Rotary Tumble cleaning stainless pins - solution

[phaedra1106]

Rotary media separator, fill the base to about 2" off the top edge, enough water so it covers about 1 - 2" of the rotating basket when it's immersed.

Tumble slowly for about 2-5mins in each direction :)

One of these nice deep ones works very well,



And of course, ALWAYS check your primer pockets for pins before priming, they can get stuck in pairs in the flash hole or across the primer pocket with the odd short pin.

[fra150l]

I purchased the Lyman Cyclone Rotary Tumbler kit. It came with pins and some trays to separate the brass and pins.
After my update I purchased some Lemon washing liquid and I found a bottle of liquid limescale remover.

I about half filled the tumbler - it was a lot bigger than I expected when I ordered it - with some black powder cases from my Snider and some smokeless cases. I used hot water from tap and a good dose of the Lemon washing liquid. The unit has a timer which I set to 3hrs and left it to it.

Another purchase was a washing up bowl that the media trays fitted into. Figured emptying my dirty tub of rifle brass into the kitchen bowl would not go down well with my wife hey?! When it finished I emptied contents into the trays and ran cold water from tap over the whole lot until the water was clear. At the same time shaking and stiring the brass to free the pins from the cases.

When clear I added a bit of the limescale remover. Then removed the brass few at a time giving a shake to make sure no pins. There were a few from the odd case but not many. Brass was then dried on a town in warming draw in kitchen - a very handy device for brass. Only needed switching on for 5mins and the brass was very quickly dried. With no visible water marks. The brass was not VERY shiny like a media tumbler with fresh polish media. However it's come out really clean, inside and out.

I resized and de-primed all the brass before cleaning so another bonus was removal of the sizing lube.

Primary objective was cleaning inside my BP brass, however the whole cleaning process and results I am VERY happy with and doubt I would use my old vibration tumbler other than an odd few bits of brass.

[dromia]

I find wet tumbling a real faff on and wet tumbling with steel pins a faff too far, it is the best way for BP cartridges though, I find cut cylinder ceramic media gives as good a result and is a lot easier to manage but still a faff.

Fine walnut media, cheap car polish cut with white spirit is more than good enough for clean, and still makes them too shiney for my taste, brass with a lot less faff.

Each to his own.

[phaedra1106]

Adding 1/2 teaspoon of Citric Acid crystals to the water will soften it and help with the shine.

No need for limescale remover, 1/2 a teaspoon or squirt of dishwasher rinse aid in the final clean water rinse will do the trick.

[Oddbod]

Rotary media separator, fill the base to about 2" off the top edge, enough water so it covers about 1 - 2" of the rotating basket when it's immersed.

Tumble slowly for about 2-5mins in each direction :)

One of these nice deep ones works very well,



And of course, ALWAYS check your primer pockets for pins before priming, they can get stuck in pairs in the flash hole or across the primer pocket with the odd short pin.

The pins supplied with the Frankfort Arsenal tumbler (probably the same size as all the others) can jam across the mouth of a .308/7.62x51 case.
I had a couple do that in the past week whilst running several loads.

[phaedra1106]

I get the odd one but not very often.

[rox]

The pins supplied with the Frankfort Arsenal tumbler (probably the same size as all the others) can jam across the mouth of a .308/7.62x51 case.
I had a couple do that in the past week whilst running several loads.

What size are they?

I had one or two jam in a case mouth when I first got the pins, but having weeded-out the few long ones I haven't seen that in years.

I was given this info about pin size choice from one manufacturer (I think .047" x .255" is the common size):

.047" x .255" Pros/Cons:
Pro - More surface area to weight which results in faster cleaning times
Pro - Won't get stuck in flash holes
Con - harder to separate in larger quantities
Con - Can get stuck in .223/5.56 case necks

.062" x .495" Pros/Cons
Pro - easier to separate
Pro - Won't get stuck in flash holes
Pro - Longer size prevents media from getting stuck in case neck of .223/5.56 case necks
Cons - May require longer tumbling times due to lower surface to mass ratio

..

[1066]

I also use a the washing up liquid, a teaspoon of citric acid and rinse aid method. (two bottles of Lemishine lasted two or three years):

Here's a short video of how I do my brass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcyAkj-LzA8

[Pete]

I use an ex hard-disc magnet...............(got my pins off Spud).
Also, last rinse in rainwater, shake as dry as poss, then into airing cupboard.
No sign of water marks.

Pete