I have some .223 brass I'd like to wet tumble with stainless steel media. Thus far I've only wet tumbled 9mm and .40 casings. My worry in using the stainless media is it being difficult to remove through the small neck. I'd appreciate any advice from anyone else who wet tumbles .223 using SS media. Thank you in advance.
Wet Tumbling .223 brass
- Thread starter dpollard
- Start date
Zastava223rem
Member
Tumbled probably 30k+ of just .223 at this point in a Frankfort Arsenal, plus god knows how many other calibers.
My process for fairly clean once fired is as follows.
1. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
2. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
3. Tumble 30 min to 1 hr.
4. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well. I can generally get 99% of the pins repeating this process a few times.
For really nasty brass.
1. Soak in vinegar for 20 to 60 minutes.
2. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
3. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
4. Tumble 45 min to 1 hr.
5. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well
I dont have pictures handy but doing this process with all my brass, I get super clean brass and have zero issues with pins getting stuck. It does help if you deprime them first, the primer pockets will then be squeaky clean too.
For a base of reference, my pins are the OEM Frankfort pins that came in the kit. They are roughly the size of 0.9mm Lead for a pencil and about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long.
My process for fairly clean once fired is as follows.
1. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
2. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
3. Tumble 30 min to 1 hr.
4. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well. I can generally get 99% of the pins repeating this process a few times.
For really nasty brass.
1. Soak in vinegar for 20 to 60 minutes.
2. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
3. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
4. Tumble 45 min to 1 hr.
5. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well
I dont have pictures handy but doing this process with all my brass, I get super clean brass and have zero issues with pins getting stuck. It does help if you deprime them first, the primer pockets will then be squeaky clean too.
For a base of reference, my pins are the OEM Frankfort pins that came in the kit. They are roughly the size of 0.9mm Lead for a pencil and about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long.
Originally Posted By: Zastava223remTumbled probably 30k+ of just .223 at this point in a Frankfort Arsenal, plus god knows how many other calibers.
My process for fairly clean once fired is as follows.
1. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
2. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
3. Tumble 30 min to 1 hr.
4. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well. I can generally get 99% of the pins repeating this process a few times.
For really nasty brass.
1. Soak in vinegar for 20 to 60 minutes.
2. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
3. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
4. Tumble 45 min to 1 hr.
5. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well
I dont have pictures handy but doing this process with all my brass, I get super clean brass and have zero issues with pins getting stuck. It does help if you deprime them first, the primer pockets will then be squeaky clean too.
For a base of reference, my pins are the OEM Frankfort pins that came in the kit. They are roughly the size of 0.9mm Lead for a pencil and about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long.
I have the Frankfort Arsenals tumbler as well. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'll give it a shot.
My process for fairly clean once fired is as follows.
1. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
2. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
3. Tumble 30 min to 1 hr.
4. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well. I can generally get 99% of the pins repeating this process a few times.
For really nasty brass.
1. Soak in vinegar for 20 to 60 minutes.
2. Wash brass in hand soap/warm water to get rid of loose dirt.
3. Add to tumbler with a squirt of dawn and some (abt 1 tsp) lemishine
4. Tumble 45 min to 1 hr.
5. Using screen on one end of tumbler, wash brass thoroughly and dump pins into 2.5 gallon bucket, shaking well
I dont have pictures handy but doing this process with all my brass, I get super clean brass and have zero issues with pins getting stuck. It does help if you deprime them first, the primer pockets will then be squeaky clean too.
For a base of reference, my pins are the OEM Frankfort pins that came in the kit. They are roughly the size of 0.9mm Lead for a pencil and about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long.
I have the Frankfort Arsenals tumbler as well. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'll give it a shot.
WyoBull
Member
I use the same methodology pretty much with my Frankford Arsenal SS wet tumbler. I usually tumble a little longer, usually about 2 hours.
After rinsing the brass, I lay my brass out on a bath towel on my bench and then use a heat gun (hair dryer will work as well) and dry the brass by waving the heat gun over the brass in one had and spreading the brass around with the other. That usually takes me about 15-20 minute to do that but when they are done, the literally look brand new out of the box.
