Finally got a wet tumbler

I prefer to use citric acid instead of lemishine and add a few drops of dawn. I dont use pins. After they are done, I rinse the cases and cover the cases with hot water then add a few drops of liquid car polish and let that run about 5 minutes to coat the brass. The polish makes it easier to size the brass by making it slicker. I dont put the polish in with the cleaners like others do because I want to rinse the acidic cleaners off before adding the polish. I worry about leaving the acid on the brass for long term storage.
 
Stevenvalleyky said:
I prefer to use citric acid instead of lemishine and add a few drops of dawn. I dont use pins. After they are done, I rinse the cases and cover the cases with hot water then add a few drops of liquid car polish and let that run about 5 minutes to coat the brass. The polish makes it easier to size the brass by making it slicker. I dont put the polish in with the cleaners like others do because I want to rinse the acidic cleaners off before adding the polish. I worry about leaving the acid on the brass for long term storage.
Click to expand...
how much citric acid?
 
ok im running this batch with dishsoap and i just added 1cc of citric acid. ill post pics of how it comes out. thanks guys
 
How much Lemi-shine/critic acid you use depends on the hardness of your water. I'm using the full sized F.A.R.T. and I'm using a .45ACP case full...I have fairly hard water.

Rather than Dawn or dish soap, I'm using a dallop if Armorall Wash & Wax...just enough to help the crud to slide off and stay suspended. For best results, you want to fill with very hot water and then rinse the cases with cold water

Be aware that you don't want to leave the cases sitting in the tank after it has stopped rotating. You need to take them out and rinse them off immediately
 
I just use dawn dish soap and pins. Without dish soap, a lot of the crud won't stay suspended. Tried lemishine and wound up with pretty purple case with even the most small amounts. Still shoot fine, but it bugged me, so no more. I honestly think the most important step in the process is rinsing them quick in clean water after the pins are out and getting them in a dehydrator.
 
25 more recipes, here they come. :)

DustyRusty's recipe
Half the jug filled with HOT water.
Pins or not, your choice.
1 half, teaspoon of citric acid.
1 teaspoon of ArmorAll Ultra Shine wash & wax.
1 half teaspoon of Dawn platinum power wash
Run for at least and hour. Pull one & check primer pocket for clean.
Continue if not satisfied.
Dump out just the liquid & refill 3/4 with HOT water and run for 10 minutes.
Separate the brass & dry with your favorite method.
Inspect for pins in the flash holes and other hazards.
Try other combinations and keep notes.
I keep the fix'ins and spoons in a canister with the tumbler.
 
I use the regular size FART and run about 1000 9mm cases per batch in hot water with a 9mm case full of citric acid from the canning isle at Walmart and about a tablespoon of dawn for about an hour. Dump the nasty water, refill with hot water and add the pins and more soap and citric acid for 2 hours. They look brand new once rinsed and dried.
I dry them in the oven at 250* for 30 minutes on their own cookie sheet. Long ago I bought myself separate cookie sheets, colanders, bowls, and everything else I use in reloading and casting so as not to upset she who must not be named. My stuff stays together and away from anything we may put food on, my kids are weird enough without any more help from me.
I usually do about 750 233’s, and 800 38/357 cases per batch. Like vibratory tumbling, don’t mix unlike casemouth sizes or you will have issues. 223 will nestle its neck tightly into a 9, 38, or 357, and lots more options out there.
 
i just filled this thing up and giving it another go, just to see what it can handle. the window on the side is about 3/4 full of brass. seems to be tumbling even better than before.
 
OFFGRID said:
my bad. on my search i got results from 2012. figured there might be new ways by now.
Click to expand...
Just trying to steer you to something to read before you get all the typical responses.
You'll still get a bunch of formulas in this thread from posters claiming theirs is the best.
I have found the condition of your water is what determines the best formula of stuff to use.

And I recommend you NOT run that tumbler on top of that washing machine.
I hate to think what would happen if the tumbler vibrated over to and off the edge.
I run mine on the floor so it cannot fall off and drop a cardboard box over-top of it to quiet it down.

Oh, and suds is you enemy as the pins will become suspended in suds/foam (too much soap) and never touch the brass.
A little liquid fabric softener will knock down the suds.

good luck on your quest,
.
 
Last edited:
Tilos said:
Just trying to steer you to something to read before you get all the typical responses.
You'll still get a bunch of formulas in this thread from posters claiming theirs is the best.
I have found the condition of your water is what determines the best formula of stuff to use.

And I recommend you NOT run that tumbler on top of that washing machine.
I hate to think what would happen if the tumbler vibrated over to and off the edge.
I run mine on the floor so it cannot fall off and drop a cardboard box over-top of it to quiet it down.

Oh, and suds is you enemy as the pins will become suspended in suds/foam (too much soap) and never touch the brass.
A little liquid fabric softener will knock down the suds.

good luck on your quest,
.
Click to expand...
its a deep freezer. but i get ya.

on this load i added a little borax. we use alot of it around the homestead. seems to be much more bright this time, which doesnt make alot of sense beings my water is very hard and that increases ph.

anyhow i noticed the water mix turned black about 45 mins in so dumped the water and rinsed the load and then refilled with soap mix and let it run a while longer. it was black again when i drained it the final time. i never knew just how dirty the brass i used to load was.
 
I’m a rebel. I use Palmolive instead of dawn. We have really hard water so a spoonful of citric acid and an hour with pins and it’s nice and shiny. It loses that shine without wax, but thats not a problem to me.

I decap and tumble before storage. I still use a dry tumbler to remove sizing lube and polish cases. Since the wet tumbler removed the primer residue, the lead dust problem is minimized.
 
so do any of you guys wet tumble after sizing to remove sizing lube? in the past i used a rag with solvent but thats kind of tedious
 
OFFGRID said:
so do any of you guys wet tumble after sizing to remove sizing lube? in the past i used a rag with solvent but thats kind of tedious
Click to expand...

Just wipe it off is all I do. I use imperial wax, don’t know if it’s a different story with other lubes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
  • Locked
New F.A. Tumbler & SS media
Replies
13
Views
790
John C
J
coloradokevin
  • Locked
Wet Tumbling Brass - Strange Discoloration
Replies
19
Views
3K
Toprudder
Toprudder
Harriw
  • Locked
What Detergents will/won't hurt a FART?
Replies
12
Views
577
Rule3
Rule3
watermonger
  • Locked
How much brass to load in the Frankford Arsenal LITE Tumbler?
Replies
18
Views
3K
rfwobbly
rfwobbly
Mr_Gun_Guy
  • Locked
Lemishine alternative?
Replies
22
Views
794
GeoDudeFlorida
GeoDudeFlorida
Back
Top