Do you dry your SS pins?

[JonMorganHill]

My wife just got me a FART for birthday, and I ran my first batch through today. Very happy with the results, I based my choice off info here, so thanks to the other threads!

Question - do you dry your pins after use, or just dump them back into the tumbler?

Thanks
Jon

 

[GBExpat]

Do you dry your SS pins?

Yes ... I spread them out on a paper towel placed on the bottom of a small metal "oven" tray and place them in the same breeze as the freshly-FART-cleaned cases.

All of my equipment is dry before I pack it up.

 

[Demi-human]

I pour them back into the tumbling container and leave the lid off. They are always dry when I get them out next. They are never rusted.
I leave my equipment out to dry after use.

 

[labnoti]

No. It is totally unnecessary, though there is nothing wrong with drying them. They can be left to sit in standing water, but I generally pour the rinse water off and leave the stainless steel pins or chips in the bottom of the bucket or tumbler container, so they end up being stored wet but not in standing water. I think it is more important to rinse them than it is to dry them. Failure to rinse them will cause no harm to them, but the residue will unnecessarily contaminate the next batch.

 

[dwstone1227]

Why bother? It makes no difference.

 

[IlikeSA]

I rinse them in the tumbler to get the soap off, then drain them. I leave the lid off and let them dry in the tumbler.

 

[Ruger 15151]

Nope. I pour them back in the tumbler with a little water. They stay fine in there for months. Water doesn't even smell when I open the tumbler again.

 

[JO JO]

No

 

[silicosys4]

Nope, I drain and pour back into the tumbler then seal the lid. There is always a half cup to a cup of water in with them when I'm done. I've left them sealed up for months like that, and never had any issues.

 

[Demi-human]

And secondly, Happy Birthday!
Happy wife, happy life. Looks like you’ve got both!

And now you’ll have sparkling clean brass, too.

 

[Cheesemaker]

I dry mine before putting them back in the tumbler. I don't think you need to as others have stated.

I find the magnet very handy when messing with the pins. Do you have one?
https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...dia/media-transfer-magnet/909271.html#start=1

 

[JonMorganHill]

And secondly, Happy Birthday!
Happy wife, happy life. Looks like you’ve got both!

And now you’ll have sparkling clean brass, too.

Thanks! She didn't quite understand my excitement when I brought one in to show her how nice it looked . She's a keeper!

 

[JonMorganHill]

I dry mine before putting them back in the tumbler. I don't think you need to as others have stated.

I find the magnet very handy when messing with the pins. Do you have one?
https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...dia/media-transfer-magnet/909271.html#start=1

Thanks, I do not have one. I can see where that would save some time over the turn them over and tap that I did for this batch

 

[dh1633pm]

I rinse them and then cook them on the stove in an old non coated frying pan. When they stop sizzling, they are done. I use a magnet to catch the ones that get away during the process. I store them in the pan when done. Just place it hot on the basement floor.

 

[2011redrider]

I do the sam e as most here, just put back in the tumbler and they dry on their own. When I tried the chips there would be some chips that would rust. Another reason I went back to the pins and got the larger .047 pins that would not cause two pins to stick in the primer pocket holes, only seemed to happen on 223 cases. Chips also would float to the top when trying to pour off the water in my separator.

 

[mdi]

They are stainless steel. I believe stainless was chosen because they won't rust as fast as plain steel (many stainless steel isn't totally stainless and will corrode. Ex salt water boat owner here). I don't wet tumble but when I was experimenting with SS pins, screws, and brass screws, nuts, etc., in a solution I rinsed the pins and just dumped them out on a towel when I left the shop, usually dry when I returned...

 

[Charlie1022]

I have had mine for 3 years and only rinse and return them wet to the drum. I use the ss pins in mine wiht car wash and limonshine with great results. I see no advantage to dru them before storeing them.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I use my wet tumbler weekly, I dump the cases out in a bucket. Pull the brass out and then put the pins back in the drum damp.
I only dried them one. Now They are stored damp.

 

[cja245]

I don't dry mine, I just put them back in the drum wet and leave them til the next time I use them. No issues with rust. Not worth drying in my opinion.

 

[whughett]

Why ??????

 

[BiknSwans]

I used a hose to rinse the pins out of the Frankford Arsenal media separator tub base into the lid. The lid has a screen and the water can drain out. I rinsed the pins and left them in the lid until the next use, and they would be very dry. Dry pins are easier to pour into the drum or another container.
I recently bought the new straining caps or the FA tumbler. Now I transfer the pins to the tumbler with the straining caps installed, rinse the pins, and let them drain and dry in the tumbler.

 

[santacruzdave]

I drain and rinse, then pour out the cases and pins on a towel in the sun. Both get dry, the pins by accident. If I had a different setup I would not hesitate to store the pins wet.

 

[Demi-human]

Dry pins are easier to pour into the drum or another container.

Dry pins are easy to pour.
Wet pins are easy to pour.
Damp pins are sticky little gremlins that can jump farther than I.

Go, go Gadget, 52N Central Magnetics Supply magnet!
84lbs is not too much for picking pins. They’re small, they don’t make 84 lbs...

They are stainless steel. I believe stainless was chosen because they won't rust as fast as plain steel (many stainless steel isn't totally stainless and will corrode. Ex salt water boat owner here). I don't wet tumble but when I was experimenting with SS pins, screws, and brass screws, nuts, etc.

I believe 304 stainless was chosen for its relative corrosion resistance to thwart the impact plating that the oxides would produce from the degradation by the washing solution. These steel oxides make a dirty brown surface on even bright brass cases, overcoming even the soap solution.

 

[V-fib]

Yes I dry them. Some of the pins that came with my FART did indeed rust after use. I picked those out and since I've been drying them had no further rust problems. I just place them in a warm oven until dry and pack in a plastic tub till next use.

 

[cfullgraf]

Just remember, it is called stainless steel, not stainproof steel.

If I am not going to use the pins again immediately, I dry everything. I just do not want to risk algae growing on the pins or in the tumbler.