SS pin tumbling head smack

[mac86951]

Just posting my learnings:
Have used my SS pin tumbler for several years; dumped in the typical range brass pick-up (45acp) and was surprised when the brass came out greasy. My typical lemi-shine and Dawn was used. Greasy enough that I bet it would have ruined a batch of walnut media and made me concerned.

Lemi-shine and Dawn concentrated didn't take anything off after try number 2. Did some small batch chemical experiments and found that SimpleGreen did an awesome job. Re-tumbled in simple green (30 mins) and nice n shiney and degreased. Simple green was cut to about 1 cup to the rest H2O and could probably reduce further.

Anyway,
Food for thought.

 

[Sniper338]

ive used simple green only for years. just simple green and water.. then I rinse them real good in water again when done tumbling and dry them

 

[6MMsteve]

gonna try simple green 2 I have a gallon

 

[mac86951]

I've read bad reviews; all typed by people who left it soaking for multiple hours / days / weeks / years... I'm too anxious and require the instant feedback all to common nowadays. 1-2 hours running at Simple greens 1 ounce per 4 cups should be just fine.

 

[Jeff A]

I dare say that you must of had some very contaminated cases stating out. Did you look at them at all before you dumped them in there?

I have used nothing but Dawn and Lemi-Shine for years and never had an issue.

 

[mac86951]

I dare say that you must of had some very contaminated cases stating out. Did you look at them at all before you dumped them in there?

I have used nothing but Dawn and Lemi-Shine for years and never had an issue.

Looking? No no no; that would ruin my whole process! I'll wash first and look later...

Na dirty range brass just got dumped in. I'm sure there was a case full of axle grease or something; and yes for years I've used lemi-shine and Dawn as well. I'm in SW, so usually cases are full of sand / dirt.

 

[Webster]

Just posting my learnings:
Have used my SS pin tumbler for several years; dumped in the typical range brass pick-up (45acp) and was surprised when the brass came out greasy. My typical lemi-shine and Dawn was used. Greasy enough that I bet it would have ruined a batch of walnut media and made me concerned.

Lemi-shine and Dawn concentrated didn't take anything off after try number 2. Did some small batch chemical experiments and found that SimpleGreen did an awesome job. Re-tumbled in simple green (30 mins) and nice n shiney and degreased. Simple green was cut to about 1 cup to the rest H2O and could probably reduce further.

Anyway,
Food for thought.

Sounds like someone contaminated the cases with grease as a joke. They knew someone would pick them up.

 

[mac86951]

Sounds like someone contaminated the cases with grease as a joke. They knew someone would pick them up.

Quite possible.

Nowhere near as painful as the joke of Small primer pocket 45 brass! Now that's a prank and a half... (Just kidding I use both, but do have to be mindful to sort out the free range brass I get).

 

[jonbearman]

Did you clean the SS pins. They look clean but they have a light protective coating on them so I washed them in brakleen to get it off. I also ran a whole load of cases with my homemade case lube(lanolin pure oil and pure Isopropyl alcohol just like Dillon spray) and used a 1/4 teaspoon of dawn and a 1/2 teaspoon of lemishine and they came out beautiful and grease free. Some had redding case wax but I had to switch to lanolin because I did about 1500 cases.

 

[Johnny_V]

You'll have to pre-clean the cases with some dry gas or 100% alcohol. If the cases are contaminated with any type of grease or sizing lube you'll have a mess on your hands. Would also suggest you wash your pins and tumbler drum as well with some dry gas or 100% alcohol.

 

[mac86951]

You'll have to pre-clean the cases with some dry gas or 100% alcohol. If the cases are contaminated with any type of grease or sizing lube you'll have a mess on your hands. Would also suggest you wash your pins and tumbler drum as well with some dry gas or 100% alcohol.

Thanks
Dry gas might work; alcohol doesn't work for a degreaser. Both ethanol and isopropanol were tested with before the simple green. I'd have used some MEK, or gasoline; but was fresh out of both . I'd also be concerned about the rubber parts of the tumbler.

Pins n tumbler all nice n clean now thanks to the simple green. I'd have worried about the alcohol or dry gas eating the rubber of the tumbler. But either should be great at cleaning the pins separately.

-Mac

 

[Johnny_V]

Normal rubbing alcohol doesn't work well for degreasing, but 100% alcohol does (at least I know it removes sizing lube)

 

[GrocMax]

Rinse, rinse, rinse. Hot water.

 

[Ed in North Texas]

Quite possible.

Nowhere near as painful as the joke of Small primer pocket 45 brass! Now that's a prank and a half... (Just kidding I use both, but do have to be mindful to sort out the free range brass I get).

I give the SP to my youngest son, keep the LP for myself.

 

[dabeechman]

I can't remember what I did, but I got my SS pins greasy one day and it immediately transferred to the cases. Ended up running the SS pins in dawn by themselves then rinsed them. Put the dirty cases back in and haven't had a problem since. You may just have needed to clean the pins.