Just got my Thumler Tumbler

[Bradley Walker]

You may need to watch your brass real close. I've run a batch over night and seen "gold" in the wash water. That tells me that the SS pins have worn the brass. Just enough to show in the wash water. Why run a batch over might? If it didn't get clean the first time, keep after it till it does. I wouldn't recommend overnight clean "every" time. Just don't let the grud build up too much. And if you see stains on your brass, a quick run in the tumbler with corn cobb takes care of that.

I figure 4 hours for really dirty brass is enough, but more didn't seem to hurt. I think the brass on brass contact is worse than the steel pins. I see abrasion from vibratory tumbling, and there are no pins at all. I mean we can get paranoid about this and that but the SS media method seems to be about as harmless as anything else and the results are better.

 

[bigedp51]

Dude...

Get over it already.

My brass looks awesome.

Hey Dude

Below are photos of the moderators .223 brass at AR15.com and its not my brass.

When you people realize not all stainless steel pins are the same what I'm trying to get across just might sink in. Take a look at the pins stuck in the flash holes and the ends of these pins and its not hard to imagine the damage they can do.

When you realize that STM doesn't make the tumblers, and buys the pins from the cheapest vendor you might just realize some of us got some pins with very sharp ends.

I like my Thumler's Tumbler and how clean it makes my brass now that I have solved my pin problem BUT the photos I have posted tell no lies.

 

[amlevin]

You may need to watch your brass real close. I've run a batch over night and seen "gold" in the wash water. That tells me that the SS pins have worn the brass. Just enough to show in the wash water. Why run a batch over might? If it didn't get clean the first time, keep after it till it does. I wouldn't recommend overnight clean "every" time. Just don't let the grud build up too much. And if you see stains on your brass, a quick run in the tumbler with corn cobb takes care of that.

Just like everything else in life, a good thing can be overdone. I've never seen the need to run brass more than a few hours in the pin media myself. Most I've ever needed to run brass was 6 hours and that was for some really crappy range pickup brass. For those that want to run their brass overnight in ss pins, it's their brass. There's just no need.

As for the pic's from "arfcom" big deal. I've seen clumps of walnut shell or corn cob that are a bigger deal than these pins. That's why we inspect our brass, isn't it? To make sure ANY cleaning media doesn't remain anywhere in the case?

 

[Bradley Walker]

When you realize that STM doesn't make the tumblers, and buys the pins from the cheapest vendor you might just realize some of us got some pins with very sharp ends.

I like my Thumler's Tumbler and how clean it makes my brass now that I have solved my pin problem BUT the photos I have posted tell no lies.

Hey Dude.

I didn't buy my pins from STM... Mine are much smaller than that...

 

[bigedp51]

Hey Dude.

I didn't buy my pins from STM... Mine are much smaller than that...

Well from one "Dude" to another then we can agree some people got the cheap pins made in China.

I thought there for a moment that we were all going to be involved in a hot flaming bovine scat shooting match. :

 

[Waskawood]

So where does one get GOOD pins? Magnetic or non-magnetic?

 

[markm87]

Now take some closeup photos of the cases "YOU" tumbled all night long.

Why would one tumble brass all night long?

Why not?

Because the brass is clean in 2 hours... It's glorious in under 4. I just don't see the sense in running the motor that much longer and wearing the lid gasket that much more.

 

[markm87]

I too get those double pins in the flash hole from time to time. Not a big deal. When I resize, the decap pin pushes them out and I pick them up with a magnet and toss them back into the media.

 

[Bradley Walker]

Hey Dude.

I didn't buy my pins from STM... Mine are much smaller than that...

Well from one "Dude" to another then we can agree some people got the cheap pins made in China.

I thought there for a moment that we were all going to be involved in a hot flaming bovine scat shooting match. :

No way I am going to get in a pissing match over pins.

I like my pins. They are teeny tiny. I broke them in by running them by themselves.

Those pins in the pictures you are showing look large in diameter.

 

[Bradley Walker]

Now take some closeup photos of the cases "YOU" tumbled all night long.

Why would one tumble brass all night long?

Why not?

Because the brass is clean in 2 hours... It's glorious in under 4. I just don't see the sense in running the motor that much longer and wearing the lid gasket that much more.

I did not get the primer pocket clean in two hours.

 

[bigedp51]

Now take some closeup photos of the cases "YOU" tumbled all night long.

Why would one tumble brass all night long?

Why not?

Because the brass is clean in 2 hours... It's glorious in under 4. I just don't see the sense in running the motor that much longer and wearing the lid gasket that much more.

I was being cynical when I asked my question.

The tumble times are not written in stone and depend on the media, the solutions used and the condition of the brass.

My bottom line is check your cases with a magnifying glass and check for abrasive wear from the pins. If you have rough sharp ends on the pins the more abrasion you will have, that will get worse the longer you tumble the cases.

AGAIN some of us got some really cheep pins with very sharp ends and this is all I'm trying to say.

I bought my tumbler from STM because I had three five gallon buckets full of once fired .223/5.56 NATO cases that needed to be cleaned up, and the first batches looked like hell when tumbled with these new pins.

And there is another five gallon bucket not in the photo.

 

[Bradley Walker]

Where did you buy your pins.

I could use some of that brass... HE HE

 

[bigedp51]

Where did you buy your pins.

I could use some of that brass... HE HE

The tumbler, pins and lemon shine all came from STM.

If you want that much .223 brass you have to go to the range when the local SWAT teams practice, and be prepared to spend more time pickin' and little time for shootin'.

And buy your bullets in bulk for shootin' zombies

Below a A2 HBAR with National match trigger and sights.

And I'm building another one.

Below a PSA lower kit put together in less than an hour last Sunday, it was a gift from my son on my birthday.

 

[kycamtrakker]

if the brass is super dirty just change the water and soap after about 2 hours and i bet after that 3rd hour with new water and soap you will be VERY pleased.

 

[jlow]

Now take some closeup photos of the cases "YOU" tumbled all night long.

Why would one tumble brass all night long?

Why not?

Because the brass is clean in 2 hours... It's glorious in under 4. I just don't see the sense in running the motor that much longer and wearing the lid gasket that much more.

I did not get the primer pocket clean in two hours.

Did you start with hot water?

 

[Waskawood]

Hey Dude.

I didn't buy my pins from STM... Mine are much smaller than that...

No way I am going to get in a pissing match over pins.

I like my pins. They are teeny tiny. I broke them in by running them by themselves.

I wasn't trying to get into a pissing match but was just interested where I can get quality pins.

 

[Gappmast]

My tumbler was very noisy. The bottom side of the base is hollow so I filled it with a piece of 1" wood. It is held in place with some wood screws coming down from the top. That little trick got rid of 90% of the noise.

 

[mr45man]

I just use a strong mix of simple green and water.
Nice and shiny after about 2 to 3 hrs, water comes out BLACK with
some sediment ? maybe carbon from inside the cases.
John H.

 

[Bradley Walker]

Hey Dude.

I didn't buy my pins from STM... Mine are much smaller than that...

No way I am going to get in a pissing match over pins.

I like my pins. They are teeny tiny. I broke them in by running them by themselves.

I wasn't trying to get into a pissing match but was just interested where I can get quality pins.

I bought mine on EBay. They come from an archery supply place.

 

[Bradley Walker]

Love it!!!!

The primer pocket is as shiny as the outside of the case.

I increased the dawn and Lemishine slightly and man what a difference!!!