Wet tumbling with stainless steel media

[TassieTiger]

I’ve got an ultrasonic cleaner and it’s okay - not great...

Anyone tried these cheap as tumblers?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5KG-3KG-Rot ... 9-YovZwYoA

[Stix]

yep thats what ive got...
My lid leaks though...pitfa...!!

S o i put hot water in it & pressure helps seal it after the water cools down..but get a good bit of water out first.

But ive not heard of anyone else with the same problem...

Wow thats cheap compared to what i paid a few years ago...!!!

[Sarco]

After cleaning in the wet tumbler, I tip the tub out into a large fine sieve, placed inside a colander, sitting on a bucket with cheese cloth over the top.
I manually shake the pins out, dropping the cases into a small bucket as I go. Once the batch is completed, I tip them still wet into my vibratory tumbler and allow them to rumble away for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours, this is more than adequately dry them out ready for immediate reloading, though I usually pack them into large screw top jars according to calibre, ready for future reloading.

When I fish them out of the tumbling media, I inspect the cases as I use a fine pin punch to clear the flash holes if/when necessary. I am afraid I don't see the point of the metho method.

I also lay the pins out in a cheap woollies serving tray to dry for few days before packing away.

[wanneroo]

I’ve got an ultrasonic cleaner and it’s okay - not great...

Anyone tried these cheap as tumblers?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5KG-3KG-Rot ... 9-YovZwYoA

I had an ultrasonic and I think they might have their place for certain things, but for brass it didn't get it as clean as I like. Mine is now on the shelf, perhaps will use it for gun parts and rusty things.

[on_one_wheel]

I didnt even know there were different sized pins available...so i use whatever my tumbler came with...1mm dia x 10mm long from memory...
I do 204, 22-250 & 308 with them...

Thanks Stix

That's about the same as the one other internet search result that I found that said .040" x .250"

I don't want to end up with 50 cases filled with jammed ss pins.

[deanp100]

I’ve got an ultrasonic cleaner and it’s okay - not great...

Anyone tried these cheap as tumblers?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5KG-3KG-Rot ... 9-YovZwYoA

I have that exact tumbler. It has changed my life. It does a fabulous job for next to no dollars. I use car wash with citric acid and the brass comes out very shiny. Initially had a bit of an issue with tarnishing but I now dump them into a towel to roughly dry and then give them a spray with wd40 and then ruffle them in the towel again and there is enough of a coating to stop tarnishing. One tip though, fill the barrel with water completely as it needs that weight to hold it down on the rubber wheels . If you use less water it slips on the drive wheel.
Cheers
Deano

[TassieTiger]

Cheers - one is on the way.,

[on_one_wheel]

I’ve got an ultrasonic cleaner and it’s okay - not great...

Anyone tried these cheap as tumblers?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5KG-3KG-Rot ... 9-YovZwYoA

I have that exact tumbler. It has changed my life. It does a fabulous job for next to no dollars. I use car wash with citric acid and the brass comes out very shiny. Initially had a bit of an issue with tarnishing but I now dump them into a towel to roughly dry and then give them a spray with wd40 and then ruffle them in the towel again and there is enough of a coating to stop tarnishing. One tip though, fill the barrel with water completely as it needs that weight to hold it down on the rubber wheels . If you use less water it slips on the drive wheel.
Cheers
Deano

How do you find a 3 kilo size?
Will the 3 kilo comfortably take 50 x 308 / 253 cases?
I'm yet to decide between 3 and 5 kilos, I won't be cleaning more than 50 at a time.

[Stix]

How do you find a 3 kilo size?
Will the 3 kilo comfortably take 50 x 308 / 253 cases?
I'm yet to decide between 3 and 5 kilos, I won't be cleaning more than 50 at a time.

Ive found my tumbler is more efficient the fuller it is...
So i try do a couple of batches of diff cartridges at s time...so for example 50x304 & 50x7-08...

So if you only going to do 50 at a time, maybe go the smaller one...

