Start Wet Tumbling

[wooosaah]

I would like to switch to wet tumbling and from looking around just want to clarify is a rotary case tumbler = a wet tumbler?
I reload pistol cases and would be doing 100-300 at a time generally, any recommendations on which tumbler? I see some are $300-$500 and don't know if that would be necessary.

[deanp100]

There is another thread on tumbling somewhere with some good info. I bought a cheap Chinese one off eBay for $60 bucks and it goes great. 20 mins a load sees it done.

[pomemax]

depends what you wish to spend like this one
http://www.brass-tumbler.com
I have seen people use a concret mixer too .

[Sergeant Hartman]

As Dean mentioned, get a 3 or 5kg eBay one, cheapest option that works, get pins from Aussie saphire and possibly their burnishing compound.

There are a lot of recipes of the stuff to put into the tumbler you will need to try as some keep the shine others don't.

A friend who has one reckons you need full load of brass otherwise they don't get cleaned as well.

Or you could also use an ultrasound

[deanp100]

I use a bit of wax car wash and a tiny amount of tartaric acid, maybe half a teaspoon in the 4kg tub and use the steel ball bearings that came with it. Fill completely with brass and water and go for 20-30 mins. I pat dry in a towel after a good fresh rinse and when basically dry give a spray with wd40 and another bit of a jiggle in the towel. This holds a good shine. I have used too much acid and got a pink tone to the brass, but a fabulous shine . Without a coating of some sort this tarnished in minutes. I now use more tumbling time and less chemical and am happy with the results. Mine aren’t as good as brand new brass but are clean , smooth and shiny.
It is quite therapeutic turning tarnished s**t into shiny stuff.

[TassieTiger]

I’ve got a cheap 5kg eBay special and it works fantastic and comes with spare consumables.
I’m doing away with my ultrasound washer / heater - it just doesn’t do enough for the work needed to set it up etc...