How Much Stainless Media?

[TenDriver]

In a Harbor Freight two barrel tumbler? I think it's time to take the plunge.

 

[oldpapps]

I too have a 'double' barreled tumbler.

I sort brass for comparability, 9s nest in 40s, 44s, 45s and it moves up is sizes, well 44s and all 45s do well together. Bottle necks don't do as well with pistol cases that will cover the case mouth or nest (.223 types slip into 44s and 45s - neither one gets fully clean.).

I punch primers in bottle neck cases.

I fill my drums 2/3 to 3/4 full with brass, then dump in still pins until they stop falling out of site. Add the additives (simply green or Dawn or what ever) and water to fill.

Don't over tighten the screw nut. It will only pull out the stopper cap (it goes on the inside of the drum, so is it a cap?). Let em role.

I rinse with flowing water to wash away the black water, yuck! Check for pins stuck inside the cases and primer pockets. I do this as I shake the cases under water. Then dry. I put mine in a preheated 200 degree oven on an old towel and cookie sheet and shut off the heat. When the oven has cooled, the brass is dry. Other do it in other ways. It all works.

Now, 'how much media?' I don't know. I bought a 10 pound sack and it never wears out.

 

[TenDriver]

Sounds good. I figure since it's generally sold by the pound and I don't have money to blow on it I needed a pretty good idea before I got started.

Thanks!

 

[LeftyTSGC]

I have the same tumbler. I bought the 2 1/2 SS media bag from Bullseye, and put 1 1/4 in each, seems to work well. I think that 1 1/2 pds may be better.

 

[TenDriver]

Thanks, Lefty.

 

[gimor]

I have the HF dual too. So far only cleaning pistol brass.
Bought 10lbs pins on fleabay. Better to have a bit extra than not enough.
Barrels are each roughly 1/3 full with plenty of pins left over for lost pin replacement.
I do use a magnet to catch as many run away pins as I can.
6k rounds later a few pins lost but still cleaning well.
gimor

(edit) FWIW
Weighed the pins in one of my barrels, 1 lb. 9oz.
Put in about 200 pieces of 9mm brass on top of pins to 1/4 inch from inner seal lip.

 

[FROGO207]

I use the Thumlers type and use 5# in the drum at a time I can add 450 9MM and they all will clean well. Supposed to keep the weight to 10# in my unit.

 

[PodPeople]

I have the Harbor Freight double tumbler. The capacity of each tumbler is 3 pounds. I use one pound each of stainless pins, brass (deprimed), and water in each tumbler along with a drop of Dawn detergent and some granules of Lemishine. I don't mix brass, just tumble one caliber at a time. I tumble for one hour, dump and rinse, and tumble for another hour. Pick the cases out one by one, Shake the pins out of them, and lay them out on a towel. Rub the surface water off with the towel and put them in a strainer under a fan to dry.

 

[Bello]

I put 1.5 lbs in each tub

 

[KW-HD Rider]

I use 1lb in each with 120 deprimed 9mm cases. 1 9mm case of Lemi-shine and a squirt of dawn. Fill with hot water and in 1.5 to 2 hours like new brass