Wet vs dry

[hatman1793]

Wet tumbling is better & superior. No question. Cases come out like new! But don’t fool yourself into believing it’s not more work than dry tumblers.
De-capping each & every case before tumbling is extra work. And wet tumbling purists gotta do it after each firing, while dry tumblers don’t have to.
Dry tumbling media like corn-cob lasts about 5-6 cycles before it’s done, while the wet tumbling water is pure filth. Plus you gotta rinse once or twice & now yiu got wet brass to dry. Another extra effort.
Wet tumblers cost more but offer superior results over the dry method. I just don’t think the extra effort is worth it.

 

[.30/06 FTW]

I prefer wet tumbling because of the lead dust issue and the superior results. Some of the police brass I pick up is so filthy it looks like a steel case. Dry tumbling won't do much to that but wet tumbling can get it like new.

 

[Southcountryguy]

Thanks again everyone. I feel wet is more of a PITA than dry. My old vibrator is toast so I am trying to figure out which to go to.

 

[Deathrawt]

I wet tumble without using the ss pins and the brass comes out pretty good but I’m going to try using the 22 rimfire cases as the media next time

 

[calibrecarstairs]

Thanks again everyone. I feel wet is more of a PITA than dry. My old vibrator is toast so I am trying to figure out which to go to.

I guarantee you nobody who has ever gone wet has ever said this sucks and gone back to dry.

 

[Southcountryguy]

I guarantee you nobody who has ever gone wet has ever said this sucks and gone back to dry.

Funny, many have PM’d the opposite.

SCG

 

[calibrecarstairs]

Funny, many have PM’d the opposite.

SCG

lol

You have no experience with wet tumbling.

Nothing.

And now mysterious and unprovable PM's are the authority for you as far as wet tumbling.

Or... maybe PM the name of users who PM'd you so I can verify your claim? Screen shot of inbox?

Enjoy your new dry tumbler.

 

[Southcountryguy]

lol

You have no experience with wet tumbling.

Nothing.

And now mysterious and unprovable PM's are the authority for you as far as wet tumbling.

Or... maybe PM the name of users who PM'd you so I can verify your claim? Screen shot of inbox?

Enjoy your new dry tumbler.

Why do you have to be so aggressive? Just because others don’t agree with you doesn’t berate you. Every opinion matters and why we are democratic.

Enjoy your wet tumbling.

SCG

 

[hend238]

Wet tumbling is better & superior. No question. Cases come out like new! But don’t fool yourself into believing it’s not more work than dry tumblers.
De-capping each & every case before tumbling is extra work. And wet tumbling purists gotta do it after each firing, while dry tumblers don’t have to.
Dry tumbling media like corn-cob lasts about 5-6 cycles before it’s done, while the wet tumbling water is pure filth. Plus you gotta rinse once or twice & now yiu got wet brass to dry. Another extra effort.
Wet tumblers cost more but offer superior results over the dry method. I just don’t think the extra effort is worth it.

Agreed. The extra steps involved with wet tumbling is simply not worth the effort IMO. I use a rotary dry media separator now and there is no mess at all. I usually tumble before depriming so I don't even have to worry about media getting stuck in the flash hole. There is NEVER media stuck in the case itself using a rotary separator. I do however buy wet tumbled pistol brass when I need to resupply simple because it looks great but I'll never go back to wet tumbling my own cases.

 

[hend238]

Thanks again everyone. I feel wet is more of a PITA than dry. My old vibrator is toast so I am trying to figure out which to go to.

I'm very happy with this set up. https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/promo/pewpew/quick-n-ez-case-tumbler-kit/645880.html#start=1

I did find the included media was too fine for my liking but one can easily change that out at any time.

 

[Bigbubba]

I dry tumbled for 40 years. Decided to go wet.
Coles notes version is I think it’s a PITA and no better than dry.
Went back to dry.

I do decap the brass first, I have a screwdriver that I made to exactly fit the primer hole, so a quick twist cleans everything out if needed. I think corncob media works better than walnut. YMMV.

I put Iosso brass polish in the tumbler, brass looks new.

Whatever works best for you is the best way.

 

[DiMP]

When I was getting into reloading, I was visiting a long-time reloader buddy with my wife. I asked him one way or another, and he mentioned the bit of dust that comes from dry tumbling. Since my reloading setup is in our laundry side of the basement, that is all my wife had to hear. Right there she said "We live in a coal mining town, and we deal with enough dust without you making more! I'll buy you a wet tumbler just so you don't cheap out and buy the messy dry one!"
So, I can't offer any advice on dry tumbling, but for the last year or so I have been very happy with my wet setup

 

[Kev]

I switched from dry to wet. The results are better, it is more effort/steps, and worth it in my opinion.

 

[jethunter]

I don't get dust in my untreated walnut media, screened it first to get rid ff the fine particles and must have enough NuFinish in it to keep the dust down i guess.

 

[hend238]

I don't get dust in my untreated walnut media, screened it first to get rid ff the fine particles and must have enough NuFinish in it to keep the dust down i guess.

No dust here either. I run my media for a long time and keep refreshing it with Brasso or similar. Cases come out looking new every time. Not as nice as wet though I’ll admit.

 

[Eagleye]

One more long term reloader who tried the "wet" system, but decided it was too much of a PITA.
Sold it all off and went back to dry. It works fine for me, and is simpler.

Brass that looks like new does not offer better performance. Dave.

 

[Southcountryguy]

Again thanks all.

For what will work best for me I think dry is what I will get again.

For those of you adding brasso etc to your media I would be interested in hearing more. I always vibed dry!.! Lol

 

[Smcx]

Hmm just read this thread. After years of dry, I gave wet a try and honestly I find it about the same effort wise. The results of wet are far far superior though. Primer pockets and the inside of cases look shiny and new. Super easy to separate media with a media separator (the spinny thing).

 

[hend238]

I give my primer pockets a waz with a uniformer every time anyway so my pockets are always perfect. If one didn’t bother with that step I can see the benefits of wet tumbling with pins. Another reason I like dry is that the case necks still have carbon deposits offering some lubrication if you will, and I feel that lends itself to more consistent bullet release. I chase the necks with a nylon brush before seating just to uniform the deposits. Perfectly clean necks are too “sticky” in my opinion and I can see it on the chrony with increased standard deviation being the result.

 

[hend238]

Again thanks all.

For what will work best for me I think dry is what I will get again.

For those of you adding brasso etc to your media I would be interested in hearing more. I always vibed dry!.! Lol

Adding brasso etc to your dry media gives fantastic results. Just don’t add too much. Too much will turn your media into a clumpy aweful mess. Read the bottle’s instructions and start off easy. You’ll get a feel for it over time. My cases look good as new. Just not as pretty and shiny as you’d get with wet tumbling. It truly is amazing how nice wet tumbling with pins makes your brass look.