sikwhiskey
CGN Regular
- Location
- Lethbridge
I only dry tumble loaded rounds off a progressive press, removes access lube. Same as the Factory does.
New at range brass cleaning!!! Dry Tumbler vs Wet Tumbler
- Thread starter cokelon
- Start date
I only wet tumble.
I suppose if you need to use the brass within the next two or three hours you'd oven or hairdryer dry, and if it's sunny you could sun dry, but I have lots of brass so can't be bothered with any of that. I shake the water out of each piece to remove the excess (and look for any pins that might be wedged in the primer pocket), and lay them on a dish towel and come back a day or so later and they're ready to use.
I suppose if you need to use the brass within the next two or three hours you'd oven or hairdryer dry, and if it's sunny you could sun dry, but I have lots of brass so can't be bothered with any of that. I shake the water out of each piece to remove the excess (and look for any pins that might be wedged in the primer pocket), and lay them on a dish towel and come back a day or so later and they're ready to use.
.30/06 FTW
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
The brass that I pick up at my range sometimes is so dirty that wet tumbling is the only way to get it clean. I deprime everything first. To dry it basically I just rinse with hot water and it gets it mostly dry, then lay it out on a towel near my dehumidifier that I use to keep moisture out of my gun room. Usually only the flash holes have a bit of water to dry out.
machohugeaxe
Regular
- Location
- Peel Region, Ontario
Anyone able to recommend a wet tumbler? Reading mixed reviews on the 7L and lite frankford arsenal ones
.30/06 FTW
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
I love my Lyman Cyclone.
So do I. I originally bought a Frankford Arsenal. It worked well and cleaned the brass fine but it consistently leaked. I had to use a strap wrench to tighten the lid to eliminate leaking but that made it hard to remove the lid.
I got a great deal on a Lyman so I bought it and it works great. I can tighten the lid leak free with just hand pressure. Never had a leak ever. I think the difference is that tha FA gaskets seem harder whereas the Lyman gasket is soft so I expect It compresses easier and seals better. Maybe the FA would be OK if it had softer gaskets but the Lyman works well enough that I don't bother with the FA anymore.
machohugeaxe
Regular
- Location
- Peel Region, Ontario
Thanks guys, added to price watchlist
I have the Frankford Lite. No issues with leaking like others have had. The only issue I had was running it full of brass/water/pins it didn't always like to spin. A couple full wraps of Super88 electrical tape (compliments of free issue...) gave it enough traction that I haven't had an issue since. Almost 2 years of use without a hiccup so far
If brass has actual dirt on it then wet tumbling will be a far better option.
For bulk brass I throw a bucket of brass into the cement mixer, add water, squirt in some Dawn and some citric acid and let it run about 45 min. Then drain and put on a drying rack in the sun or into dehydrators.
I don't use steel pins or deprime prior to cleaning.
For bulk brass I throw a bucket of brass into the cement mixer, add water, squirt in some Dawn and some citric acid and let it run about 45 min. Then drain and put on a drying rack in the sun or into dehydrators.
I don't use steel pins or deprime prior to cleaning.
I wet tumble with a FA tumbler and SS pins. And I always deprime beforehand so that the primer pockets get a scrub. An hour - hour and fifteen in with hot water, a squirt of Dawn and a sprinkle of Lemishine and they come out looking new. The FA brass dryer works well, takes about an hour to dry at moderate heat.
Never had my FA leak, and I only hand tighten. I clean the gaskets after every use, keeps crud from drying on and causing issues. I do like that the Lyman only has one lid, less chance of leaking. But I usually put a screen on one end of the FA and wash it out from the other, makes it easy to get all the pins out and keep everything clean.
I may buy a dry tumbler to remove lube after running a neck mandrel to set neck tension.
Never had my FA leak, and I only hand tighten. I clean the gaskets after every use, keeps crud from drying on and causing issues. I do like that the Lyman only has one lid, less chance of leaking. But I usually put a screen on one end of the FA and wash it out from the other, makes it easy to get all the pins out and keep everything clean.
I may buy a dry tumbler to remove lube after running a neck mandrel to set neck tension.
Dry tumbling (out in the garage!) is good enough for pistol brass, especially when I care more about it simply working than being dazzlingly shiny.
Just starting to anneal rifle brass, which involves dropping hot brass into a bucket of water, so thinking an initial dry tumble and deprime before that, and afterwards since it's wet anyway I might as well add a wet tumbler before drying it out.
Just starting to anneal rifle brass, which involves dropping hot brass into a bucket of water, so thinking an initial dry tumble and deprime before that, and afterwards since it's wet anyway I might as well add a wet tumbler before drying it out.
How long did you let the tumbler run? I typically go 4 hours. Never had brass come out dirty. If there is a greasy film then you didn't use enough dish soap.
A dollop of any liquid dish soap should be fine. Add a splash of Lemishine too.
Careful if/when you use Lemishine. Too much will remove the "lustor" from the cases and you'll end up with a dull yellow case. I use whatever cheap dishsoap we have bought the last grocery run. I have had issues by accidentally having some steel cases in there, it seemed to change the colour of the remaining brass, but not too terribly like you describe?
Did you leave it in there for a long time without it tumbling? It should finish tumbling super shiny, then lose a bit of its lustre once fully dry. Drying quickly helps keep the shine, as does a little, not too much, lemishine. Think 1/2 9mm case of it
Also, rinse rinse rinse! Sometimes that greasy feeling is just a layer of leftover soap!
