SS wet tumbling vs Vibratory tumbling

I made 2 size containers.

One can tumble approx 1000 223 cases, the other one maybe 200.

Honestly I let them run 3-4 hours, the brass is cleaner. I am just not in a hurry... I dont really need to clean 1000 cases in less than 3 hours anyway.

Maybe less time works, I dont know.... when I tried less it wasnt clean enough for me. Depends how dirty they start I guess.
 
I ran 550 pieces of nickel plated 38 special cases this weekend. I have a homemade tumbler that can do about 1000 pieces of 223 at a time, and i also use a Thumler model A-R12 for smaller loads including this one. Surprisingly the Thumler doesn't leak even though i don't think it's designed to hold water.

Before
yza65vp.jpg


After
SQopMJK.jpg
 
I do like the fact that the lemi shine and ss pins clean primer holes and the interior of the case just as clean as a brand new unfired case. I also appreciate not having to pick particles of cleaning materials out of my primer holes. Use what ever turns your crank
 
I'd love to get into SS cleaning. My two biggest reasons are

1) And by far the most important, no dust! I'm paranoid about using dry media tumblers. When they are done, I put on latex gloves and a dust mask the whole time. I also run my tumbler only out in the garage
2) No cleaning of primer pockets! Man I don't like this part. When doing up a bunch of .223, even removing one part of the case prep process saves a ton of time.

Can't wait. Just been pumping out far too much money latley, I need to cool the spending jets for a bit.
 
I have been following this thread with lots of interest as I have also been thinking of joining the users of the stainless steel. I shoot mainly .223 and 45ACP. I am not worried about the pistol brass as it's easy, shoot, clean, reload.... Repeat. Rifle brass on the other hand is more work.

So I have some questions,
1) how do you guys dry high numbers of brass? Say 1000 or so.

2) how do you separate your media from the brass?

3)how does the ss media compare to the ceramic media?

I am very attracted to the no dust part of ss media but can see drying being an issue.
 
1) I put all my wet brass on a towel, pinch then ends together and roll it back and forth a couple times like a bowling ball. Then i just spread them out on the towel on a spare bed and forget about them for a couple days.

2)Fill a media separator like this full of water, the pins will sink to the bottom of the bucket as you spin it, rinses your brass at the same time.
97498.jpg


Never tried ceramic.
twig_40 said:
I have been following this thread with lots of interest as I have also been thinking of joining the users of the stainless steel. I shoot mainly .223 and 45ACP. I am not worried about the pistol brass as it's easy, shoot, clean, reload.... Repeat. Rifle brass on the other hand is more work.

So I have some questions,
1) how do you guys dry high numbers of brass? Say 1000 or so.

2) how do you separate your media from the brass?

3)how does the ss media compare to the ceramic media?

I am very attracted to the no dust part of ss media but can see drying being an issue.
Click to expand...
 
twig_40 said:
So I have some questions,
1) how do you guys dry high numbers of brass? Say 1000 or so.

2) how do you separate your media from the brass?

3)how does the ss media compare to the ceramic media?

I am very attracted to the no dust part of ss media but can see drying being an issue.
Click to expand...

Drying isn't as big a problem as some make it out to be. I read about guys using dehydrators, ovens and clothes dryers, but really. .. Why?
I clean up to 800 .223 cases at a time. All I've ever done to dry them is to spread them out on a boot tray and let them sit. In 24hrs they're dry.

My media separation method is somewhat tedious, but it's foolproof and gives the chance to inspect cases. All I do is puck 'em outta the media by hand, dump the pins out and put them into a strainer for a rinse with cold water.
800 cases takes me maybe 30-45 min. to get through.
 
did_b said:
1) I put all my wet brass on a towel, pinch then ends together and roll it back and forth a couple times like a bowling ball. Then i just spread them out on the towel on a spare bed and forget about them for a couple days.

2)Fill a media separator like this full of water, the pins will sink to the bottom of the bucket as you spin it, rinses your brass at the same time.
97498.jpg


Never tried ceramic.
Click to expand...

I'm cheap so I use a bucket of water and a fryer basket from the dollar store. Dump a few handfuls of brass out into the fryer basket, stir them up for about 15sec and the pins fall right out into the bottom of the bucket. If I was doing a LOT of cases, then I would probably get a separator like the one above. :p

As for drying, I give them a soak in hot water for a couple minutes, this heats up the cases and helps speed up the drying process a little so you don't get water marks on the brass; shake dry and spread them out on a tray for 24hrs or so. I've got enough brass in circulation that there's no need for me to hurry up the drying process.
 
Trinimon said:
I'm cheap so I use a bucket of water and a fryer basket from the dollar store. Dump a few handfuls of brass out into the fryer basket, stir them up for about 15sec and the pins fall right out into the bottom of the bucket. If I was doing a LOT of cases, then I would probably get a separator like the one above. :p

As for drying, I give them a soak in hot water for a couple minutes, this heats up the cases and helps speed up the drying process a little so you don't get water marks on the brass; shake dry and spread them out on a tray for 24hrs or so. I've got enough brass in circulation that there's no need for me to hurry up the drying process.
Click to expand...

As for cheap I get and old pair wife's panty hose streached on a looped hanger over a plastic strainer and drop the tumbler right in there run the water for a minute drain and into the towel and then oven for 20 minutes..

I save the dried brass in Mason jars just like any picked delicacy :)
 
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