Wet Tumbling Question - Update post 28

686 Shooter

686 Shooter

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Hi everyone. Through all my years of reloading I have used dry corn cob media in a vibratory tumbler to clean my brass. Now I am thinking of going to a wet tumbling system with the stainless steel media. It sure cleans the brass better than the dry tumbling. The primer pockets and inside the case sure come out clean.

I do have a couple of question for those of you that do this regarding separating the media. I will be using this for 223 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 308 Win cases. How difficult is it to separate the media? Do you find that the stainless pins stick inside the rifle cases? And if so how much of a pain in the *** is it to get the pins out?

Also, is there any other cons that I should know about?

Thanks all.
 
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Not at all..

Youtube is your friend. Many home made options or you can buy frankford separator, magnet and call it a day.

ht**s://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Separator-Perforated-Reloading/dp/B01B6S8JUC/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=wet+tumbler+for+brass&qid=1570995370&sprefix=wet+tumbl&sr=8-14

htt**://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Transfer-Stainless-Reloading/dp/B00HTN659G/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=wet+tumbler+for+brass&qid=1570995436&sprefix=wet+tumbl&sr=8-15
 
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The RCBS Sidewinder is the best by far, expensive and hard to get but works twice as fast and with stainless pins even faster. The angle provides the drum an almost cement mixer result rather than the flat flip and smash type out today. Primer pockets are mint.... Google it, was like night and day for me, I still have a rock polisher type and the Frankfurt Arsenault for bulk 223 and 7.62 but my nice guns get the best. After the wash a good dry and some vibratory walnut soaked in Colinite 85 makes them shine and protects them.
 
686 Shooter said:
Hi everyone. Through all my years of reloading I have used dry corn cob media in a vibratory tumbler to clean my brass. Now I am thinking of going to a wet tumbling system with the stainless steel media. It sure cleans the brass better than the dry tumbling. The primer pockets and inside the case sure come out clean.

I do have a couple of question for those of you that do this regarding separating the media. I will be using this for 223 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 308 Win cases. How difficult is it to separate the media? Do you find that the stainless pins stick inside the rifle cases? And if so how much of a pain in the *** is it to get the pins out?

Also, is there any other cons that I should know about?

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

How difficult is it to separate the media?
0% difficult. You can either use the "Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator" or just pick up your cases mouth down and all the pins fall. No such thing as pins stuck in primer pocket with SS pins.

Do you find that the stainless pins stick inside the rifle cases?
No. Typically, you use a solution that contains a squirt of soap, so the pins glide right out. Pretty sure they wouldn't stick even without soap though. I've never had that problem.

And if so how much of a pain in the *** is it to get the pins out?
Zero pain. Honestly, I keep hearing about people having to push dry media out of each primer pocket one by one after dry tumbling and it gives me nightmare.
 
I use a sieve to separate pins from the cases. I agitate/rotate the cases with my hands and the pins fall into another container.

I soak the cases overnight in the drum with detergent. This reduces the tumbling time to 1.5 hours. Sometimes I don’t use the pins.
 
I don't use the SS pins at all and my brass comes out sparkling clean, I used Dawn dish soap and Lemi Shine in some hot water. 90 minutes of tumbling does the trick for me.
 
The only issues i occasionally have is with 25 cal cases, the pins will sometimes cross in the case neck and stay there, no big deal.

I rinse , then pull them out case by case dumping the pins back in, no real time wasted.
 
BRDAVISAUTOREPAIR said:
The RCBS Sidewinder is the best by far, expensive and hard to get but works twice as fast and with stainless pins even faster. The angle provides the drum an almost cement mixer result rather than the flat flip and smash type out today. Primer pockets are mint.... Google it, was like night and day for me, I still have a rock polisher type and the Frankfurt Arsenault for bulk 223 and 7.62 but my nice guns get the best. After the wash a good dry and some vibratory walnut soaked in Colinite 85 makes them shine and protects them.
Click to expand...

The sidewinder is a great tumbler (I have 2 for sale in the EE right now as I upgraded to the STM tumbler). The key to good SS tumbling is to get a good media separator (hand crank) and turn 30-40 times - very rare to get a pin stuck. Also want to use a few drops of dawn and LemiShine (about 1/2 of a .22LR case full). I also use some auto wax polish if I really want shiny cases.

I use the Hornady parts dryer (like a round dehydrator) and it’s amazing at drying the cases. Be sure the case is completely dry before reloading...
 
I use an old salad spinner.
1) Dump from tumbler into spinner, rinse a bit, lift basket & shake a few time to get most pins to drop out in bottom of spinner basket. Rinse longer. clean out dirty water 4-5 times during 30 minute rinse.
2) Back into tumbler with clean water for 20 minute#s. Lemishine darkens brass without this step.
3) Back to step one.
4) Hold case upside down over spinner to ensure pins are out, drop brass into a plastic container. I use rare earth magnet to be sure.
5) Use baking pan with towel, roll the brass on towel.
6) On to Alum pie plate in toaster over at 200°F for 20 minutes.

Should be on the Food Channel. :)
 
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I use a dental pick to get the odd stuck pin out. They may stick across the mouth of the neck in the .308 or across the bottom of the case in the .223. I just did 300 .308 and dealt with 3 stuck pins.
 
The tumbling system I bought from STM had a media separator included and works great. I initially empty a lot of the dirty water and rinse the brass a bit in the tumbler. Then I fill the separator with water to rinse and separate the brass from the pins . Have a magnet handy to pick up the individual pins easier
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And even if a few pins stay behind in wet brass it's no problem, they fall out easily when your brass is dry.

Just make the change, I'm sure you will be happy.
 
Other tip for wet tumbling; put a round speaker magnet in the sink drain so any pins you accidentally dump out with the water are going to be caught by the magnet.
 
bertn said:
Other tip for wet tumbling; put a round speaker magnet in the sink drain so any pins you accidentally dump out with the water are going to be caught by the magnet.
Click to expand...

Where did you buy yours?
I been looking for one but without any luck.. Thanks!
 
I wet tumble in a Lorone QT-12 without the stainless media. The cases come out almost as shiny, but without the hassle of separating media and dealing with stray pins.

That said, if you want the absolute shiniest cases with perfectly clean primer pockets, the crank-type separator full of water is the way to go, along with a quick-release magnet to pick up any stray pins.
 
Get the right length pins and they won’t stick in the case mouth. I found out the hard way. Bought 6.5mm pins and 6.5 cases are the only ones I have any issues with. Not a big deal though for having super clean cases inside and out. Also just use 2 strainers in the sink when rinsing. First one to catch the brass and let the pins fall through to get caught by the second one.
 
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