Steps for using a SS rotary tumbler?

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Brianma65

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I'm ordering a FA rotary tumbler with the SS pins.
It says to resize your brass and then clean,which makes sense ,as it'll clean the pockets as well.

But it just doesn't make sense to run dirty brass ,through the dies. Or do it?

What do you do? Could those of you ,who use this system,list your steps?
And is the 5 lbs of SS pins (included)enough? IMG_0146.jpg
 

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I deprime wit a Lee depriming die first, then run the brass through the tumbler to clean.

For tumbling, I use a teaspoon of dish soap + a teaspoon of Lemi-Shine in HOT water for 1.5 to 2 hours & dry the brass on a cookie sheet in the dryer (on the shoe rack thingy it came with).
 
x2.....Qball types faster ..lol...I use a lee decapping die then run it through the tumbler before resizing. Get yourself some lemishine from Canadiantire and a magnet to pick up stray pins..and rinse the casings well in hot water.
 
Ok ,sounds good. Is 5lbs of SS media enough?
I have a set of Forester dies on the way,can I somehow use these to decap only? Or do I need a separate ,decap die.
 
De-cap brass, fill tumbler with pins, fill tumbler just over half with water, put a small amount of Lemon Shine, tumble, dry. And 5lbs of pins is a lifetime supply.
 
I use a Lee universal decapping die, then tumble using dish soap, lemishine and SS pins. Then rinse using just warm water..
The advantage of using Lee decapping die is the die does not touch the brass at all while decapping.
 
Don't forget to tumble the new pins in soapy water for a few hours before you use it to clean brass. The pins come pretty dirty and it will turn your brass black.
 
sawzall said:
Don't forget to tumble the new pins in soapy water for a few hours before you use it to clean brass. The pins come pretty dirty and it will turn your brass black.
Click to expand...

Never heard of this before. Mine were straight from the bag to the tumbler. Brass turned out great the first time.
 
Lee decap die. Also just ordered the Redding decap for 338LM.
dawn liquid and LemiSheen (better yet get citric acid, Amazon has 2lb for 10 bucks).
5lb pin works for me.
 
sawzall said:
Don't forget to tumble the new pins in soapy water for a few hours before you use it to clean brass. The pins come pretty dirty and it will turn your brass black.
Click to expand...
When the pins are new they may also have small burrs on the ends which can mark the brass. A few hours of tumbling the pins in water with a little soap will help to round off the burrs. The more you use them the smoother and better they get.
 
A squirt of dish soap and a squirt of lemon or lime juice (citric acid) will do exactly the same as the fancy lem shine everyone uses. Use a universal decap die to decap or better yet Frankford has a decapping hand tool. Can use while watching TV. I decap around 500+ while watching a movie. No need to clean twice?
 
LOL,I almost got it straightened out.
Just need to be clear on removing the lube.
I use lanolin an isopropyl.
See if I got it straight.
decap(lee universal)
Clean
Dry
Lube and resize.
So I don't want to load them with the lube still on them,so I clean and dry them again?
 
You're using a different tumbler, but with my Thumbler B, 5 pounds of pins, 3 pounds of brass, cold water to 1" from top, teaspoon lemishine, small squirt of dish soap, 2-3 hours.

I use the lee universal decapper, then tumble, dry on a towel (couple days to a week, I keep up with my brass cleaning, so in no hurry), then resize and reload.
 
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