Steel pins are hard to handle, but there is a way to tame them.
First drain the water off of the drum when they are done and sort the pins from the cases in a regular media separator.
Let the pins dry completely because they don't store wet at all. They may be stainless, but thy will make a nasty clump stored wet.
After they are completely dry take quart plastic baggie, turn it inside out and slip it over a magnet. Pick up the pins, turn the baggie right side out and presto all the pins ready to store.
Every so often I run the magnet over the shop floor and pick up the stray pins they sometimes stick then fall out of cases. Always some will escape no matter how careful you are.
Hold center
Bunk
Thanks for the how-to pard , hope to get into that soon.. I need to get a good tumbler first, some of my range 'pick up' brass needs more than the vibrator can provide.
Just go Ultra Sonic...Clean brass and never have media mess again!!!!! :P
I just separate them in a media separator and dump them back in the tumbler for next time. Who cares if they are wet, they are stainless and don't seem to rust even though they are some sort of 400 series because a magnet will pick them up.
I have an RCBS ultrasonic cleaner and it's OK for running a few pieces through for an initial clean to keep them from turning green if it's going to be a while before getting enough to run the tumbler. No way does an ultrasonic cleaner compare to tumbling with the stainless pins, not even close.
First, tumble for three hours with SS media. Then drain, rinse and tumble 3 more hours with DD Ceramic Porcelain media. Sparkling brass outside and in, including the primer pockets if you took the time to knock out the primers first. My experience tells me that the brass will be clean but dull after the SS media tumble. The CP media brings up the factory new luster.
DD-MDA
Never tried the ceramic but the stainless pins makes it shine just like new brass. Shinier than some new brass. Put a little lemi shine in the water.
Quote from: Cliff Fendley on July 15, 2015, 09:03:43 PM
Never tried the ceramic but the stainless pins makes it shine just like new brass. Shinier than some new brass. Put a little lemi shine in the water.
You are correct on all counts Cliff. A little Lemi Shine works great. I use 1/8 tsp in my Thumblers B model with a squirt of Dawn. My brass looks better than new. The only time I tumble for three hours is if my brass has been used for BP and has set for a while (weeks) before cleaning. With smokiless powder fired brass it only takes an hour. Noneed for drying the pins, they are dry the next day anyhow. I use a Dillon media separater. wM1
In my Thumler's with SS media, I have had good results with BP brass doing a "prewash" for about 20 minutes, with dishwashing soap only. This removes all the major crud. Flush it out a couple of times, then run for about 3 hours with soap & LemiShine. Using LemiShine in the prewash has caused my brass to be really dull. Running the brass with the BP crud for more than 30 minutes also makes it dull. YMMV.
Holler
I use DD's method and recommend it because it works like a charm. The pins alone do get things clean, but not super shiny which helps fiinding them in the grass.
A finish run with the ceramic puts the icing on the cake. If you deprime first the primer pockets also get nice and clean. It takes a little time, but is worth it.
respectfully submitted
Bunk
Any of you guys tried either the Frankford Arsenal or Rebel rotary tumblers and care to comment? Both are in the $200+ or- range and have pretty good ratings so far.
Been using a thumbler's tumbler, can't speak to other makes, but a tumbler is not a complicated machine.
I used to love the ceramic media, except they like to jam up in the cases. 44 and 45 cold did good, every other caliber I used them on was a PITA. The SS media doesn't have that problem and the brass comes out looking new. If it's extremely dirty then after about 3 hours I'll pour the water off and re-fill with water and some more soap and lemishine and give another 2-3 hour tumble. Even the dirtiest brass that got missed for a month sitting on the ground comes out sparkling.
If the ceramic media wouldn't jam up in cases it'd be all I'd use, it does clean faster, it's just a PITA to get it out of some cases. I used to have a couple of picks on stand by to dig them out, along with an impact puller for some of the stubborn ones.
For separating SS media from brass, I've got this http://www.midwayusa.com/product/757242/lyman-turbo-rotary-media-separator?cm_vc=ProductFinding or nearly that, mines blue and Frankford arsenal I think. Anyway, sure makes life easier and just a couple of minutes I've got brass and media separated with no muss, no fuss. I leave the pins in the bottom of the separator and rinse them then drain most of the water off down the sink. I've got a sink outside my shop so that makes life a little easier.
