Wet Tumblers

[Captaingyro]

I'm using the Thumler's, and here's my formula:

With the 5 lbs. of pins already in the tub, I then fill it about half full of brass, and add water to within an inch of the top. I add one tablespoon of Dawn and one quarter teaspoon of Lemishine.

This is a bunch of '63 LC .30-06 brass that was totally brown with oxidation to start with:

 

[straight-shooter]

Here is some .223 tumbled in the frankford arsenal using two tablespoons of Dawn dish soap and 1/4 teaspoon of Lemishine. I also figured out that I get better results using cold to lukewarm water vs hot water. I rinse using cold water as I found that hot water has a tendency to discolor the brass with a dark outcome.

I dry by putting the brass in a mesh laundry bag and hanging it over the door of the dryer. A knot in the top of the bag keeps the bag from sliding inward into the dryer. I found that running the dryer on medium heat gives best results because the hot setting will also discolor the brass. I usually run the medium heat setting for 40 minutes and it's done.

Before


After

 

[TenDriver]

Got it. I wasn't putting in any soap. Shiny now.

What do you guys do as far as separating the media? I'm seriously thinking about drying in the oven, then separating the pins.

 

[Toprudder]

I use an RCBS dry media separator to separate the pins. Fill the tub up with water, set the tumbler in and rotate to separate the pins just like you would to separate the dry media.

Ditto on using cool water, I used warm water once and the next day the brass had darkened up some.

The Frankford has a 30 lb limit, which is the weight of the tub and all the contents. Realistically, this means about 10-12lbs of brass.

To dry, I have used the shoe rack in the dryer, place a hand towel on top and spread the brass out. Low heat for about an hour. Sometimes I put the hand towel outside in the sun and it drys in about the same time. I will be buying a food dehydrator soon for drying brass, I figure it will save on energy compared to the dryer, and I can munch on dried banana chips while I am waiting on the brass to dry.

 

[rondog]

I use a small cement mixer from Harbor Freight. It's a little more involved, but I can process very large amounts of brass. I just save up my dirty cases until I have enough to make it worthwhile, and set aside a day for it. I only do it a couple times a year now.

The cement mixer was lots cheaper than a Thumler Model B, and will handle far, far more brass. I use 25 lbs of SS pins alone, then dump in a whole 2.5 gal bucket of brass.

 

[*Kemosabe*]

Wow, the results using the tumbler with ss pins are impressive!

I bought a Thumbler when there were no vibratory tumblers and no one used ss pins. I bought the Dillon tumbler when it came out and immediately put the Thumbler in storage. That was over 30 years ago.

After seeing these results I took my Thumbler out of mothballs and tested the motor it appears to be okay. The rubber belts I had broke into pieces the moment I tried to put them on. So tomorrow I’m going to order some belts and get the ss pins.

About the pins:
Is 5 pounds of pins optimal for the Thumbler?
Is there a “best” size pin (one that will clean primer pockets)?
Is there a brand that will give the best service?
Where can I get them at the lowest cost?

Thanks for your help….. Sabe

 

[Toprudder]

I bought the Frankford tumbler and it came with pins. However, I read somewhere that those pins could get stuck two together in the flash holes of 223 casings. There is a size that won't, and can be bought on Amazon. I would look there, but there might be a cheaper source.

 

[CatManDo]

I built my own tumbler. Some sewer pipe(pvc) appropriate caps and a spare 1/4hp electric motor and some angle iron. I've been using it now for about 4 years and I'm constantly impressed with the results. A little LemiShine water and dial dish soap. Let her run for a couple of hours and Bam! looks amazing.
Ran some today:

 

[*Kemosabe*]

Still looking for answers

I bought a Thumbler when there were no vibratory tumblers and no one used ss pins. I bought the Dillon tumbler when it came out and immediately put the Thumbler in storage. That was over 30 years ago.

After seeing these results I took my Thumbler out of mothballs and tested the motor it appears to be okay. The rubber belts I had broke into pieces the moment I tried to put them on. So tomorrow I’m going to order some belts and get the ss pins.

About the pins:
Is 5 pounds of pins optimal for the Thumbler?
Is there a “best” size pin (one that will clean primer pockets)?
Is there a brand that will give the best service?
Where can I get them at the lowest cost?

Please point me in the right direction... thanks!

 

[z7]

I will be getting a wet tumbler this fall and I was wondering what you lose by not decapping first. I know the primer pockets won't be clean, are there other downsides?

 

[Magnum Shooter]

Kemosabe


This site may answer most of your questions.
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/stainless-tumbling-media.html
Not saying they are the lowest price but not bad either.

 

[Toprudder]

I will be getting a wet tumbler this fall and I was wondering what you lose by not decapping first. I know the primer pockets won't be clean, are there other downsides?

Besides not getting the primer pockets clean, probably not much.

I've wet tumbled a few loads with the primers still in. I had just one of the batches where a few (maybe 4 or 5) primers did not come completely out, just the cap broke out but left the ring in the pocket. I figured it wasn't worth the trouble trying to dig out the rest as I would probably have damaged the pocket, so I just tossed them. I don't know if the wet tumbling caused that, to be honest.