[deanp100]

The 3 kg will take 50 308s easily, probably a lot more. My biggest batch was probably 150 mixed 222, 221 and some 308’s. Only took 20 mins or so.
Just checked my eBay profile. Mine was listed as a 4 kg unit. Looks the same as the other ad. Looks like you can buy a large 4 kg or a small 4 kg.

[sungazer]

I had a 3kg one and I dont think it took the 50 308 cases easily. I would say just. The 3 kg one is also much harder to use. The opening is hard to get your hand in and out of. My 3 kg one could not hold as many pins worst of all it broke after maybe just a year.
I then purchased a 5kg one and it really is much better, stronger and will take the 50 308 cases without a problem. You dont want all the cases and pins jammed in there. The units work much better with some space so everything can mix and move easily.

[gordicans]

Give Mark Granger a message on Australian Reloading and Trade he was importing a really good tumbler for about that price. he was not making much on them at all. I use a Aus converted KT 2000 the 5 kg version much better than the 3. They really are the way to go. The KT's are cheap and they do have problems here and there or sometimes so it is probably wise to buy a quality one that will really last.

Hi Sungazer, why do you think the 5kg version much better than the 3gk? Is it simply the bigger size or is there something else about them?

I don't go through a lot of cartridges so the 3kg version might suffice. The other alternative is the Lortone 3A Tumbler from Aussie Saphire which looks like a good quality unit but is nearly double the price.
Regards Ian

[Sergeant Hartman]

Question regarding the 3 or 5kg ones. How many pins do you put in the jar and anyone got a link for good pins on Ebay

[on_one_wheel]

I had a 3kg one and I dont think it took the 50 308 cases easily. I would say just. The 3 kg one is also much harder to use. The opening is hard to get your hand in and out of. My 3 kg one could not hold as many pins worst of all it broke after maybe just a year.
I then purchased a 5kg one and it really is much better, stronger and will take the 50 308 cases without a problem. You dont want all the cases and pins jammed in there. The units work much better with some space so everything can mix and move easily.

Thank you sir.

I'll definitely buy the 5kg one then.

I didn't imagine in my wildest dreams getting a reply from someone who's had both sizes.... how good are forums!
Cheers

[deanp100]

Question regarding the 3 or 5kg ones. How many pins do you put in the jar and anyone got a link for good pins on Ebay

I just use the ball bearings they sent and I tip,them all in. With the barrel on its end they are probably an inch deep.

[gordicans]

Question regarding the 3 or 5kg ones. How many pins do you put in the jar and anyone got a link for good pins on Ebay

I just use the ball bearings they sent and I tip,them all in. With the barrel on its end they are probably an inch deep.

Wondering though if the ball bearing ones will clean out the primer pockets as well as the little stainless steel pins? ie the ball bearings aren't going to get into the corners of the primer part of the case etc like the pins will. But hell the stainless pins are pretty expensive though ... cheapest I've found is the $45 for 1kg from Saphire.

[deanp100]

Question regarding the 3 or 5kg ones. How many pins do you put in the jar and anyone got a link for good pins on Ebay

I just use the ball bearings they sent and I tip,them all in. With the barrel on its end they are probably an inch deep.

Wondering though if the ball bearing ones will clean out the primer pockets as well as the little stainless steel pins? ie the ball bearings aren't going to get into the corners of the primer part of the case etc like the pins will. But hell the stainless pins are pretty expensive though ... cheapest I've found is the $45 for 1kg from Saphire.

I guess the primer pockets aren’t shiny like the rest of the case but the chemicals alone give them a good clean

[sungazer]

In the 3 kg one I purchased it came with no pins as advertised. I kicked up a stink with the ebay seller and got a part refund. With that I put it towards the kg of Lyman pins which I had already ordered. These are great no rust what so ever I keep them in the tumbler under water all the time. I did get pins with the 5Kg one dont think I have used any. This was through the Australian seller he changes plugs and may swap out pins. Most I have heard that come cheap with pins or balls the pins rust and the balls dont work very well.

