Storing Stainless Steel media in the tumbler, still wet

MongoMike

MongoMike

New member
After use, I always dry out my Frankford Arsenal rotary tumbler a couple days with both caps off so that it dries out completely. I also pour my SS media out on a towel and let it thoroughly dry out a couple days, stirring occasionally, before I store it either in a plastic tub or back in the tumbler.

I saw a YouTube video last night where the guys says after a few rinses, he dumps the SS media back in the tumbler while both are still wet and stores it until the next use. He does not say if he leaves the tumbler capped or not.

I am not sure if this is a good idea or not. It would sure save the time and hassles of drying it, as well as not having to use the magnet to transfer it from the towel to the tumbler. You could just carefully pour off the water from the pins in the bucket, and dump the wet pins back in the tumbler.

I know SS WILL eventually corrode. I use my tumbler about once a month.

Any thoughts??
 
I don't think I would do that I use a heat gun or hair dryer on mine, get it good and warm then leave it for an hour or so that works for me.
 
I rinse my stainless pins inside the drum a few times and store the whole thing wet with the caps on. I have never given much thought to it. The pins do not rust, and it has not developed any kind of mold or mildew.
 
Originally Posted By: CinchI've never dried mine out and never had an issue...

Yup. Same here. I do rinse the inside of the drum out a time or two. I have a Thumler's Tumbler but I dont think that matters any.
 
I pour all mine out into the Dillon separator that I do my final rinse in. I pour off the excess water and let it dry. It might take 24 hours to air dry because I can't set it in the direct sun. I did that once and ended up with five pounds of stainless steel slag.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: CinchI've never dried mine out and never had an issue...

Yup. Same here. I do rinse the inside of the drum out a time or two. I have a Thumler's Tumbler but I dont think that matters any.

That's the exact same set up I use... I have horrible water that leaves white film on everything so after tumbling and rinsing I toss my brass in a bucket of rubbing alcohol. It not only eliminates the white film, but helps the brass dry quickly. I let it air dry on a baby bottle drying rack.
 
Originally Posted By: CinchOriginally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: CinchI've never dried mine out and never had an issue...

Yup. Same here. I do rinse the inside of the drum out a time or two. I have a Thumler's Tumbler but I dont think that matters any.

That's the exact same set up I use... I have horrible water that leaves white film on everything so after tumbling and rinsing I toss my brass in a bucket of rubbing alcohol. It not only eliminates the white film, but helps the brass dry quickly. I let it air dry on a baby bottle drying rack.

Nope. Had one of those 40 years ago. All done with that!!!
thumbup.gif


Greg
 
Originally Posted By: GLShooterOriginally Posted By: CinchOriginally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: CinchI've never dried mine out and never had an issue...

Yup. Same here. I do rinse the inside of the drum out a time or two. I have a Thumler's Tumbler but I dont think that matters any.

That's the exact same set up I use... I have horrible water that leaves white film on everything so after tumbling and rinsing I toss my brass in a bucket of rubbing alcohol. It not only eliminates the white film, but helps the brass dry quickly. I let it air dry on a baby bottle drying rack.

Nope. Had one of those 40 years ago. All done with that!!!
thumbup.gif


Greg

lol I hear you there... I tried the oven method and my brass always seemed to come out discolored. This has worked out pretty dang good for me... https://www.target.com/p/boon-grass-countertop-bottle-drying-rack/-/A-12190250
 
I have a water system. I rinse in the house initially pouring the main gunk out. Then off to the Dillon cage spinner in the back filed with water. Brass and pins poured out ans then sloshing nicely. Pour off some water and hose the brass in the cage down a few seconds. Take it over and dump it on a towel, roll it around drying with another towel and then allowed to air dry. No problem with spotting. I think the key is the rinse and a quick surface dry.

Too much Lemishine and the brass turns pinkish. No issues but not real manly.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: B23Sooooo, am I the only OCD nut job that only uses distilled water??

I seriously thought about it... but the way things roll for me I'd always be out when I needed it! And the alchohol really does make them dry quick. Especially if the brass is still warm from rinsing.
 
So..... what is your water to alcohol ratio?



Originally Posted By: CinchOriginally Posted By: B23Sooooo, am I the only OCD nut job that only uses distilled water??

I seriously thought about it... but the way things roll for me I'd always be out when I needed it! And the alchohol really does make them dry quick. Especially if the brass is still warm from rinsing.
 
Originally Posted By: MongoMikeSo..... what is your water to alcohol ratio?



Originally Posted By: CinchOriginally Posted By: B23Sooooo, am I the only OCD nut job that only uses distilled water??

I seriously thought about it... but the way things roll for me I'd always be out when I needed it! And the alchohol really does make them dry quick. Especially if the brass is still warm from rinsing.

I rinse them with hot water out of the tumbler, shake off the excess water, the toss them in a bucket of straight alchohol. Then I stick them on my little drying rack.
 
Originally Posted By: MongoMike

I saw a YouTube video last night where the guys says after a few rinses, he dumps the SS media back in the tumbler while both are still wet and stores it until the next use. He does not say if he leaves the tumbler capped or not.

I am not sure if this is a good idea or not. It would sure save the time and hassles of drying it, as well as not having to use the magnet to transfer it from the towel to the tumbler. You could just carefully pour off the water from the pins in the bucket, and dump the wet pins back in the tumbler.

I know SS WILL eventually corrode. I use my tumbler about once a month.

Any thoughts??

ive been putting mine away "wet" for a couple years now. i pour off most of the water after rinsing, and just leave the cap off and let it dry the rest of the way by evaporation.

no problems yet, and my pins still look like new.

i'm using the 'ultra 0.047' pins from bullseye reloading, so other pins may or may not be made of the same grade of stainless and results may vary because of that.

http://www.bullseye-reloading.com/#A
 
Originally Posted By: MongoMikeAfter use, I always dry out my Frankford Arsenal rotary tumbler a couple days with both caps off so that it dries out completely. I also pour my SS media out on a towel and let it thoroughly dry out a couple days, stirring occasionally, before I store it either in a plastic tub or back in the tumbler.

I saw a YouTube video last night where the guys says after a few rinses, he dumps the SS media back in the tumbler while both are still wet and stores it until the next use. He does not say if he leaves the tumbler capped or not.

I am not sure if this is a good idea or not. It would sure save the time and hassles of drying it, as well as not having to use the magnet to transfer it from the towel to the tumbler. You could just carefully pour off the water from the pins in the bucket, and dump the wet pins back in the tumbler.

I know SS WILL eventually corrode. I use my tumbler about once a month.

Any thoughts??

I checked mine this evening.
The pins are shiny as brand new and there's still some water in the bottom that was there when I put the lid back on 5 months ago.
 
Originally Posted By: stickbow_hunterI use distilled water here as well. Our tap water is not the best. I also let pins air dry before putting away.

My only issue with using distilled water is I like my water to be warm, if not hot. I also would guess my tumbler holds 1.5 -2 gallons of water, so heating two gallons of distilled water might be a little of a hassle. That said, maybe if I had hard water I would be inclined to go that route.
 


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