More SS pin tumbler questions

[Steve H]

Just ran my first batch through the new FART. Brass looks fantastic. Two questions:

1 - How much do you rinse the brass before drying?

2 - do you worry very much about getting the pins completely dry?

 

[Rodentman]

I rinse the brass mostly to be sure all the pins are out of them. By that time, not a long time, the soapy water residue is gone as well.

I rinse the pins thru a strainer. They're damp but not sitting in standing water. I've never had an issue. By the time I use the unit again, about a week, it's pretty dry. I wouldn't try to dry the pins. They're easy to lose. I keep a good magnet handy.

 

[USSR]

1 -

I rinse the brass mostly to be sure all the pins are out of them. By that time, not a long time, the soapy water residue is gone as well.

2 - Don't worry a bit. Leave the tumbler open and the pins will dry in a couple of days.

Don

 

[Handloader109]

I let my pins stand in water between uses. Been doing this for about 9 months with no ill effects to the pins. Ymmv

 

[Grumulkin]

Rinsing doesn't always get all the pins out of cases. It's probably somewhat dependent on the size of the case. After tumbling with pins, I check each case to be sure there isn't a pin stuck in the flash hole and also run a wire around the inside of the case both to loosen stuck pins and also to check for the groove that forms before a case head separation.

As far as leaving pins in water goes, I get all the water off them reasonably possible but don't get compulsive about it. I've had no issue with pins rusting.

 

[Gummi Bear]

My pins never leave the drum.

I carefully pour out the water from the drum, fill it and slosh it and pour it back off several times until I have clear water. Then I fill the drum full of water, with all the brass still in it

I then lift out the brass one or two pieces at a time, case mouth down, and as you do, the pins fall out. Once all the brass is out, I carefully pour the water off, and leave the lid off for the moisture to evaporate on its own. I don't lose any pins, and I then toss the brass into a food dehydrator.

Any pins stuck in the flash hole, I just poke them out with the tip of my pocketknife and toss them back in the drum.

30 minutes later, I have dry brass, ready to reload.

 

[konertjm]

I clean about 8 lbs of brass with 10 lbs of pins at a time.
My process generally follows these steps:
1. Add pins, add brass cover with water.
2. Add dish washing liquid (Some wet tumblers have gone to automotive wash and wax products)
3. Add Lemishine.

After tumbling:
1 Pour media and brass into paint strainer bag. Very cheap at Menards, they come in 1 gal and 5 gal sizes.
2. Rinse with running water for a few minutes, until water is clear.
3. Using a plastic container of suitable size. Place the bag of brass and needles in the container and fill with water. Dunk the bag in and out of the water to help remove any residue that running water missed.
4. Dump the brass and media into a media separator (remember I have a total of 18 lbs of brass and media). Tumble to remove 99% of the pins.
5. Dump brass on large towel with edges tucked under.spread them around to help dry and reveal missed pins. Use magnet to pick up pins.
6. The brass can be dried by whatever process works for you.
7. The pins are dumped into a 5 gal paint strainer bag, and re-rinsed. placed on a doubled towel, and flattened as much as possible, then allowed to air dry.

Note that the current size of pins, .047" x .255" (1.19mm x 6.48mm), is specifically sized for cleaning brass cases so that 1 or 2 won't stick in the flash hole. I have heard of pins sticking horizontally in bottle necks though.