I have tumbled everything from 17 Rem up to 375 H&H brass in mine and while the process does take longer than using a dry media vibration tumbler, it is so much cleaner so I have no problem going through the extra steps to wet tumble with SS media.
One thing I would highly recommend is buying the Frankford Arsenal magnet so you can pick up all your SS media and then release them back into the container when you are done. One thing you want to be very aware of is that you get no stray SS media pieces stuck in a primer pocket of inside of your brass. It is just part of your brass inspection process you need to do while reloading.
After rinsing the brass, I lay my brass out on a bath towel on my bench and then use a heat gun (hair dryer will work as well) and dry the brass by waving the heat gun over the brass in one had and spreading the brass around with the other. That usually takes me about 15-20 minute to do that but when they are done, the literally look brand new out of the box.
I have tumbled everything from 17 Rem up to 375 H&H brass in mine and while the process does take longer than using a dry media vibration tumbler, it is so much cleaner so I have no problem going through the extra steps to wet tumble with SS media.
One thing I would highly recommend is buying the Frankford Arsenal magnet so you can pick up all your SS media and then release them back into the container when you are done. One thing you want to be very aware of is that you get no stray SS media pieces stuck in a primer pocket of inside of your brass. It is just part of your brass inspection process you need to do while reloading.
Last edited:
If you want clean and shiny, I don't think anything works like wet tumbling with SS media. Just as a test because I would never use it but I've taken, literally, the worst nastiest looking range brass that has been laying on the ground outside for years, thrown it in the wet tumbler with SS pins a squirt of Dawn a tiny sprinkle of Lemi Shine let it run for a few hours rinse and you would never believe it was the same brass.
The one thing I've learned, the hard way that is, Lemi Shine is one of those weird products where more is definitely, NOT, better. If your using Lemi Shine and your brass is coming out dull not bright and shiny cut back on the Lemi Shine. I'd have to look at my notes but I think I only use half of a tsp. Also, if you're getting those chalky white water spots on your brass from using tap water like I do using distilled water eliminates that and it's cheap.
The one thing I've learned, the hard way that is, Lemi Shine is one of those weird products where more is definitely, NOT, better. If your using Lemi Shine and your brass is coming out dull not bright and shiny cut back on the Lemi Shine. I'd have to look at my notes but I think I only use half of a tsp. Also, if you're getting those chalky white water spots on your brass from using tap water like I do using distilled water eliminates that and it's cheap.
I tumble everything from 17 FB to 45/70 in a Thumlers tumbler with ss pins with Dawn and a little lemi shine for about 2 hours, then spin in my rcbs media separator to get the pins out, then rinse in hot water and then dry in a cheap yard sale dehydrater.
Every once in a while i get a pin stuck in a flash hole
Every once in a while i get a pin stuck in a flash hole
rudymontana
New member
Same process as above. I use a magnet (4" diameter) and tap any case with stainless steel pins in case. I also use a flashlight a couple times to make sure no pins are left in my cases.
Rudy
Rudy
rudymontana
New member
Same process as above. I use a magnet (4" diameter) and tap any case with stainless steel pins in case. I also use a flashlight a couple times to make sure no pins are left in my cases.
Rudy
Rudy
Zastava223rem
Member
All excellent points here.
I forgot to mention when drying, I let them air dry (3-4 days) or if they were deprimed prior, it can be dry in as little as 2. On warm sunny days I lay them in the yard in direct sunlight and after a few hours they are GTG.
I spread them on a bunch of old bath towels and make a few passes with a magnet. Then I roll the towel up like a hammock and shake it side to side to knock anything lose. Works really well for me.
I forgot to mention when drying, I let them air dry (3-4 days) or if they were deprimed prior, it can be dry in as little as 2. On warm sunny days I lay them in the yard in direct sunlight and after a few hours they are GTG.
I spread them on a bunch of old bath towels and make a few passes with a magnet. Then I roll the towel up like a hammock and shake it side to side to knock anything lose. Works really well for me.
