Tumbling Pins Vs Ball Bearings

AJ · Jun 30, 2018

Just bought a new Lyman Cyclone Tumbler. It came with pins to tumble with. I happen to have got a box of Lyman metal what look like small ball bearings in a bunch of reloading stuff a while back. What are the difference in the two types of media? Are they any better than the walnut shell type media that I have been using?

Ivan the Butcher · Jun 30, 2018

Pins are a tumbling media used in industry to remove burrs and grime for several decades. The other sounds like nickel plated shot. (Was popular for hunting birds in the 90's and a little before and after)

Ivan

socal s&w · Jul 1, 2018

It could simply be steel shot. Check it with a magnet.

AJ · Jul 1, 2018

Ivan the Butcher said:
Pins are a tumbling media used in industry to remove burrs and grime for several decades. The other sounds like nickel plated shot. (Was popular for hunting birds in the 90's and a little before and after)

Ivan

Ivan,

Just trying to figure out what is the best media to use.

AJ

Twoboxer · Jul 1, 2018

Pins are used to tumble in water mixed with some additives. That method produces very bright, very shiny, very clean brass when used in a water-holding tumbler. Drawbacks: you have to separate out the pins, a bit harder to do than with walnut or corn. You have to dry the brass. And it's a good idea to be there when the tumbling's done to avoid cosmetic or other damage to brass from the chemically active solution. Finally, sometimes the brass gets so clean neck tension is changed and it is more difficult to resize and then seat bullets.

If you got "ball bearings" as part of a reloading cache. odds are extremely good they are not "tumbling media" at all.

SMSgt · Jul 1, 2018

One is round and the other is cylindrical. That's the difference.

mikld · Jul 1, 2018

AJ said:
Ivan,

Just trying to figure out what is the best media to use.

AJ

I played with tumbling media for about a year before I settled on corn cob blast media (blast media is much better than pet litter). I tried a dozen different media from beach sand to rice and dried beans/peas, wood chips, glass beads, BBs, and some I can't remember right now. Corn cob blast media 14-20 grit, is harder than pet litter and better quality controlled. In my estimation, cob blast media is best for all around case cleaning...

TooManyChoices · Jul 1, 2018

I have used Thumler Tumblers for a while and absolutely love them. The stainless steel media (pins) with water, lemi-shine and Dawn make brass gleam! Walnut and corn cob media are easier to use, but they don't compare to the outcome.

OKFC05 · Jul 1, 2018

"Are they any better than the walnut shell type media that I have been using? "
For preparing brass for loading they are not better than walnuts. Shiny brass is purely cosmetic and does not make it load any better.
If super shiny brass is your thing, follow "Too many choices" formula, above.

hdwhit · Jul 1, 2018

AJ asked:
Just trying to figure out what is the best media to use.

First, you need to know for sure what the "ball bearings" are made out of. They could be totally unsuited.

Second, what is your criteria for "best"? Lowest cost? Greatest light reflectivity? Fastest? Produces least waste? Waste is easiest to dispose of? Steel pins (or steel ball bearings) will produce a high gloss finish, but can also so strip the case of residue that it takes more force to size cases and they can be more liable to stick. Dry media will not produce as glossy a finish, but it can be done quickly, sorting the media out can be quicker, and there less danger that you are producing a by-product (used media/used solution) that requires special handling or disposal procedures.

Hasbeen1945 · Jul 2, 2018

AJ said:
Just bought a new Lyman Cyclone Tumbler. It came with pins to tumble with. I happen to have got a box of Lyman metal what look like small ball bearings in a bunch of reloading stuff a while back. What are the difference in the two types of media? Are they any better than the walnut shell type media that I have been using?

Your on the right track if you want your brass to look new. I bought the RCBS rotary tumbler. I also bought the Lyman seperator pans . They work great along with a magnet to retrieve the SS pins. Living in S/E Texas drying brass is not a problem. About an hour outside in the the sun and it’s a done deal.

gwpercle · Jul 2, 2018

I have a Thumblers Tumbler that I used in rock polishing for decades. Even though I have everything to wet tumble and have tried it several times , I prefer dry tumbling with treated walnut shell media.
I just don't care for the water mess and the added step of drying the cases.
If the cases are not 100% dry you can have problems .
Both methods work so it's a just personal choice of how you want to skin that proverbial cat.
Gary

mikld · Jul 2, 2018

FWIW; I have only one need for glossy brass and that's my Garand and 45 ACP ammo. Glossy brass is much easier to find in the dirt of my "range". To get glossy brass from corn cob media (yep really shiny, mirror finish, polished brass) is to leave it in the tumbler longer.I have tried wet tumbling, but for a few reasons, it ain't for me. My "brown" brass and my "glossy" brass shoot the same, and I have no one at the range to impress...

Brass tumbling/case cleaning is probably the most talked about, but least important pat of reloading...

AJ · Jul 2, 2018

socal s&w said:
It could simply be steel shot. Check it with a magnet.

It is in a box from Lyman and marked "STEEL POLISHING TUMBLER MEDIA" and I did check it with a magnet.

Are the pins supposed to be more effective?

Hasbeen1945 · Jul 2, 2018

AJ said:
It is in a box from Lyman and marked "STEEL POLISHING TUMBLER MEDIA" and I did check it with a magnet.

Are the pins supposed to be more effective?

Give it a try. Can’t see you have anything to loose.

Hasbeen1945 · Jul 2, 2018

The Lyman , RCBS, and Frank ford arsenal all seem to be about the same. My RCBS says total weight 30 lbs.
2 gallons of water 16
SS pins. 5
Container. 5
Brass about. 4
That’s a lot at one time.

socal s&w · Jul 2, 2018

I would imagine that the pins would be better as they have sharper ends that can get into smaller cracks and crevices. BB's not so much.
And as stated, the pins works exceptionally well.

mikld · Jul 3, 2018

AJ said:
It is in a box from Lyman and marked "STEEL POLISHING TUMBLER MEDIA" and I did check it with a magnet.

Are the pins supposed to be more effective?

It's the shape and weight that will make the difference. What's the diameter of the balls? Might not work in a wobbler/vibrating tumbler and I'd guess it won't polish the brass but leave a matte finish. Smaller pins will get into small areas and the ID of the case (some folks like that?) and the small diameter and blunt ends will also have an effect on the finish (less "impact" on the brass).

Won't hurt anything to give it a try, what kind of tumbler do you use?

bigedp51 · Jul 3, 2018

AJ said:
It is in a box from Lyman and marked "STEEL POLISHING TUMBLER MEDIA" and I did check it with a magnet.

Are the pins supposed to be more effective?

The pins are more effective for cleaning cartridge cases.

And ball bearing will not clean the nooks and crannies.

Plus the ball bearing weight more and will peen your case mouths.

There are many types of polishing media for different type jobs.

My wife make jewelry from round silver links and they are polished with a Jewelry Mix in a vibratory tumbler.

Tumbling Pins Vs Ball Bearings

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