POLL: Wet tumbler VS traditional dry tumbler

[Richard Jones]

Dry, because it's what I have.

 

[TimP]

Dry!!! I haven't tried a wet tumbling but I have tried an ultrasonic cleaner and prefer to dry tumble with my Ultra-Vibe 18. Works great.

 

[justpassinthru]

Wet, for a bunch of dirty 5.56 to run through a AR. Otherwise, I don't worry a lot about cleaning my brass.
I prefer using that time cleaning inside my chambers and barrels.

 

[Bob L.]

Wet for initial cleaning prior to annealing, sizing, etc. Dry corn cob for removing lube after sizing.

 

[LHSmith]

Neither. I clean brass with Never dull or Crazy Cloth. I tried both corn con media (dry) and ss pins (wet) and come to the conclusion that I don't want ANY foreign substances inside my brass and more importantly I want to preserve a layer on carbon inside my necks (I will nylon brush after firing before it gets hard.) My time is better spent measuring bullets, maintaining brass to consistent dimensions, case annealing, and meticulously weighing powder. These preparations have a direct impact on accuracy vs. making brass super shiney which has zero impact.
When I'm on the firing line at a match, I don't need the worry of a blocked flash hole or a missed stn. stl. pin going down my $500 barrel, did I sufficiently dry the cases out before charging?, did I affect case head hardness by overheating in attempt to dry ? With my cleaning methods I can detect incipient case head separation or cracked necks as easily as those cleaned by tumbling..... I don't allow my brass to get tarnished, they're cleaned as soon as I leave the line, and the sizing dies are cleaned after each load session.

 

[Scott Harris]

Used to wet tumble, now I dry tumble and am happier.

 

[bigedp51]

I wet tumble to clean the brass and then dry tumble with corn cob media to remove the case lube after sizing.

 

[waltk]

Dry. Big 18 lb. HF with walnut and Flitz.
Old, reliable, Lyman 3200 Turbo with untreated corn cob.

 

[DeadEyeDick45]

Wet with SS pins in my "home built" tumbler, then dry in my toaster oven.
DED45

 

[Shynloco]

Dry for me.

Concerned that the SS media (pins) work hardens the brass...

DRY....tried Sonic in a buddy's tumbler and was not impressed. Wet is too messy for my liking and I've read plenty of stories about drying methods that aren't worth the effort to me. I'll stick with the good old conventional method that has worked very well for me in the past and continue to do so.

Alex

 

[gaboon]

I use dry corn cob and treated with nu finish car wax.

 

[Down South]

Wet tumble with SS media, rinse, then let air dry on a towel over night. No big deal.

 

[amlevin]

Seems to me that unless you own both the wet and dry tumblers, you shouldn't vote. I use a wet tumbler but don't really know if it's performance is better, worse or the same as a dry tumbler.

I have both dry and wet tumblers as well as an ultrasonic cleaner.

Hands down the "wet" SS Pins do the best job. I haven't used the dry "tumbler" for over a year. Only keep it around in case I want some brass with a Jeweler Grade polish on them otherwise the SS Pin cleaning method is more than enough.

My vote WET with SS Pins, Dawn, and Lemishine.

 

[Comrade Terry]

Wet.

 

[savagedasher]

Corm cob and walnut shell. Tried the Ultrasonic No matter what I did the bullets never seated the same where my ES & SD was good. A friend has the SS pins. WE both have went back to the vibrator with mix of walnut & corn cob and car polish. My seating pressure dropped 60% and my ES & SD dropped 60% plus also.
Too clean of cases no matter what lube you use the bullet will cold bond . Larry

 

[jonbearman]

I do the same thing as Gaboon. I have tried wet tumbling before but not with pins. Would like to try it but that adds another step or 2 due to the drying process and lubing the necks so the bullets don't gall on bare brass.

 

[Nvreloader]

I have both,
Have been doing the wet, SS pins and Lemishine and would go back.

Tia,
Don

 

[Rpbump]

For BP straight wall cases I use water, ceramic media, and soap. then blow dry after rinsing with compressed air. For bottle neck brass an ultra sonic bath with a commercial cleaner, rinse, dry with compressed air,then polish in a vibratory tumbler. I prefer to inspect cases for cracks/faults when they are clean inside and out. It may be anal but I can be comfortable with the results.

Rpbump

 

[amlevin]

but that adds another step or 2 due to the drying process

Not if you anneal right after the cases come out of the "Laundry". My cases dry real quick as I anneal 8)

 

[LHSmith]

^^^^^ I'm thinking water in the cases would affect the in-flame time which is finite in a commercial annealer, or one who uses a metronome method. Probably OK if one anneals to visual indicators only....but I am leery of this method as IME some cases never achieve that "Lapua annealed look" (blueish ring 1/4" below shoulder) no matter how much heat is applied...they go from normal brass color to black.