copper alternative to stainless pin tumbling?

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whiteinterceptor

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I've googled and looked on youtube but can't find any info if it's possible to tumble polish your brass with copper pins. I've heard of guys cutting up stainless steel tig welding rods to make their own pins so is it possible to make copper pins out of say 14 gauge electrical wire. I know some will say why bother, just wondering if it's possible or the pros or cons to it.
 
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i assume it would work but the pins would wear out quicker then stainless. 14ga wire is far to big and unless you rounded the edges of the cut pieces would get stuck good in the cases. Try it but i wouldn't put much time into it.
 
I edited the thread to say about cutting up stainless rods and not copper rods. Just wondered if the copper would be too soft and wear down quick, I wouldn't try it and go through the trouble without some info on it but I couldn't find anything on the net about anyone trying copper.
 
I have heard of people doing this BUT when you are all done you can't just use a magnet to separate your media and brass.
Yes it would wear out faster but if the wire is free and you don't wind cutting it up what are you .out?
 
How do you cut the wire so it doesn't have a kinda barbed hook on the end? Cutters don't make a very nice end if you look with a magnifying glass. At work we have .040 thou stainless lockwire that could work.
 
whiteinterceptor said:
I've googled and looked on youtube but can't find any info if it's possible to tumble polish your brass with copper pins. I've heard of guys cutting up stainless steel tig welding rods to make their own pins so is it possible to make copper pins out of say 14 gauge electrical wire. I know some will say why bother, just wondering if it's possible or the pros or cons to it.
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why?
 
It will suck in a big way. Copper isn't any harder than the brass it's supposed to clean, so it'll just bounce off of it in the tumbler. Then you'll try to separate that but there will always be some left as it's not magnetic, and the color is close to the same as the brass. And finally, with SS pins you just leave them in the tumbler, with copper pins you'll have to dry them completely otherwise they're gonna corrode eventually.
 
I've used ceramic balls for jewelry polishing. They work very well, but they are pricey and not common to find. I have them because I also have a commercial vibrator tumbler.
 
It's yourb time so go ahead and try it. You've got nothing to lose except the love and admiration of the people here who have no idea if it will work but feel uncomfortable trying something different.
 
Don't screw around.
If you haver the tumbler, buy 5 lbs of ss pins.
They last forever.
The brass comes out like gold or silver.
 
^^^ do this, its easy,it works, and in a simple task of cleaning brass its all been tried before, so theres no need to try to reinvent the wheel.
 
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