Tumbling brass on a budget advice

[LoonWulf]

I've always been tempted to throw some brass into a quilted, zippered pillow case, then run it through the washing machine and dryer.

Disclaimer -- If you decide to try this, and you have a wife, I cannot be held responsible for the consequences.

Sock......

 

[.308 Norma]

No tumbler? No problem. Just throw the brass in the washing machine with your wife’s clothes. They’ll be ready in 35 minutes. Use her hair dryer if they’re still damp.

Whoa! I don't have a hair dryer of my own, so I could probably get away with using my wife's hair dryer for drying brass. But throwing brass in the washing machine with just her clothes?!?
I don't think so. I want to keep my wife.

 

[cfullgraf]

Naw, we tumble our brass in a vibratory tumbler in our unfinished basement. If you want to talk about something (hair) getting "everywhere" in your house, try having one of these things (a Cocker/Springer cross) in your house for a few years.View attachment 954520
That's Ruger. Unlike Ruger, our vibrating tumbler has a lid that keeps stuff from being scattered throughout the house.

Yes, no house is complete without a few dog hairs--or cat hairs or horse hairs or...

Apologizes for the thread mis-direction, now back to the original subject.

I have a dedicated hobby area in basement of the house where all my hobby work, including tumbling, is done. Our dogs produce lots more dust in the main part of the house than anything that I do in my hobby area.

 

[kmw1954]

I can't decide so I do both wet and dry. Wet first to get all the garbage out and off, then pistol brass go into the dry tumbler, rifle brass goes from wet to deprime, then size and trim then into the dry tumbler. If this is crimped brass all prep work done before finish with the dry media.

 

[Scott S]

My Harbor Freight dual drum rock tumbler was a cast away Christmas gift my eleven year old son got last year. I think we gave sixty bucks for it. Add a 2 1/2 pound box of pins for twenty bucks from Amazon and lemi shine from Walmart and I was set. I'll probably store my Frankford Arsenal vibratory away until I gift it to a new reloader.

 

[dwing]

There are many ways to get the job done. I tend to use a little of both wet and dry methods. I like to soak my brass in a solution of 90/10 water to vinegar with a few drops of dish soap and stir it occasionally. It gets the dirt and alot of the carbon off the cases so they are perfectly reloadable, but dull looking after drying.

To get them sparkling clean, I tumble them in walnut lizard bedding with a little nufinish to keep the dust down and help polish. I started with an old cordless drill rigged up with a computer power supply to turn a modified coffee can as a rotory tumbler (ugly but effective). I have since moved to a HF cement mixer, but the process is the same.

 

[Hondo 60]

No reason you can't use a DRY vibratory tumbler outside even if it's 30 below.

And I know that from experience.
Sometimes I think the weather in WI & IL is worse than Alaska

 

[LoonWulf]

Hot water dish soap.....

Shake for a while.

Rinse.




2/3 white vinegar/water

Shaker for a while.

Rinse.


Baking soda water.

Shake for a while

Rinse.....



At this point I rinse them in RO water as well since it's what we fill out drinking water jugs with and I have it. But it's not necessary.

Bake 200* for 1/2hr with the door propped open to allow good venting.



went ahead and loaded them tonight

 

[V-fib]

Before I got my FART, I would simply put my brass into a small mesh washing bag throw in some Dawn dish soap and run it through the wash. It didn't come out as nice as the FART but it was clean for reloading. When done throw it on a pan and dry in the oven or on top of a wood stove. I dry mine using a food dehydrator works really fast.
v-fib

 

[forty_caliber]

No tumbler? No problem. Just throw the brass in the washing machine with your wife’s clothes. They’ll be ready in 35 minutes. Use her hair dryer if they’re still damp.

This dog WON'T hunt at my house and besides I want to live to see my next birthday.

.40

 

[Dudedog]

I am really happy I spent the money for a wet tumbler. (Lyman Cyclone)
However for cheapest
a bucket of water, dish soap or car wash and wax, citric acid, soak and stir

If you have a paint mixing paddle for a drill (assuming you have a drill)that might help with the stirring part

Thinking cheap if you have a variable speed AC drill maybe a long piece of threaded rod thru a large plastic jar with a lid, and a base with roller skate/skateboard wheels to hold the jar.

Thinking something like this for the jar
https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Contain...one+gallon+plastic+jar&qid=1605115227&sr=8-13
Your local burger joint/restaurant might have some that they got mustard or /mayo in.