Add a squirt of Turtles Zip Wax car wash or Armor All Ultra ... to your LemiShine water , brass stays bright
Quote from: Slowhand Bob on July 17, 2015, 07:19:53 PM
Any of you guys tried either the Frankford Arsenal or Rebel rotary tumblers and care to comment? Both are in the $200+ or- range and have pretty good ratings so far.
Frankford Arsenal..... works great with their "Frankford Arsenal Brass Cleaning solution". A small single use sachet comes with it,
BUT I CAN'T GET IT HERE IN AUSTRALIA :'(
Their Stainless Steel Transfer Magnet works well too.
Very happy!
MM
In addition to the Turtlewax or Armor all trick ( thanks Dakota Ike )
I'd like vear slightly off course.... with Mr. Freedom ultra sonic suggestion
older RCBS Ultra Sonic $139.00 -$184.00
Lyman Ultra Sonic $116.00- $149.00
Harbor Freight Ultra Sonic @ $89.00
The Lyman & Harbor Freight are the exact same unit ( but you pay $27.00 extra for the Lyman Decal )
The RCBC is the same manufacturer (China ) and now different design, is Green and different control layout and a little more capacity
I'm just a Fudy Dudy. I still use my Dillon with Lizard Litter media, I don't care of my brass looks ........ used.
I do find the "new" cartridge interesting though. I think the 45 ACP necked up to 50 BMG just might have potential ;D
Coffinmaker
Earlier RCBS unit & their new unit ...
Just saying ... The brass I show is cleaned 8 min.s, in LemiShine brand & Turtle-wax brand and Harbor Freight Unit.
not as bright as a Thumler's Tumbler & SS pins , but good enough for a return trip to the range... :)
BY the By ...
if you get the Harbor Freight free newsprint mailer or pick one up at the Store ..my Ultra Sonic was 25% off @ $$66.25.
Observation on my part :) back to the original point of the thread :D
Quote from: Coffinmaker on August 16, 2015, 08:54:51 AM
I do find the "new" cartridge interesting though. I think the 45 ACP necked up to 50 BMG just might have potential ;D
Coffinmaker
You're sharp ;D that's my PIMP round ;)
Geeze, I just use Nickeled brass cleaned in a Thumbler's Tumbler (rock polisher) in 1 qt cans & lizard litter. Before I toss them in the tumbler for about 30 minutes I rinse & dry them in a toaster oven set at 200 degrees cranking the timer for 1/2 hr while I clean guns. I add a little denatured alcohol to the litter to keep down dust and that's it. The nickeled brass is always shiny. None of this 3 hour stumbling stuff for me. Besides the wife & kids used to complain about the noise anyway.
Well shoot ........
I realize this is some drift (just a little), but I'll tie it together ........ HONEST :o
Actually, I'm with Hellgate. The only cartridges I shoot anymore are in my rifles. Ok, occasionally in cartridge converted handguns. But.
I only shoot ONE cartridge any more. Well, actually two. Sorta. Half of my cartridges are Cowboy 45 Special. The other half of my cartridges are 45 Squirt. 45 Squirt is made from 45 Schofield (Nickel Plated), cut to C45S length.
I tumble both 45 Squirt and C45S together in my Dillon with Lizard Letter (Remove the lizard poo first ;D). C45S come out clean, but kinda used looking (I like that). 45 Squirt (Nickel Plate) come out real SHINY. Easy for the pickers to find in the grass :)
NOW FOR THE TIE IN
My very effective solution for using and handling Stainless Steel Pins ....... is .......TA DA ........ I don't. Too much mess and bother to go thru for too little gain. As long as it goes BANG a little staining is just ........ patina. Also, same same Hellgate. Since I shoot APP exclusively, wash cases inna sink (2 Minutes), toss onna tray and stick em inna Toaster Oven @ 200 degrees for 45 minutes while I do
something productive. Like eat a piece of Cherry Pie. Pins Schmins, they're just too much hassle.
