Somehow I got the idea years ago that I should tumble my brass in the garage instead of my workshop (or a living space). Is lead or any other harmful substance projected into the air by a vibratory case tumbler?
Is Tumbling Brass Inside Safe?
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Chubbs103
US Veteran
Primers have lead styphnate. Tumbling can be a dusty affair. I do mine outside.
Safest to tumble brass in the garage, outside, or in a tool shed/out building. Lead styphnate in the primers is the issue. Also, adding a used clothes dryer sheet will cut down on some of the dust. Just put one into the tumbler or vibrator cleaner with your brass, the sheet traps some of the dust.
OP
Yes I cut a Bounce sheet into strips and they get nasty - hopefully reducing what goes into the air.
Lead styphnate sounds undesirable to say the least. I am surprised that tumbler vendors don’t add a warning in their instructions.
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I live out in the country. I prefer to tumble outside, not in the garage. If there is a hazard why deposit the dust in the garage? I use the same technique when casting.
RMFnLA
Member
The real hazard is my wife complaining about the noise… 
Skyhunter
Member
I like to deprime my brass before tumbling. For dry tumbling, I almost always put a cut up dryer sheet in with the brass. It really does reduce the dust.
Whether dry or wet tumbling, the brass gets deprimed first. I have a dedicated area in my shop for cleaning and trimming brass.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
Whether dry or wet tumbling, the brass gets deprimed first. I have a dedicated area in my shop for cleaning and trimming brass.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
I give my primed brass a quick tumble to remove any crud before I de-prime and tumble again. Don't know if it actually accomplishes anything but that's how I've always done it. The lid on my tumbler seals so I don't have issues with any dust while tumbling. I never gave much thought to the dust while handling the brass after tumbling.
max503
Member
I won't tumble at all for that reason. Warm water, Dawn, salt, and citric acid do a fine job and the lead doesn't go into the air.
I couldn't think of a more effective way to get lead into your body than inhaling it.
And it's not just the airborne dust. The dust settles on the floor or your tumbler, then you move the tumbler and get it on your hands...Or you sweep the floor 6 months later.
Lead pretty much accumulates in your body.
I couldn't think of a more effective way to get lead into your body than inhaling it.
And it's not just the airborne dust. The dust settles on the floor or your tumbler, then you move the tumbler and get it on your hands...Or you sweep the floor 6 months later.
Lead pretty much accumulates in your body.
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I'm a goner ! No wonder why I keep gaining weight
Tumbling outside here would not work most of the winter here. Just emptied my rain gauge, it had 3” in it.
I tumble in the garage, use dryer sheets, and wear gloves when unloading it.
Never thought about it much till now, I have noticed I am getting absent minded lately. Thought it was just advancing years……but maybe not.
I tumble in the garage, use dryer sheets, and wear gloves when unloading it.
Never thought about it much till now, I have noticed I am getting absent minded lately. Thought it was just advancing years……but maybe not.
GypsmJim
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I have cast boolits in the basement for almost 50 years. I clean brass in a tumbler that has a sealed lid, but I always use bare hands before and after. As a kid we never had a bicycle helmet, swam in a swamp and drank from the garden hose. I never used hearing protection until I joined a club and they mandated it along with safety glasses.
I guess at the time I never thought about it. Nevertheless, a few years ago when I had my wellness doctor visit I had him include a lead analysis in my bloodwork. It came up below detection limits.
I guess I survived with my only affliction is saying "huh?" too much.
I guess at the time I never thought about it. Nevertheless, a few years ago when I had my wellness doctor visit I had him include a lead analysis in my bloodwork. It came up below detection limits.
I guess I survived with my only affliction is saying "huh?" too much.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Federal and the other American along with West European primer manufactures, removed Lead from their priming compounds no later than 1998. (Lapua uses Federal Primers on their boxer primed center fire ammo)
Who knows what is in second and third world ammo of any age!
In 11/2010 I went to wet stainless steel pin tumbling. No dust whatsoever, and all that nasty water goes down the toilet, to be treated. The brass from smokeless and Black Powder ammo comes out looking brand new inside and out, including primer pockets! The big draw back is I'm limited to 2 pounds of brass at a time. In the mid 80's I did 500 military 5.56 brass at a time, on the front porch and it was dusty using walnut shells or corn cob media! 7.62 brass from the Vietnam era was even worse! But that old stuff has finally been used up!