(never tried this just thinking out loud)

 

[mdi]

Here's another semi-related post; I reloaded for 12 years before I started tumbling brass. I merely wiped each case with a solvent dampened rag as I inspected it. Mostly revolver brass, some .223/5.56, and a few 30-30. Never had any scratched or ruined dies. No damaged chambers and if I wanted BBQ brass I'd shine them on a hardwood mandrel with 0000 steel wool and Pledge...

 

[BWrnd13]

When I started reloading (.222 Rem), I just used a gray Scotchbrite pad, and turned the case with the shellholder that came with my Lee trimmer. This would work fine for low quantities.
I use a Harbor Freight dual drum rock tumbler now... Hot water, Lemi-shine, dish soap, and wash-and-wax. I don't use pins, and am thinking about leaving out the dish soap. This leaves the outside gleaming, and does a decent job on the inside. Rinse thoroughly with cold water, then toss the wet brass around in a towel to take the water droplets off. Finish up with a food dehydrator I picked up from a garage sale for $3... A lot of people use them once, and don't take them out of the box again. I bought the tumbler on sale, so the cost of all of my equipment is less than $60.

 

[KYregular]

Howdy guys. I am trying to get into using a tumbler and with the way things are going nowadays I'm in a budget. I live in Alaska and it's cold so I don't think wet tumbling is the way to go because I think it would take forever to dry. I have heard vibratory tumblers throw a bunch of lead dust in the air? Does media get everywhere as well? Kids summer stuff is all packed in the garage where i do my reloading so id hate to be lining all their stuff with potentially nasty stuff.


Sonic cleaning I am not super familiar with, does it just bounce stuff around in water and cleaning solution and heat from within or are you having to dry afterwards as well? Forgive me for probably asking dumb questions but I've just never used a tumbler period.

What do I do? I know my brass is pretty grody and would like it clean but am at an impasse for how to do that and make it look halfway presentable.

I tumble mine in 100% walnut media (lizard litter from a pet store). I will typically turn it on at night and let it tumble to the next day. To keep the dust under control ill put a 5 gallon bucket over it, just make sure you put blocks under the bucket to keep it off the ground to allow air in to keep it from overheating your tumbler. Its best to set something on top of the bucket as well to keep it from vibrating off. 8 hours or so and the brass is very clean.

 

[packetloss]

Here's another semi-related post; I reloaded for 12 years before I started tumbling brass. I merely wiped each case with a solvent dampened rag as I inspected it. Mostly revolver brass, some .223/5.56, and a few 30-30. Never had any scratched or ruined dies. No damaged chambers and if I wanted BBQ brass I'd shine them on a hardwood mandrel with 0000 steel wool and Pledge...

But have you gotten your lead levels checked? How are you tumbling now(dry or wet)? Have your lead levels changed?

As much as I like clean brass and not messing up my press, I'm more concerned about my lead levels. There is no escaping lead if you shoot (well unless you use lead free primers and go to a lead free only range I suppose), but from a health perspective you need to minimize lead exposure. Mine hit 5, which isn't horrible, but it's higher than I am comfortable with it being. I'm now using d-lead soap, P100 ventilator while handling dirty cases, showering and washing cloths right after any range trips. Hopefully I can cut my level in half.

 

[NMexJim]

I vibratory tumbled for a lot of years w/o any major problems. A media separator is nice, but I used a bucket for a long time.

But, I always wanted my primer pockets to get just a little cleaner as I was still having to touch them up, and so I finally went with an ultrasonic. I had heard a lot of tales about cheap ultrasonic cleaners not getting the job done, and so I went with a Hornady LNL at $165. I'd been down the "buy once, cry once" road before. A quick look shows Lyman 2500 at $106, and the Lyman 6000 at $289. The RCBS I looked at was $379.99.

All this said a Frankfort Arsenal vibratory is $59. I have noooo idea how many casing have been through mine, and it's still going strong. Some tumbling media - I've used corn cob - and some polish and you're off and running.

I've read threads from folks on here about using Harbor Freight vibratory tumblers with good success. I think most any that vibrates will get the job done. I don't know about ultrasonics.

 

[BLACKFIN]

Wet tumbler: this is what i use, no media needed, just fill it with water add a little dawn detergent and a 3/4 9mm case full of Lemi-Shine and run it for 2 hours for clean, 3 hours for very clean and shiny. As to dry the brass just run them by a towel shake them around.
https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html

Dry tumbler
https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...k3e6CU4Y7Ug20rs4jCCXlusJpbKuxSjRoCaOQQAvD_BwE

 

[BLACKFIN]

Whoa! I don't have a hair dryer of my own, so I could probably get away with using my wife's hair dryer for drying brass. But throwing brass in the washing machine with just her clothes?!?
I don't think so. I want to keep my wife.