Coffinmaker
Coffinmaker, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Quote from: hellgate on August 16, 2015, 10:08:54 PM
Coffinmaker, I couldn't have said it better myself.
For heaven's sake don't entice the ol' fart. ::) ;D :D ;)
I've tried John Boy's idea of Scrubbing Bubbles with a bit of Lemishine with a limited amount of pins on really really dirty brass. I run the Thumler's for about an hour, drain, rinse, redo the cleaning additives and run for another hour. All of the black, white and green stuff that seems to grow on my brass magically goes away leaving a bright shine behind.
OK, gonna be snot (who ME??) ;D
Want ya'all to note, just how long folks are tumbling for, and just how many steps their going thru "just" go get shiny cases. Phooey.
Way Way too much hassle.
Oh by the way, my toaster Oven for drying cases .... two bucks at a yard sale (no cord). Cord for said toaster oven at 'other yard sale ..... fitty cents. On hot days, I just set the try out inna drive way.
FCK:
Nanny Nanny POO POO ;D
Currently still working, so I have a LOT more free time than most of my retired friends. ;D
I recently switched to the Frankford Arsenal water-tumbler, with - lemon juice (cheep) and steel pins, and have to say the results are rather OUTSTANDING. I have about $250 total in the setup. And, my son even finds it interesting to help.
My tumbler has a timer-dial...set & forget. It only operates on my schedule, not its own.
I dry on a towel & trays indoors or out...
I did use a vibrating tumbler for many years..and yes, it got me by....in retrospect, I give it an "ok" rating.
BTW, Vibrating tumblers may not be good for your health unless you empty & shake-out OUTDOORS....watch out for dust.
Now I can clean brass by the bucketfull and it nicely cleans INSIDE and out, primer pockets, too....and NO DUST.
Range pickups, cheep fired range brass, etc. all come out clean..I don't care if its SHINEY, so I don't do other steps (abrasive polishing).
I shoot waay more BP than anything else. Very handy for any BP cartridge shooter such as myself. The 44-40 rifle/carbine round is my primary high volume cartridge at the moment, if one could call it that. I have bins full of loaded 44 Russian & etc, etc, etc...but I'm heavy into C&B and shooting them nearly exclusive for past few years. Plan/hope to do more shooting and types of shooting, too - When retired that is ...soon, lord willing. I hate being at a desk after one tried to kill me.
Slim
Who has a deep mistrust of office furniture...
Quote from: Coffinmaker on August 17, 2015, 03:47:39 PM
OK, gonna be snot (who ME??) ;D
Want ya'all to note, just how long folks are tumbling for, and just how many steps their going thru "just" go get shiny cases. Phooey.
Way Way too much hassle.
Oh by the way, my toaster Oven for drying cases .... two bucks at a yard sale (no cord). Cord for said toaster oven at 'other yard sale ..... fitty cents. On hot days, I just set the try out inna drive way.
FCK:
Nanny Nanny POO POO ;D
The pickers at the shoots I attend find shiney pieces better than dull ones.
Just got a SS tumbler, and WOW! What a difference. Some of my BP rounds aren't perfect, but they are not only better than the vibrating media, they are clean INSIDE.
I am totally converted to SS wet tumbling. A cheap food dehydrator does the drying easy-as. I do think that $2.0 toaster oven is a good idea though!
Quote from: HL Hunley on August 20, 2015, 04:43:38 AM
Just got a SS tumbler, and WOW! What a difference. Some of my BP rounds aren't perfect, but they are not only better than the vibrating media, they are clean INSIDE.
I am totally converted to SS wet tumbling. A cheap food dehydrator does the drying easy-as. I do think that $2.0 toaster oven is a good idea though!
That's why I went to wet tumbling.
I've tried dry tumbling, ultra sonic, and vibratory cleaners. None of them even compare to wet tumbling with SS pins and KISS (1/8 tsp Lemi-Shine and small squirt of Dawn). wM1
PS: Don't need complicated solutions or repeat tumblings. Less than an hour for smokiless brass, little over 2 hrs for BP brass. Don't need wax or bubbles, use cold water and when yer done use a Dillon media separator.