Does stainless steel media wear out?

[kalielkslayer]

Just curious.

Yesterday I had a piece get caught sideways in the neck of a .223.

Couple of weeks ago I had a piece get caught sideways in a small pistol primer pockets.

Today I was picking up 3 pieces that got away from me when I was separating media from brass. 1 piece was noticeably shorter than the other 2.

But when I started wet tumbling, the only media I could find was 3 lbs. I tumbled with that until a back order came in. I added another 1.5 lbs to the tumbler. So maybe it was manufactured shorter but I think I would have noticed by now.

I’ve only had the tumbler about 12 weeks, but I run it approximately 15-20 hours a week.

Edit: I just separated some brass and looked at the media real close. The vast majority is the same length. I couldn’t see one piece that was shorter.

 

[IHmagnum]

I have seen some shorter lengths in my pins also, that isn't from wearing out just manufacturing variations I think. I'm looking at my pins as a one time purchase unless I start loosing some.

 

[AJC1]

They can have the sharp edge worn down and not clean as fast but it takes years. I'm using my dads 10 year old pins with no problems.

 

[Blue68f100]

The pins don't wear out. The ones that are short that can hang up in the necks I trash. Never had a problem with them hanging in the primer pockets.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Thanks guys!

The primer pocket issue actually happened 2Xs. One time I took an ink pen and popped it out. The other time it was wedged in so solid the pen didn’t work so I trashed the brass.

 

[Dane R. Marley]

I am going to try Southern Shine Media:

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

I'll tell you what.......
I have hundreds of hours on my S/S pins........
I also wet tumble with a micro- fiber towel cut in quarters in my recipe.
The pins still (some) stick to the micro-fiber like hook and loop. (Velcro)
I will be long gone before the pins wear out IMO.
I hope you outlive your media!

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Yesterday I had a piece get caught sideways in the neck of a .223.

I also had that happen, once!
That pin got biz bagged!

 

[Reeferman]

I'll tell you what.......
I have hundreds of hours on my S/S pins........
I also wet tumble with a micro- fiber towel cut in quarters in my recipe.
The pins still (some) stick to the micro-fiber like hook and loop. (Velcro)
I will be long gone before the pins wear out IMO.
I hope you outlive your media!

Got to ask what is the purpose of those fiber towel pieces?

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Got to ask what is the purpose of those fiber towel pieces?

I thought that the pieces of micro-fiber towel may help in polishing the brass, though I cannot say if it does or not.
But the towel pieces do pick up some nasty dirt!

 

[Up North]

I used pins for awhile but switched to stainless chips from sleeping giant brass after hearing of pins getting stuck in some cases. Actually I only use them if I have some really dirty cases. Mostly I just use armor all wash and shine and a little citric acid. Cases come out pretty nice without the media unless real dirty to start with and don't have to separate out the stainless that way

 

[kalielkslayer]

Separating the media is tough with little bottle neck cases like .223.

I can separate 600 9mm cases in 1/2 the time it takes me to do a batch (280-300) .223 cases.

But larger bottle neck cases like anything 7mm are a piece of cake.

But I really like how well it cleans, including primer pockets.

 

[Dudedog]

I can't see pins wearing out for a long time.
My issue is they keep trying to escape so they won't have to work.

 

[BCR#1]

I really doubt steel will wear very much when all it impacts is brass & rubber.

Bill

 

[BCR#1]

Separating the media is tough with little bottle neck cases like .223.

I can separate 600 9mm cases in 1/2 the time it takes me to do a batch (280-300) .223 cases.

But larger bottle neck cases like anything 7mm are a piece of cake.

But I really like how well it cleans, including primer pockets.

Use a dry media separator submerged in water and all the pins sink to the bottom.

Bill