SS Pin Tumbling

[Bkreutz]

I've been cleaning my brass by stainless steel pin tumbling for quite a while now. I like it because I can do large volumes quickly and don't have to deal with tumbling media. The only thing I haven't liked is that the brass comes out of the tumbler shiny as a new brass doorknob but within a couple of days it turns into a dull brown. I kept telling myself that it didn't make it shoot any worse but it still bugged me. I could throw the brass into the media tumbler (vibrator) with polish and it would shine, but then I was back to what I was trying to get away from. Last week I was watching TV and saw an ad for "Wash and Wax" car wash. HMMMM, I wonder if that would work. I substituted the car wash for the dish soap, still put the Lemi-Shine in it, and below is the result. Plus it leaves a slick surface that eliminates the need for lubrication (yes, I lube brass with carbide dies ). Thought I'd pass this on for those of you who pin tumble. The first picture is the old method, second pic is the new process, 3rd is a comparison between old and new. and 4 is the stuff I used.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I use the SS pins also. The "problem" of quick discoloration, won't effect the loading results. On rifle brass I had the problem and solved it buy adding a little more dish soap and giving my brass a good hot clean rinse. Once in every 5 or 6 loads, I would run a cleaning without brass for about 1/2 the time length, to clean the pins and again rinse hot and clean. my brass stays bright in zip lock bags for 2-3 months (I usually use it even faster). My long term loaded ammo is stored in 50 cal ammo cans, and I have 2 1/2 year old loads that still shine. Some people would prefer dull brass, so you discovered how to do that too. Ivan

 

[Bkreutz]

I know dull doesn't affect the performance of the ammo. Shiny just looks better and I don't have to change any part of my procedure except the soap I squirt into the tumbler(cement mixer). I clean a lot of brass. I do a mixer load a week.

 

[Moonman]

About a month ago I started using Armour-All Car Wash & Wax.
It has Carnauba Wax.
Seems to be doing OK and lasting shine.

 

[MN2944]

I've read about using car wash/wax in several places, but have not tried it. Any chemists on board to give an opinion on possible detrimental effects of the residue on primers or powder?

 

[brucev]

I've been handloading rifle and handgun ammunition since 1980. It has always been my understanding that brass must be clean and dry before reloading. Perhaps in low pressure handgun loads, any wax, etc. that might be on a casing might not present a great problem. I do wonder about the rifle loads. Given the higher pressures, has anyone noted problems with increased case head thrust, etc.?

 

[MichiganScott]

I understand that oil or wax only presents a problem at around 9,000 PSI or less. Anything more than that and the brass grips the chamber walls just fine.

 

[elpac3]

SS pin tumbling

Huh - - - never had that problem. The cases I have tumbled seem to hold their shine quite a while and it is hard to tell the difference between new factory brass and cleaned brass. Might be your water chemistry?

I will typically use hot wash water with 1/4th tsp lemishine and about 2 tablespoons of green dish soap followed up with a hot water rinse after tumbling for three-four hours.

The washed cases may dull just a little but certainly not to the degree your photo is indicating. Holds true for both my pistol and rifle cases. The only thing I have seen get dull after tumbling was the old, beat-up carbide lamp my dad used to use for blacking sights. (FYI - got the gas jet, which was totally plugged and black to completely shiny and clean and unplugged - lamp works like a charm now) Went from totally black and tarnished to bright and shiny to shiny but dull. I think that may be a function of the lamp itself rather than the wash process.

 

[Bkreutz]

Huh - - - never had that problem. The cases I have tumbled seem to hold their shine quite a while and it is hard to tell the difference between new factory brass and cleaned brass. Might be your water chemistry?

I will typically use hot wash water with 1/4th tsp lemishine and about 2 tablespoons of green dish soap followed up with a hot water rinse after tumbling for three-four hours.

The washed cases may dull just a little but certainly not to the degree your photo is indicating. Holds true for both my pistol and rifle cases. The only thing I have seen get dull after tumbling was the old, beat-up carbide lamp my dad used to use for blacking sights. (FYI - got the gas jet, which was totally plugged and black to completely shiny and clean and unplugged - lamp works like a charm now) Went from totally black and tarnished to bright and shiny to shiny but dull. I think that may be a function of the lamp itself rather than the wash process.

And I've never had them not dull. Maybe it's the water?? I don't know, but this works for me at the moment. I seem to have been using the same soap/Lemishine mixture.

 

[SMSgt]

Everything I've used for tumbling results in brass that still gets dark after a while. Must be me.

 

[Rule3]

Probably not rinsing the acid wash lemi shine, vinegar, citric acid(whatever kind you use ) off enough.

Triple rinse at a minimum , might even want to put some baking soda in the water to help neutralize the pH when rinsing.

Supposedly the advantage of citric acid was that it would chemically alter the brass enough to prevent it from tarnishing.

Even brass tumbled in media with Nu Fihish and left for a long time will darken some.

For you guys that use Lemi Shine you are wasting money, You can buy pure Citric acid crystal for a lot less.