The 5kg unit is a bit larger in every way and I think it is a stronger machine, however being Chinese longevity I think is always hit and miss. My 3kg tub did leak which I fixed with silicon. The thing I least liked about it was the size of the tub and being able to get cases out with you hand. I would never go back just absolutely no pros to the 3 kg unit.

[gordicans]

thanks for the feedback sungazer. I've researched this topic over the last couple of days and there is no question...wet tumbling with stainless steal pins is vastly superior by a huge margin to either the dry corn cob tumblers or the sonic cleaning method.

What is odd is how no gun shops in Australia have cottoned on to this and simply don't provide any type of wet tumbling package to the local market, a type of cleaning which is obviously way superior to the other two forms of cartridge cleaning. I mean wtf? Are they asleep at the wheel? You'd think it would be a no brainer from a retailer's point of view. Just as astonishing is that a relatively small jewelry outfit in Glenn Innes (www.aussiesapphire.com.au) is way ahead of any Australian gun shop in marketing this type of product to Australian shooters

[Mark]

A little something i knocked up. Hold 12lt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbGm1_3J5vk

[vmaxaust]

thanks for the feedback sungazer. I've researched this topic over the last couple of days and there is no question...wet tumbling with stainless steal pins is vastly superior by a huge margin to either the dry corn cob tumblers or the sonic cleaning method.

What is odd is how no gun shops in Australia have cottoned on to this and simply don't provide any type of wet tumbling package to the local market, a type of cleaning which is obviously way superior to the other two forms of cartridge cleaning. I mean wtf? Are they asleep at the wheel? You'd think it would be a no brainer from a retailer's point of view. Just as astonishing is that a relatively small jewelry outfit in Glenn Innes (http://www.aussiesapphire.com.au) is way ahead of any Australian gun shop in marketing this type of product to Australian shooters

Vested interests. They want to sell name brands where they receive reasonable discounts.

Aussie Sapphire's burnishing compound by the way is still the best for use in any tumbler. Those who use home made mixtures need to try some.

[on_one_wheel]

The pins cost almost the same as the tumbler

Screenshot_20190714-073142_eBay.jpg (260.47 KiB) Viewed 4581 times

Screenshot_20190714-073201_eBay.jpg (271.35 KiB) Viewed 4581 times

[Mark]

These are the pins i use, from .222 to 300wm no dramas
https://www.gemworld.com.au/products/mo ... t-1kg-pins

[TassieTiger]

Look like pop rivet pins cut in half

[wanneroo]

IMO I wouldn't fart around with the cheap Chinese tumblers. The Frankford Arsenal one kicks butt and is meant for tumbling cartridges and lots of them. I've cleaned tens of thousands and it's worth the money.

[TassieTiger]

A friend bought a hornady and had problem after problem with electrics...was the reason I bought an ultra sonic.

[on_one_wheel]

These are the pins i use, from .222 to 300wm no dramas
https://www.gemworld.com.au/products/mo ... t-1kg-pins

That's a pretty good deal

[Sergeant Hartman]

Hey I have an ultrasonic tbh I am rather happy with my mixture. Sure it doesn't look shiny but it cleans in 7 minutes.

Hence I am unsure why I wanna try a tumbler..... lol

[TassieTiger]

Hey I have an ultrasonic tbh I am rather happy with my mixture. Sure it doesn't look shiny but it cleans in 7 minutes.

Hence I am unsure why I wanna try a tumbler..... lol

There’s clean and there’s bright and shiny.
My ultrasonic cleans well but I still find cracked necks, disfigures, etc after I’ve reloaded some darker cases...I’m hoping a tumbler will cut down that issue.

[Sergeant Hartman]

The only thing that gets me is some necks are shiny clean others seem like they still have a bit of blackness left... wonder if it makes any difference.

Plus yes shiny... Ben trying to get a friend to tumble my brass 4 me... but looks like I'll have to do it myself. Recon every 5th fire get it tumbled... fire up the barbie and anneal it. Lol