Rustydust
Active member
For the last 10 years or so when I have a bunch of nastier than average brass that I really want to get clean I just dump it in my Thumbler's Tumbler with about a gallon of warm water and a squirt of Dawn and a pinch of Lemonshine. After 3-4 hours I dump it all into an old plastic colander and let the dirty water soak through. The stainless media that I use looks like tiny footballs. Big enough to get inside a .224" but too big for .204 or smaller. Anyway, my colander catches it all so none goes down the drain.
I shake out the water in each case and spread them into a cookie sheet and into the oven they go. 200 degrees works for me and I put them in there for a few hours. Been doing that for a few years now and I see no reason to change how I do it.
I shake out the water in each case and spread them into a cookie sheet and into the oven they go. 200 degrees works for me and I put them in there for a few hours. Been doing that for a few years now and I see no reason to change how I do it.
Rustydust
Active member
Originally Posted By: KenlguyWhat kind of stainless media are you using. I've heard that there is an alternative to pins. And quite frankly, I'm getting sick of chasing those tiny pins all over the place.
I wish that I could tell you where I bought it. Was a number of years ago for sure. Was mail order online is all I remember. I just measured it an it is .188"X.406" so it will sure go into .204" necks but not .177" necks.
I wish that I could tell you where I bought it. Was a number of years ago for sure. Was mail order online is all I remember. I just measured it an it is .188"X.406" so it will sure go into .204" necks but not .177" necks.
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
I haven't added pins to my Frankford tumbler, I go with a cap of Jungle Jake cleaner degreaser(Mills fleet farm label) hot water. Run 30-40 minutes clean rinse with hot water ready to dry and lube/size. Someday I may try the pins.
Thank you all for the great, detailed responses. To clarify, I am using the Frankford Arsenal tumbler with their pins, along with dawn dish soap and lemishine; I also have the magnet. I've tumbled thousands of casings in 9mm and 40.
My biggest reason for posting was my worry about getting the pins stuck in the smaller diameter .223 case neck. Sounds like this should not be an issue.
I'll throw out a trick for pistol brass...when done tumbling I throw the whole batch into a dillion media separator and fill the tub with water and spin the separator a bunch. Rinse the dirty water out, refill, and repeat again. Works great.
My biggest reason for posting was my worry about getting the pins stuck in the smaller diameter .223 case neck. Sounds like this should not be an issue.
I'll throw out a trick for pistol brass...when done tumbling I throw the whole batch into a dillion media separator and fill the tub with water and spin the separator a bunch. Rinse the dirty water out, refill, and repeat again. Works great.
Last edited:
I have been using the Frankfort wet tumbler for years now and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My process is just like yours with using a media separator full of water to spin the cases. I use the plastic vent on the end of the tumbler and rinse and shake out 99% of the pins into a bucket and then the remaining few will fall out in the separator. I do 204 brass also without issues. Only thing I might add is be careful what pistol brass you mix with 223 sized cases in the wet tumbler, I think it was 44 mag or 45 that I mixed with 223 and some of the cases got locked together with pins jammed between them.
I'm in the group that tumbles, rinses and spins in teh Dillon cage set up. I air dry mine in the AZ heat being careful not to leave them out to long or the brass is ruined. It is so hot here that the entire case would anneal through if you left it out in the sun on a towel for 8 hours.
If I simply must have it fast I throw it on a cake pan, stolen as per Dillon instructions, and bake for 30 minutes at 200 degrees.
My pins were bought from STM, STM, who I believe is a sponsor here. I believe they have two sizes and mine are 0.041 X 0.262. I tumble the 17's without any issue as the tub full rinse seems to "float" them out nicely. I do get the very rare pin stuck in the flash hole and that is why I believe at one time they have two sizes of pins available but that would be a a quick discussion with them.
Greg
My pins were bought from STM, STM, who I believe is a sponsor here. I believe they have two sizes and mine are 0.041 X 0.262. I tumble the 17's without any issue as the tub full rinse seems to "float" them out nicely. I do get the very rare pin stuck in the flash hole and that is why I believe at one time they have two sizes of pins available but that would be a a quick discussion with them.
Greg