The biggest concern reloaders have is casting and using uncoated bullets! especially if you bite your nails. 6 men worked at reloading training ammo for Columbus PD. Only the nail biter had above acceptable lead levels! (he loaded/cast at home too). I am a nail biter, but cast outdoors, and take steps to keep my hands clean: cotton gloves for loading, latex gloves for casting & cleaning. Been casting and loading since 1979 and never flunked a lead test, I've also done lead abatement, so I got tested twice a year 1984-2012.
Ivan
Who knows what is in second and third world ammo of any age!
In 11/2010 I went to wet stainless steel pin tumbling. No dust whatsoever, and all that nasty water goes down the toilet, to be treated. The brass from smokeless and Black Powder ammo comes out looking brand new inside and out, including primer pockets! The big draw back is I'm limited to 2 pounds of brass at a time. In the mid 80's I did 500 military 5.56 brass at a time, on the front porch and it was dusty using walnut shells or corn cob media! 7.62 brass from the Vietnam era was even worse! But that old stuff has finally been used up!
The biggest concern reloaders have is casting and using uncoated bullets! especially if you bite your nails. 6 men worked at reloading training ammo for Columbus PD. Only the nail biter had above acceptable lead levels! (he loaded/cast at home too). I am a nail biter, but cast outdoors, and take steps to keep my hands clean: cotton gloves for loading, latex gloves for casting & cleaning. Been casting and loading since 1979 and never flunked a lead test, I've also done lead abatement, so I got tested twice a year 1984-2012.
Ivan
Miracle Man
US Veteran
I always tumble in the garage, the vast majority of the time. I have done it in the basement on a very limited basis when it's really cold outside. But only when nobody is around and in my gun room that nobody gets in anyways.
Just my own opinion but unless you're talking a lot of tumbling/reloading on large scale? I don't believe you're running that big a danger?
Just my own opinion but unless you're talking a lot of tumbling/reloading on large scale? I don't believe you're running that big a danger?
Jeff423
US Veteran
I've tumbled brass indoors with a Dillon tumbler for 15 yrs. or so and never noticed any dust outside of the tumbler. But I also seat and crimp in one step.
venomballistics
Member
I do mine in the garage to avoid the noise.
It'll cause cancer and kids with tails and scales in the state of California.
Since I don't live there, it's not a problem.
It'll cause cancer and kids with tails and scales in the state of California.
Since I don't live there, it's not a problem.
Patrick L
Member
I recently had some blood work done and had my lead levels tested. I am slightly elevated. Not like I have lead poisoning or anything, but I am at a 16, and my doc would like to see it at 10 or less.
I have been racking my brain as to where it's coming from. My protocols for casting bullets are pretty rigid since this is an obvious place where you would think of. But I only recently learned of the potential for exposure from tumbling dust. It's surprising, every bullet mold etc. has a warning on it, but I have NEVER seen any sort of warning on tumbler instructions, bottles of media, etc. I am switching to an ultrasonic cleaner, not because I think they clean better, but since it's totally wet there should be no dust.
FWIW I am concentrating on the tumbling, wearing nitrile gloves for all reloading and gun cleaning, avoiding my club's very poorly ventilated indoor range, and in general seriously upping the whole hand washing with Dlead type soaps. I'm hoping that will reduce the levels to where I'd like to be.
I have been racking my brain as to where it's coming from. My protocols for casting bullets are pretty rigid since this is an obvious place where you would think of. But I only recently learned of the potential for exposure from tumbling dust. It's surprising, every bullet mold etc. has a warning on it, but I have NEVER seen any sort of warning on tumbler instructions, bottles of media, etc. I am switching to an ultrasonic cleaner, not because I think they clean better, but since it's totally wet there should be no dust.
FWIW I am concentrating on the tumbling, wearing nitrile gloves for all reloading and gun cleaning, avoiding my club's very poorly ventilated indoor range, and in general seriously upping the whole hand washing with Dlead type soaps. I'm hoping that will reduce the levels to where I'd like to be.