I do not use the wet tumble but have tried Lem Shine on range brass. I bought some citric acid here.

http://www.dudadiesel.com/search.php?query=citric

 

[MN2944]

For you guys that use Lemi Shine you are wasting money, You can buy pure Citric acid crystal for a lot less.

Really? At 1/4 tsp per tumbler load, that 12oz container of LemiShine has enough to do about 200 loads of brass. It sells for about $4.00 and is available at local stores. Yes, the 50# pail of citric acid is about 1/3 of that per oz, but 2 cents per load isn't really going to break the bank either way. I'll pay that for the convenience of not having to order, buy and store in bulk.

 

[*chris*]

Everything I've used for tumbling results in brass that still gets dark after a while. Must be me.

Nope, I have the same issue. After a couple of days, the brass dark and dull. It is a stark contrast to Nu Finish that allows the brass to be factory-bright months after loading.

Chris

 

[Rule3]

Really? At 1/4 tsp per tumbler load, that 12oz container of LemiShine has enough to do about 200 loads of brass. It sells for about $4.00 and is available at local stores. Yes, the 50# pail of citric acid is about 1/3 of that per oz, but 2 cents per load isn't really going to break the bank either way. I'll pay that for the convenience of not having to order, buy and store in bulk.

Look at the label. What is the primary ingredient? It's not citric acid which is what you want right?. $4 or so for 12 oz of lemi shine.
$9 for 16 oz of pure citric acid. Your choice.

You can buy any quantity or not

Never said you need 50lbs. Never said washing brass was worth it either, so carry on with your fun project. The whole process is an effort in futility anyway

Just trying to offer another source of citric acid rather than a mixture, but you know best.

 

[smokindog]

Thank you for providing me the justification to buy a cement mixer (OK, rationalization)!!!!!!

Is that a 1.77 or a 4.1 cu ft mixer?

I know dull doesn't affect the performance of the ammo. Shiny just looks better and I don't have to change any part of my procedure except the soap I squirt into the tumbler(cement mixer). I clean a lot of brass. I do a mixer load a week.

 

[Bkreutz]

Thank you for providing me the justification to buy a cement mixer (OK, rationalization)!!!!!!

Is that a 1.77 or a 4.1 cu ft mixer?

Neither, it's a 1.25 cu ft from Harbor Freight. I had to pie cut the opening and then jam a plastic bucket into the opening, the tension of the pie cuts holds the bucket tight. I then epoxied 3 strips of PVC molding to the inside of the bucket to make the brass tumble. I used to spend the better part of a day cleaning 2000 pieces of brass. Now it's less than 2 hours (and an hour and a half I spend doing something else while it's tumbling) I separate the pins by using a media separator full of water (if you do it without water the pins don't come out as well). Then rinse the brass about a dozen times by using one bucket with holes in the bottom and another without. I fill up the holeless bucket with water, then dump it in my homemade bucket cullender, dump the drained brass back into the first bucket and then fill with water again. After shaking the brass out I spread it on a towel and let it dry for a couple of days.

 

[smokindog]

I've been eying the 4.1 here!!! I'm sure they come from the same source!!

Comparing 3 Items | Northern Tool + Equipment

Neither, it's a 1.25 cu ft from Harbor Freight. I had to pie cut the opening and then jam a plastic bucket into the opening, the tension of the pie cuts holds the bucket tight. I then epoxied 3 strips of PVC molding to the inside of the bucket to make the brass tumble. I used to spend the better part of a day cleaning 2000 pieces of brass. Now it's less than 2 hours (and an hour and a half I spend doing something else while it's tumbling) I separate the pins by using a media separator full of water (if you do it without water the pins don't come out as well). Then rinse the brass about a dozen times by using one bucket with holes in the bottom and another without. I fill up the holeless bucket with water, then dump it in my homemade bucket cullender, dump the drained brass back into the first bucket and then fill with water again. After shaking the brass out I spread it on a towel and let it dry for a couple of days.

 

[MN2944]

Just trying to offer another source of citric acid rather than a mixture, but you know best.

Sorry. I read too quickly and misinterpreted your post.

 

[SMSgt]

Nope, I have the same issue. After a couple of days, the brass dark and dull. It is a stark contrast to Nu Finish that allows the brass to be factory-bright months after loading.

Chris

I use Nufinish and it still tarnishes within a couple of weeks. Must be the FL weather. I like to blame everything on the weather.

 

[Bkreutz]

I've been eying the 4.1 here!!! I'm sure they come from the same source!!

Comparing 3 Items | Northern Tool + Equipment

I'd bet you're right. . One thing to consider if you're going to use it for brass exclusively is that a full load in the big one would be very hard to carry in a bucket when it's done. The full load in mine is about at the limit that I want to carry around during the rinsing process, plus a full load matches with the amount I shoot in a busy week. (all 5 practice sessions and 3 matches) If you've got a Harbor Freight nearby, you may want to look at them in person to get a perspective of how big it actually is. Just a thought. Just be sure to follow the label instructions and not mix 2 part epoxy in it (look at the picture of my label, somebody must have done that and then try to get it warranted )