For those of you using SS media
- Thread starter CZ550
- Start date
I have been using this method for over a year now and now use no other cleaning method. I find it takes a solid 3-4 hours to get the primer pockets clean. I use a bit of lemi shine as suggested and dishwashing soap, I normally rinse for about 20 mins in cold water as dishsoap can leave spots even with the lemi shine. I have never experience any peening or warn case mouths. This method leave brass clean inside and out!
Just tried the SS for the first time. Its no joke. My brass was never this clean when I used my Ultrasonic cleaner. Very pleased.
hedditch said:
Not very well. The media tends to sink to the bottom of the bowl.
I have, for one. Not impressed.
I had an RCBS rotary I'd bought used for moly coating, pressed it into service & immediately got results I liked. NOT THAT I'D SUGGEST ONE for someone just starting out you understand... their drum bases likely will leak as they're none too well sealed / secured by whatever means RCBS puts them together.
Their price is way out of line too when you compare them to rotary tumblers used for rock polishing.
The Stainless Steel Pin media we're discussing is "magnetic". A good strong speaker magnet will pick it up. I even pick up loose pins with a "refrigerator magnet".
As for separating, I first strain out the mucky water through an old t-shirt. Rinse a while under hot water (as hot as it gets from the faucet) and then dump from the t-shirt into my old "corn cob media" separator. A few cranks and the brass is separated. Spreading the cases still hot from the rinse on a towel lets them dry rapidly. I usually finish the prep at this point by trimming and uniforming primer pockets if necessary.
If in no hurry I let them air dry overnight. If in a hurry, a hair dryer while spread on the towel speeds the process.
As for separating, I first strain out the mucky water through an old t-shirt. Rinse a while under hot water (as hot as it gets from the faucet) and then dump from the t-shirt into my old "corn cob media" separator. A few cranks and the brass is separated. Spreading the cases still hot from the rinse on a towel lets them dry rapidly. I usually finish the prep at this point by trimming and uniforming primer pockets if necessary.
If in no hurry I let them air dry overnight. If in a hurry, a hair dryer while spread on the towel speeds the process.
I stumbled across a good way to separate the water, media, and brass.
I had this huge sun shade material that's perforated enought to let water through. So I put that over a 5 gal bucket... then put my normal corn cob separation pan on top of that.
The water falls all the way to the bucket, and the media falls to the shade screen... and the brass stays up top. Works good.
I had this huge sun shade material that's perforated enought to let water through. So I put that over a 5 gal bucket... then put my normal corn cob separation pan on top of that.
The water falls all the way to the bucket, and the media falls to the shade screen... and the brass stays up top. Works good.
Erik Cortina
Team Lapua Brux Borden Captain
DennisH said:
Sounds good, but what if I don't have a 10 year old son? ;D
DennisH
Life Time NRA member
Erik, the media seperator works great and is quick, I don't spend more than three minutes with mine!
A 10 year old would be nice though!
Dennis
PS: I just ordered an industrial ultra-sonic cleaner from SharperTek! The were on sale, 60% off!
I will let you know how it works! Suppose to be 5 times stronger than the new Hornady!
A 10 year old would be nice though!
Dennis
PS: I just ordered an industrial ultra-sonic cleaner from SharperTek! The were on sale, 60% off!
I will let you know how it works! Suppose to be 5 times stronger than the new Hornady!
I tried the SS media for the first time. Used it to clean 14x fired 308 cases. After 4 hours the primer pockets were clean but the case interior walls were still dirty. I tried another 4 hrs and the inside walls were still dirty and so was the water. New water and 8 hours later, the inside wall were still dirty. This may be due to two reasons, cases interior walls were very dirty because of all the firings or I had put in 30 cases over the advised 140 cases (I had put in 170 cases). Will keep on tumbling until the cases are completely clean or the water comes out clean.
Jay Christopherson
Not An Admin
Dennis, which model did you order from SharperTek?
DennisH said:
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/stm-complete-package.html
I bought pins and the STM Rotary Media Separator from here.
Usuing the media separator takes about 10 turns of the handle and the pins are in the bottom of the plastic thing.
I use a RCBS Sidewinder tumbler as I had it for Danzak bullet coating.
I played with the thumbler tumbler that SS sells and I can tell you this.
The Thumbler tumbler turns faster and is much cheeper than the RCBS.
I can run 50 300 RSAUM cases and have stunning results in about 3 hours in the thumbler.
I can run 50 300 RSAUM cases and have stunning results in about 4 hours in the sidewinder.
