 cases) per month.
I do not follow the common procedure. I normally will stack up brass in a plastic colander, spray them with lube (the frankford arsenal stuff from midway), size/decap, then start the tumbling. Washes off the lube and cleans the primer pockets, so it's very efficient.
I typically get 125 .223 cases per drum or 300 9mm cases per drum. I use hot water and a couple drops of dishwashing liquid and a capful or two of concentrated lemon juice. Tumble for 30-60 minutes, drain and rinse, refill and tumble again for another hour, then rinse and dry.
I dry in a dedicated toaster oven, 150 degrees for 45 minutes and they're ready to trim and prime.
The longer you run them, the shinier the brass will be. I let one batch run for around four hours once, by mistake, and they came out looking like new brass. But as I said, I do not need my brass to look like that.
While it will be less noisy than a vibratory, it's still not exactly quiet. Also, get extra drive belts, mine break every six months or so. I run three batches (750 cases) per month.
cheygriz
member
I use a Thumlers Model "B" rotary tumbler with warm (not hot) water and a dab of Tide. Tumble about 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughy in warm water and dry. 
My cases come out clean and shiny. Not quite as shiny as corncobs and abrasives, but shinier than most factory ammo.
I also use the collender and spray lube. But regardless of the instructions on the spray lube can, this stuff needs to be removeds, so I wash again after sizing.
Pistol cases don't need to be lubed, or re-washed if they get loaded with a carbide die.
My cases come out clean and shiny. Not quite as shiny as corncobs and abrasives, but shinier than most factory ammo.
I also use the collender and spray lube. But regardless of the instructions on the spray lube can, this stuff needs to be removeds, so I wash again after sizing.
Pistol cases don't need to be lubed, or re-washed if they get loaded with a carbide die.
Thanks for the input guy! I just found an article on that surplus rifles website that quoted the water method as well. This thing is also a bit better on electricity as well, probably negligible though. Are there any cleaners that are no-no's with brass for that matter?
You might also want to try ultrasonic case cleaning.
cheygriz
member
Never use any cleaner containing ammonia on brass.
- Status
