Anyone try using stainless steel media in standard type brass tumblers? I like peoples results with it but with my small time reloading operation, I'd have a difficult time shelling out the cheddar for one of those cement mixer brass cleaners.

I have not tried this, but I think it's probable that the pins or chips are going to remain on the bottom in a vibratory unit. I saved some beans and got the FA wet tumbler. I have NOT used the steel pins, just did not like what I saw on a friends rifle brass. Very shiny clean but case mouths are a bit dinged and a few pins stuck inside. I'm happy w/o the pins. The chips reportedly do a better job on all counts.

I also do not think the pins would circulate enough to go any good. I also wet tumble without the pins brass still comes out nice and clean and no huge hassle with the pins.

I wet tumble with as pins and use a thumblers tumbler....squirt of dawn,1/2 tsp lei shine and gtg.

Sometimes I lay em on a cookie sheet and bake them at 150 for an hour to dry them or if it’s sunny I lay them outside.

They will tarnish if not stored in an airtight container

I am in the process right now of cleaning 25 gallons of various brass. Most of it is 9mm (about 20 gallons) and I am using a Harbor Freight concrete mixer running about 2500 rounds every 90 minutes using 2.5 gallons of water, 15lbs of SS pins, Lemi-shine, Turtle Wax Car Wash, and Simple Green...Brass comes out super clean and the car wash leaves a slick coating on the brass that keeps the brass from being “to clean” and sticking to the dies when reloading...

I Will record a short video and will try to post it this weekend...Mark

Have a look at STM's Rebel 17. I have two and they work pretty darn good. Follow their website instructions and your brass will be shiny new.

https://stainlesstumblingmedia...mblers-rebel-17.html

Could not figure out how to post a video since Postimages does not allow videos so here are a couple of photos of this morning FIRST batch I just started. I will add pictures of the processes I follow as I manage through today’s batches.....Mark. ———



3 gallon bucket ($4.00) with holes drilled in the bottom and a 5 gallon paint screen filter from Lowes (3 pack for $5.00) is your best friend when you use SS pins for cleaning and sorting...Paint screen filter goes into the bucket then you pour the brass, water, and pins into the bucket with the screen...At this point I RINSE and RINSE again my brass and pins that are in the bucket with the screen because it allows all that dirty water and soap to flush out thru the screen and bottom of the bucket....The paint screen will usually last about 20 of these cycles before it starts to develop small holes in its material...When it does I throw it away and grab another one...





Then I scoop the brass and pins out of the bucket with the paint filter with a plastic bowl and load them into a media separator (I use the Dillon unit and I bought an extra unit and it to top so pins do not fly everywhere when the spinning starts....






Then the pins get picked up and back into the mixer for the next batch....





Brass goes into the bucket and then to the drying board for 12-24 hrs and then into the George Forman for 20 min at 200F to insure all moisture is gone....









And you will notice my other two best friends sitting beside my drying board - My Frankfort Arsenal SS pin magnet and my extendable magnet used for picking up those pins that you find lying around - and you will....Mark

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sigarmsp226,

The Rebel 17 is a GREAT product and as long as you do not over load it (ask me how I know after breaking a belt) it works wonderful on cleaning brass with SS pins....

Another option if you do not mind running smaller batches...$58.00 before you use the Harbor Freight 20% discount coupon on one item which would bring the price down to about $46.00 before taxes.....I have this set up and use it when running small batches of rifle brass for deer hunting....

Thanks all- I figured the SS media would be too heavy to do any good but thought I'd ask here first. I'm looking at the Harbor Freight tumbler as the price is right and seems to have good reviews.

If you are going with the Harbor Freight tumbler, grab a few of the drive belts. Getting started and having your drums stop is very disappointing.
I also picked up a small rectangular dish washing pan with a strainer insert to rinse the brass and pins, it works great for separating brass and pins.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I wet tumble with as pins and use a thumblers tumbler....squirt of dawn,1/2 tsp lei shine and gtg.

Sometimes I lay em on a cookie sheet and bake them at 150 for an hour to dry them or if it’s sunny I lay them outside.

They will tarnish if not stored in an airtight container

I replaced the Dawn with Armor All Wash and Wax. No tarnishing issues. I also bought a cheap dehydrator from Amazon to dry my brass. Works very well.

I did the same thing Erick did and recently replaced using Dawn with the Turtle Wax Car Wash and all of my tarnishing and color variation in my brass also went away....Mark

Drying them is important if you don't want spots.
I bought a dehydrator from Bed Bath Beyond.
Works great - no spots.