The Sidewinder has a tiny hole in the plug/lid and will leak a tad.Not enough to matter.
I use a tea spoon of lemshine and a teaspoon of dawn dishwashing soap in each load.
No more scrubbing necks or digging primer pockets out for me.
While there still wet I set them on a bench source and anneal them.
After there cool enough to handle
Im all done.
dave
I bought pins and the STM Rotary Media Separator from here.
Usuing the media separator takes about 10 turns of the handle and the pins are in the bottom of the plastic thing.
I use a RCBS Sidewinder tumbler as I had it for Danzak bullet coating.
I played with the thumbler tumbler that SS sells and I can tell you this.
The Thumbler tumbler turns faster and is much cheeper than the RCBS.
I can run 50 300 RSAUM cases and have stunning results in about 3 hours in the thumbler.
I can run 50 300 RSAUM cases and have stunning results in about 4 hours in the sidewinder.
The Sidewinder has a tiny hole in the plug/lid and will leak a tad.Not enough to matter.
I use a tea spoon of lemshine and a teaspoon of dawn dishwashing soap in each load.
No more scrubbing necks or digging primer pockets out for me.
While there still wet I set them on a bench source and anneal them.
After there cool enough to handle
Im all done.
dave
You can buy a Thumblers Tumbler, an extra drum and maybe 200 - 300 new cases for what an RCBS Rotary Tumbler will cost you new.
The RCBS drums will need to have their bottoms popped out & re-glued using something like urethane construction sealant otherwise they'll leak.
The little vent cap in the plastic plug / lid can be sealed using any kind of plastic tape.
IMHO any decent rotary tumbler is a better value than the RCBS device: engineering, materials, cost... any one or all three.
I use one now but only because I had it already around & didn't want to spend more $$ getting into wet-cleaning cases.
Someone just starting out should not even consider one.
The RCBS drums will need to have their bottoms popped out & re-glued using something like urethane construction sealant otherwise they'll leak.
The little vent cap in the plastic plug / lid can be sealed using any kind of plastic tape.
IMHO any decent rotary tumbler is a better value than the RCBS device: engineering, materials, cost... any one or all three.
I use one now but only because I had it already around & didn't want to spend more $$ getting into wet-cleaning cases.
Someone just starting out should not even consider one.
Only reason I used mine was because I already had it.
Mine does not leak anywhere except the vent hole in the lid.
The RCBS sidewinder unit is set up from the factory to be a "wet" case cleaner. It ships with an RCBS case cleaner or it used to.If it leaks its defective and should be sent back.
I got enough crap sitting around already The sidewinder works fine if an hour longer.
I dont like the rubber bladder in the thumbler tumbler for coating bullets.......just a thought.
dave
Mine does not leak anywhere except the vent hole in the lid.
The RCBS sidewinder unit is set up from the factory to be a "wet" case cleaner. It ships with an RCBS case cleaner or it used to.If it leaks its defective and should be sent back.
I got enough crap sitting around already The sidewinder works fine if an hour longer.
I dont like the rubber bladder in the thumbler tumbler for coating bullets.......just a thought.
dave
We have a lot in common, crap-wise. I pressed my RCBS into service also because it was already there, taking up space. I paid about half retail & got two drums; perhaps my bullet-coating operations weakened the glue joint, or they've improved the fabrication since mine was made.
Both drums leaked almost from the get-go. It took me awhile to figure out just where it was coming from but as both drums leaked more with use pretty soon I had the seams in my sights. From there I first tried regular PVC pipe cement but that was a failure. Next was the urethane construction adhesive which is still workinf fine after a season's use.
I have a hunch the rubber liner you speak of would interfere with getting a good bullet coating too but as all I have is my RCBS getting that hunch proved out will have to wait.
God's blessings for all you forum addicts, your families & friends & especially for our servicefolk whether just arrived home, about to leave, or yet in our services.
Merry Christmas!
Both drums leaked almost from the get-go. It took me awhile to figure out just where it was coming from but as both drums leaked more with use pretty soon I had the seams in my sights. From there I first tried regular PVC pipe cement but that was a failure. Next was the urethane construction adhesive which is still workinf fine after a season's use.
I have a hunch the rubber liner you speak of would interfere with getting a good bullet coating too but as all I have is my RCBS getting that hunch proved out will have to wait.
God's blessings for all you forum addicts, your families & friends & especially for our servicefolk whether just arrived home, about to leave, or yet in our services.
Merry Christmas!
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