SS Tumbling, achilles heal.

I've read a lot of back and forth on this issue. Personally I use a wet tumbler because:

* It's quieter
* It's quicker
* It has fewer and cheaper consumables
* There is no dust - clean up involves a sponge and maybe a magnet ;)

The quiet part for me is important. I live in an and apartment can't have a vibratory tumbler running for 6 hours..
 
HeavyTread said:
I've read a lot of back and forth on this issue. Personally I use a wet tumbler because:

* It's quieter
* It's quicker
* It has fewer and cheaper consumables
* There is no dust - clean up involves a sponge and maybe a magnet ;)

The quiet part for me is important. I live in an and apartment can't have a vibratory tumbler running for 6 hours..
Click to expand...

+1 Yes
 
Eagleye said:
Unless you absolutely have to have that "New Case" appearance, there is no advantage to the SS pins.

I started reloading when tumblers of any type were few and far between, and guess what?
All our reloads turned out just fine, and shot splendid groups, and killed game without the shiny look.

For those who cannot live without the shiny cases.....go for it!
For the rest of us.......meh.

Cheers, dave.
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Before I could afford a tumbler I cleaned cases by hand and or used kool-aid to assist. Reloads shiny or not worked just fine :)
 
There is an accuracy advantage with the extra clean brass of SS vs the dry abrasive and ultrasonic method.

Once it warms and I get the the range I will post the very scientific results!
 
I ran 30 very dirty 260 cases through my Hornady Ultra sonic cleaner yesterday to try the Hornady One Shot Brass Cleaner against the Vinegar Solution I had always used...mixed results, overall the brass is far cleaner looking (the vinegar stuff is clean just not as "pretty") and have a nicer appearance than the standard vinegar solution, HOWEVER, (and this is big to me) 14 of the 30 had residue in the primer pockets. This residue is soft and easily removed but not as clean as the primer pockets on the vinegar trial...I will use it a few more times to see what my long term thoughts are.
 
Scanner_66 said:
I ran 30 very dirty 260 cases through my Hornady Ultra sonic cleaner yesterday to try the Hornady One Shot Brass Cleaner against the Vinegar Solution I had always used...mixed results, overall the brass is far cleaner looking (the vinegar stuff is clean just not as "pretty") and have a nicer appearance than the standard vinegar solution, HOWEVER, (and this is big to me) 14 of the 30 had residue in the primer pockets. This residue is soft and easily removed but not as clean as the primer pockets on the vinegar trial...I will use it a few more times to see what my long term thoughts are.
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I want to sonic the crud out of my primer pockets on military brass after I deprime but before I swage.

What vinegar recipe are you using? Shine for me isn't important at this stage-- I'll wet tumble after I do case prep.

Also, how long did you run the cleaner, for the vinegar solution and the Hornady?
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
There is an accuracy advantage with the extra clean brass of SS vs the dry abrasive and ultrasonic method.

Once it warms and I get the the range I will post the very scientific results!
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This I will be waiting to see!
As I mentioned earlier, I am very skeptical.
Never yet saw a LR competitive shooter who needed ultra shiny brass to score well.
Dave.
 
I run a hepa filter unit on high for as long as the tumbler runs and for 1 hour afterwards. When the sun shines through the window I can see the dust that comes from my lyman turbo tumbler with walnut and corncob media makes. It is a lot, and not visible under most circumstances.

I'll keep going as I've not gotten my money's worth out of the gear yet. But if I could do it all over again. I would go stainless.
 
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I shoot BPCR and we de prime right after shooting.
Then right into a jug of water/vinegar or water/dawn soap till we get home.

Can sit there a few days.
Then right into the water tumbling for cleaning.
The drying then is not an extra step.
 
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If you don't mind would you tell me what you are using for your cleaning solution and how long you run for? I have an ultrasonic cleaner I use to clean circuit boards for my RC hobby. I tried the Lyman solution but was less than impressed.
Kim

If I am in the mood for clean brass I can clean brass spotless in 15-20 minutes with nothing more than water, vinegar, and dish soap using a ultrasonic bath.

From this:







To this in a very short time with no effort:







Hey, if you like your set up and are happy, fill your boots. I am just curious as to why stainless is so much better according to some folks. I see no advantage...[/QUOTE]
 
crazy_davey said:
The solution I use is: 50% Vinegar + 50% water and a few drops of dish soap roughly every 4-500ml of the solution.
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Wow.

Are those pictures of the spotless primer pockets you posted straight from the sonic cleaner? No pocket scraping?

Also, which sonic cleaner are you using?

I have the smaller Hornady cleaner and use their solution, and the pockets never come out that clean.
 
So I'm going to be jumping on this train soon, I had some nice once fired 308 Lapua brass get covered in ink from the box they used to ship in. I had wet cloth sitting against the box, must have had some solvent on it, and it leached through onto the cases. It was thick enough to scrape off with my fingernail, but still would leave a stain on the case. I tossed it in my tumbler that gets my pistol brass shiny like new, and all it did was stick to the thick ink spots. 14 cases out of 100 had ink on them. Gave them to Brennan and in 2hrs his SS media had the cases looking better than new. I'm sold. Now I have to decide if I want to large scale and something I can do 1000 9mm cases or more in, or just do my rifle brass. So now I'm thinking of a plastic tubbed cement mixer and dehydrator to dry. I don't have a sink in my basement yet, so not sure the best way to deal with washing the cases, using the kitchen sink is a no go.
 
Slavex said:
So I'm going to be jumping on this train soon, I had some nice once fired 308 Lapua brass get covered in ink from the box they used to ship in. I had wet cloth sitting against the box, must have had some solvent on it, and it leached through onto the cases. It was thick enough to scrape off with my fingernail, but still would leave a stain on the case. I tossed it in my tumbler that gets my pistol brass shiny like new, and all it did was stick to the thick ink spots. 14 cases out of 100 had ink on them. Gave them to Brennan and in 2hrs his SS media had the cases looking better than new. I'm sold. Now I have to decide if I want to large scale and something I can do 1000 9mm cases or more in, or just do my rifle brass. So now I'm thinking of a plastic tubbed cement mixer and dehydrator to dry. I don't have a sink in my basement yet, so not sure the best way to deal with washing the cases, using the kitchen sink is a no go.
Click to expand...

In the summer I do mine outside with the garden hose and let dry in the sun.
 
HeavyTread said:
Wow.

Are those pictures of the spotless primer pockets you posted straight from the sonic cleaner? No pocket scraping?

Also, which sonic cleaner are you using?

I have the smaller Hornady cleaner and use their solution, and the pockets never come out that clean.
Click to expand...

What is pocket scraping, hahaha? Nothing done to the primer pockets, that is how they come out.

Small lab grade sonicator. Can do about 100 cases at a time in glass beakers.
 
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