Tumblers? Tumblers?! Maybe we don't need no stinkin' tumblers

[USSR]

I have purchased cases wet tumbled with stainless steel pins, Lemishine and Dawn for four hours from Aardvarkreloading.com (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45HdldSxxo). While clean and shiny, it was no more clean and was actually less shiny than the cases soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes and then tumbled in walnut media for 4 hours.

Then either Aardvark doesn't know what the heck he's doing, or you have found the source of magic crushed walnut shells. I processed brass commercially for several years, and no dry tumbling method could hold a candle to the results obtained with wet tumbling.

Don

 

[hdwhit]

exposed as in just sat in lemishine or agitated some how?

The process is described in the original post. The cases were put in a bucket with the acid and a detergent and covered. The container was then agitated for approximately 30 seconds every 10 minutes for for 30 minutes.

The point most people missed in that a 30 minute soak produced cases that were clean and nearly as shiny as brass that was dry tumbled for hours or brass commercially wet tumbled with stainless steel pins, detergent and Lemishine for four hours.

The 30 minute soak required no investment in equipment, expensive pins, dusty tumbling media or lengthy time commitment. The weak acid and the detergent did the majority of the work and it did it in a matter of minutes, not hours. The reloader with half an hour on their hands who just wants clean and moderately shiny - albeit not mirror finish - brass can get it from a $4 bottle of Lemishine or a $2 bottle of vinegar, a bottle of Dawn and any jar with a water-tight lid.

 

[hdwhit]

Then either Aardvark doesn't know what the heck he's doing,

I posted the link to the video showing their process and the result. I suggest that you watch it and then judge for yourself whether or not he knows what he's doing and whether the finished product he shows in the video is what he should be getting. And if you don't think his process meets your standards then explain in detail where he's going wrong so that the rest of us can learn and then we can all produce cases with your unexcelled results.

 

[splattergun]

When I started reloading, I used the 'B' method. Then I bought a tumbler at HF and some walnut lizard bedding at Petco. A lot less work and similar, suitable results.

I don't need no stinkin' SS pins.

 

[redclay]

I found this method by accident after my last range trip. I picked up some 45 acp brass that was laying under my bench, can't just leave it there. Got home and tossed my shorts in the laundry basket. My old yellow handle case needs a lot of attention to restore it to its previous condition but the brass is as clean as I have ever seen it. Just small batches

 

[USSR]

I posted the link to the video showing their process and the result. I suggest that you watch it and then judge for yourself whether or not he knows what he's doing and whether the finished product he shows in the video is what he should be getting. And if you don't think his process meets your standards then explain in detail where he's going wrong so that the rest of us can learn and then we can all produce cases with your unexcelled results.

Sure. First, he's using a cement mixer and not a purpose built tumbler. It does not have the same internal dynamics as a tumbler. Second, he says he's using pellets. Does he mean pins, or is he using something else? Third, he's not using enough water and not nearly enough Dawn and LemiShine. I use 1 gallon of water with 1 tablespoon of Dawn, 1/2 teaspoon of LemiShine (the key to shiny brass), and 9 pounds of stainless steel pins. However I will say, from the looks of the inside of the brass he used (heavily corroded), anybody using a dry tumbler would never get the insides and primer pockets as clean as he got them. Just MHO, having been tumbling brass for 35 years.

Don

 

[Hondo 60]

NEED is a hard word.
No I don't think I NEED to tumble - wet or dry.

BUT, my press is MUCH dirtier if I don't tumble my cases.
And so are my fingers, when I try to process the brass.

I dry tumble cases that had slower burning powders.
Because of scorching, I wet tumble cases that had fast powders, like Titegroup or Accurate #2 or #5.

I like the way they keep me & my press cleaner.

 

[dragon813gt]

Need and want are two different things. We don't need to use a tumbler. But I prefer to use one. All that's really required is to wipe the cases off to remove any dirt and grit. This prevents damaging your dies. Anything more than this isn't needed. Reloaders did this for many many years before tumblers.

I can tell you one thing I don't want to do. And that's mess w/ water and concoctions of additives to make the brass shine like jewelry. It doesn't make the rounds more accurate on target and adds a lot of time. To each their own.

 

[CptnAwesome]

Vinegar AND Lemishine

I usually do no more than 50 pieces at a time, but in a large bowl I soak in 1 cup vinegar, 2tbsp dish liquid, 3tbsp LemiShine and 2 cups hot water. Sometimes add 1tbsp salt (old guy at the range told me to throw that in). I let soak for anywhere from a couple hours to over night agitating every 20 mins or so. And if necks are very dark I hit very lightly with a strip of scotchbrite when they come out. I love the results.

My cases look about like sample B.