Just get a long sock, put the brass inside with some detergent and tie it and drop it with the next washing load

 

[LoonWulf]

I am really happy I spent the money for a wet tumbler. (Lyman Cyclone)
However for cheapest
a bucket of water, dish soap or car wash and wax, citric acid, soak and stir

If you have a paint mixing paddle for a drill (assuming you have a drill)that might help with the stirring part

Thinking cheap if you have a variable speed AC drill maybe a long piece of threaded rod thru a large plastic jar with a lid, and a base with roller skate/skateboard wheels to hold the jar.

Thinking something like this for the jar
https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Contain...one+gallon+plastic+jar&qid=1605115227&sr=8-13
Your local burger joint/restaurant might have some that they got mustard or /mayo in.

(never tried this just thinking out loud)

My buddy Eddie built one like that, I'll get a picture of it next time I'm at his place.....I can't remember what stuff he used, but it does work.
He also just bought a FART and has relegated the bucket n drill to the parts pile.


I'm probably going to order a fart myself in the near future. Shiney brass is nice......

 

[Demi-human]

I built this out of things I had laying about.
The pillow block bearings were the only thing bought at the time. And the belt.

The rest was scavenged and painted.
I splurged and threw out the clothes hanging rod shafts and put one hardened steel shaft in their stead and two idler wheels. Even though it was working fine. I could build another with them, but I don’t see this wearing out. I can sit on it.

My first container leaked, so I did have to buy material for another. The new one has stainless baffles attached for increased agitation.

The pins are durable and it uses soap, citric acid and electricity.

I enjoyed building it, because I enjoy building.
The Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler wasn’t around, but is a great thing now.

Though I imagine a human could build a vibratory tumbler, I don’t think it as rewarding a payoff, effort for results wise.

The investment was worth it.

 

[Rule3]

I built this out of things I had laying about.
The pillow block bearings were the only thing bought at the time. And the belt.

The rest was scavenged and painted.
I splurged and threw out the clothes hanging rod shafts and put one hardened steel shaft in their stead and two idler wheels. Even though it was working fine. I could build another with them, but I don’t see this wearing out. I can sit on it.

My first container leaked, so I did have to buy material for another. The new one has stainless baffles attached for increased agitation.

The pins are durable and it uses soap, citric acid and electricity.

I enjoyed building it, because I enjoy building.
The Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler wasn’t around, but is a great thing now.

Though I imagine a human could build a vibratory tumbler, I don’t think it as rewarding a payoff, effort for results wise.

The investment was worth it.

Industrial
I will last two lifetimes!, Nice work!
By the looks of all the gear used in yours, FA could build 100 of there China junk ones.

 

[Dudedog]

I'm probably going to order a fart myself in the near future. Shiney brass is nice

Shiny brass may not shoot any better but it makes me .

After seeing all the crud in the water after running a batch its nice to know it's not on my brass and fingers.

 

[Rule3]

Jes thinkin'; tumbling/cleaning brass is probably the most talked about, but least important part of reloading discussed on reloading forums today...

You got that right!
Every online gun forum should have a separate sub section JUST for brass cleaning!, It's insane!

 

[mdi]

But have you gotten your lead levels checked? How are you tumbling now(dry or wet)? Have your lead levels changed?

For the last 25 years of my career I had annual physicals including heavy metal testing (I worked for a large city dept of water and power and occasionally worked on equipment that had lead based paint). I was even working in an open building in downtown LA. All my results were "normal". A few weeks ago I had blood tests done with the lead levels specifically requested, results "normal"...

Still tumbling today. My Lyman w/slotted lid, sits on the floor of my shop, on a mat and runs while I'm doing something else. I have my small rotary on one bench and that too normally runs while I'm doing something else (Very early on I was taught to never leave any appliance or tool running unattended so it is now a habit that when I'm done for the day, everything gets turned off). But I use corn cob blast media which produces less dust and don't worry about "primer lead"...

 

[Bfh_auto]

I've always been tempted to throw some brass into a quilted, zippered pillow case, then run it through the washing machine and dryer.

Disclaimer -- If you decide to try this, and you have a wife, I cannot be held responsible for the consequences.

Don't.
I had a piece of brass fall out of my pants pocket. By the time it made it through the dryer cycle the neck was peened in.