old ringer washer - use as a tumbler?

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kellyj00

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I know a fella who wants to get rid of an old 'ringer washer' that he got at an estate sale about a decade ago. This thing is OLD, and I haven't seen it run.

That's why I have this question. Can one of these old washers be used to tumble brass? We're trying to get this done as cheaply as possible. It's a big drum, and I'm not sure if it agitates (goes back and forth like a usual washing machine) or if it just slowly turns. If it turns, I'd imagine it's about worthless for this task...and for washing clothes.

As a note, what we're doing now is taking old pop bottles and filling with 40/60 mix vinegar/water and shaking them for a long long time. This seems to be cleaning the 223's but it's definitely not new looking.

Also...regarding media for a tumbler. A local pet store sells 50 lbs of bird cage corn cob for $10. The chunks look a little big to fit inside a .223 case...should they fit in as well as out?

Thanks!
 
"Stay away from the corn cob media."

what else should I use? I guess it IS a washing machine... could just use vinegar and water...;-)
 
They make a wet media. I don't remember who or where. That washer should do the trick. :)
 
I personally do not like ground corn cob media as in my experience it has proven to be less effective than ground walnut media litter. Others swear by it I swear at it. Surprisingly enough simply washing my fired brass has been the least messy and simplest way of initial cleaning or preparation. Once the brass is clean than putting it in a vibratory cleaner with a walnut reptile or bird media from a pet store with a little liquid Nufinish or car wax produces a spectacular looking case ready for reloading.
Best

Creekwalker
 
Insofar as a liquid cleaning solution I’ve used either Simple Green or Purple Power slightly diluted by water as well as a liquid dishwashing soap diluted with water with a couple of ounces of concentrated lemon juice added, all of them worked very well. What you are trying to achieve is the removal of lubricant, dirt and carbon from the brass and any of these will do the trick. You would be miles ahead of anyone else by using the basic washing machine mentioned in your initial post, just put your brass in some type of net type bag to make it easier to put in and remove from the washer.

Best

Creekwalker
 
cool recipes!

Does anyone have an exact recipe for about 5 gallons of liquid cleaner for rifle and handgun brass?

I don't want to start guessing at ingredients because I'm afraid to tarnish or weaken my brass chemically!
 
Wow!!! you sure must be desperate to clean that brass. Or you have a bunch to do. I would think that if it went around and around it would do a better job with either corncob or walnut. The agitating type would do better using a liquid.

If you are just cleaning a few hundred at a time get a regular case tumbler. They only cost from $50 +/-. I bet that when you finish that washer with the modifications you will have that much in it anyway and being old, no telling how long it will last....one minute, one hour, one day, maybe a year...
 
they're such simple devices, I'd imagine it's no big deal to fix them if they do break.

This one is $5 from father-in-law. ;-)

The only issue is whether or not it actually agitates or just spins. I'm hoping it agitates, but there's no way to know.

A friend suggested just putting the brass in two liter bottles and putting htem in the washer, then running the agitation process. I think that's probably safe enough that one could do that in their own clothes washer even!
 
A friend suggested just putting the brass in two liter bottles and putting htem in the washer, then running the agitation process. I think that's probably safe enough that one could do that in their own clothes washer even!
Click to expand...

Not unless you enjoy changing belts and bearings frequently!
 
Most of the ringer washers were an agitating system . The spin feature is for the automatic drum type washers and the spin feature is to get rid of the water. On the ringer washer you got rid of the water by running the clothes through the ringer and the water went into the laundry tubs or back into the washer. If you are getting the washer for free ,give it a try with a wet wash, with any cleaner as long as it doesn't have ammonia in it, other wise save up for a vibratory polisher, they work great.. Like it was said earlier in this thread you want to get rid of the carbon , grease or lube, dirt, etc. Any thing with citric acid in it ,like KOOL AID will remove tarnish. You will have to make sure your cases are absolutely dry or you will contaminate your powder.But to polish your shells you need some kind of polisher and I don't think a ringer washer would last with dry media ,even if it did work.
 
Somebody old enough to remember those things has a nit to pick:

It's a wringer washer.

A ringer washer is a washer with a bell.
 
Insofar as a liquid cleaning solution I’ve used either Simple Green or Purple Power slightly diluted by water as well as a liquid dishwashing soap diluted with water with a couple of ounces of concentrated lemon juice added, all of them worked very well.
Click to expand...

I have pretty much dropped the media and use liquid as this quote, with the exception that I have stopped using dish soap and stick to an industrial cleaner to keep the suds down. I usually use a Thumblers tumbler and a couple of hours of that brass will look new. If not real dirty it just gets stirred in a large bowl or 5 gallon bucket.

My guess is a washing machine would work and saw a picture of a cement mixer being used on large quantities of brass.
 
Let the fun begin

%5B06_13_00%5D%5B20_06%5D_04.jpg
This model gets 2 washes per gallon of gas.
 
I guess those maytags do last forever!

I'm thinking it may be best just to get a tumbler.... as much as I hate buying anything new at full price...even if it is $50.
 
http://www.davesrepair.com/images/A-30pic.gif

Above is the exact washer that my mother used until about 1985. If the washer you may get looks anything like this, then no it wouldn't work as a case tumbler, with DRY media.

The agitator sits in the bottom of the bowl, it has fins that when moved in a reciprocating motion caused the water to move from bottom to top in a circular motion. It's fit to the bottom would leave plenty of room for the media to get UNDER it, I would bet it would jam it up quite quickly.

The bowl and agitator are bare aluminum, so just how it would react to an acid type of cleaner in water is any body's guess. Any chemists on here? I know how a caustic would do!:rolleyes:

As for the question about the pet store corn-cob, I know from experience how it works for small cases like .223!:banghead::banghead::banghead::cuss: It took hours of digging to get it out of those cases! It works fine for 40 on up in handgun cases.
 
Recipes for liquid cleaner

Does anyone have an exact recipe for about 5 gallons of liquid cleaner for rifle and handgun brass?

I don't want to start guessing at ingredients because I'm afraid to tarnish or weaken my brass chemically!
Click to expand...

Try anything from here: Homemade Firearm Cleaners & Lubricants


These cleaners are built around cheap vinegar + laundry detergent + salt plus a clean water rinse afterward.

Happy cleaning. Let me know how it works.
 
I tried liquid cleanersONCE! IIRC it was Iosso. After using according to directions, I wanted to put them in mom's oven to dry, she wouldn't hear of it!:fire: So I spread them out in my loading space,(dark dank basement), for 2 days. I then proceeded to load them. Out of 50, I had 5 duds, wet powder!:fire::fire::banghead: Never again!;) Besides the results left much to be desired.

Get a vibratory tumbler, the get some corn cob made for polishing brass cases AND some tumbler brass polish. You'll knock their eyes out at the range!:D
 
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Join Date: 05-14-07
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Click to expand...

Id like to see you call the maytag repair man for that washing machine
 
Snuffy...My mom had the same washer. Dad removed the gas engine and gave it to us kids and installed an electric motor. He wanted mom to be able to do the washing inside the basement so the gas engine had to go...
 
I use laundry detergent and water.
Then I throw them in the dryer with a bunch of hand towels. They come out dry and shiny.

ps don't do this with your wife or mother in the house.
 
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