SS Wet Tumbling Outstanding Recommendation

[urbanrifleman]

I have been cleaning my brass with the stainless steel media wet tumbling method for about ten years now. I use 10 lb of standard pins and try to keep my batch no bigger than half the depth of my Thumbler Tumbler.

I have always had outstanding results and I keep my cleaning cycles very short as to not peen the necks on my good brass. I separate the brass from the pins in a standard media separator which takes only about 30 seconds. I then dunk the brass in a solution of half acetone half denatured alcohol. I then transfer to paper towel covered pans and warm them in my convection oven at 180 degrees for about 15 minutes.

That being said, in recent times I have been trying to figure a solution to keep the brass from tarnishing over time and in general keep them from spotting and feeling very porous. I have always used Dawn and Lemishine. This would leave the brass spotless clean and very dry feeling. I was thinking that maybe some wax would give the brass more of a smooth feeling like you get when you tumble in Walnut media with waxy abrasive like Flitz. I hit the jackpot and I tried this wax soap from Chemical Guys and it is outstanding and gives the brass a very polished and smooth appearance as well as making it incredibly shiny. I simply replace the Dawn with this product. It is on sale right now at Advance Auto. I highly recommend it.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Thanks for the post. What does the media separator look like? Separating out the pins has been a PITA for me.

 

[vegas]

Interesting timing. I have been thinking about switching up from Dawn so I think I'll give this a try. Thanks.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Thanks for the post. What does the media separator look like? Separating out the pins has been a PITA for me.

It is a standard Franfort Arsenal rotating basket thingy in a bucket Haha

 

[urbanrifleman]

Thanks for the post. What does the media separator look like? Separating out the pins has been a PITA for me.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/frankford-arsenal-quick-n-ez-rotary-media-separator-kit?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=Shop%7CGeneric%7CClothing%7CHigh%7CMen&msclkid=17694e4608bc150594c611a74178ae29&gclid=17694e4608bc150594c611a74178ae29&gclsrc=3p.ds

 

[Hoot]

So you still add the Lemishine?
I've resorted to a vibratory walnut and a dash of liquid car polish after drying them to coat mine as like yours, they tarnish fairly quickly. Would happily cut out that part of the process however.

Hoot

 

[Shooter13]

It is a standard Franfort Arsenal rotating basket thingy in a bucket Haha

after drying brass I will lightly tumble again because there is almost always more pins that were stuck in the brass.

 

[urbanrifleman]

after drying brass I will lightly tumble again because there is almost always more pins that were stuck in the brass.

Never had that problem. My rotating basket slams the pins out. I start very slow and finish fast and when the pins are out they are out.

 

[urbanrifleman]

So you still add the Lemishine?
I've resorted to a vibratory walnut and a dash of liquid car polish after drying them to coat mine as like yours, they tarnish fairly quickly. Would happily cut out that part of the process however.

Hoot

Yes sir. Still add Lemishine.

I highly recommend the alchohol dunk also. I add acetone to speed up the dry but it's not needed really, the denatured alchohol does the bulk of the getting rid of the spots.

 

[JimSC]

I recently switched to the dishwasher tab method method, does a great job. I bought the store brand on sale, they cost like 12 cents per tab. For pin seperating I use a cat litter pan that has a sifting tray built in. For drying a baking pan in the oven set at 200 degrees for 30 min. Less than 10 bucks for both at Wally World

I am a devout KISS disciple, life is complicated enough as is. No need to add to it.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I once ran out of dawn and tried my wifes Tide liquid detergent. Now that is what I use.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have been using Jungle Jake cleaner/degreaser and hot water. 1/2 hr -45 minutes in the FA , no pins. Rinse in hot water, dry ready to size. I fill completely with water, a cap full of cleaner, usually 50-100 brass,since I am not a high volume shooter.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/frankford-arsenal-quick-n-ez-rotary-media-separator-kit?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=Shop%7CGeneric%7CClothing%7CHigh%7CMen&msclkid=17694e4608bc150594c611a74178ae29&gclid=17694e4608bc150594c611a74178ae29&gclsrc=3p.ds

Okay thanks. I use the Frankford magnet, but that might work better, plus it will remind me of hand-crankin’ homemade ice cream as a kid.

 

[cw308]

For 25+ years cleaning brass with dry media 5 years ago I tried wet tumbling and will never go back to dry. Dawn detergent is what they recommend with very little LemiShin , ask your wife what works best they know better . A detergent called Sun worked the best but the stopped stocking it where we shop. Removing the pins isn't a problem for me , I'm shooting 308 & 45auto.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I was thinking of doing a video, but I can't do this stuff and hold the phone.

The Chemical Guys Citrus Wash/Wax is exactly what I wanted. I cleans like the Dawn (maybe better) and leaves a finish similar to dry tumbling with Flitz. The brass is very "smooth" and "slick".

 

[cw308]

I just like squeaky clean.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I just like squeaky clean.

Yah, the difference is subtle. But there are those that are going to understand what the slight waxing can benefit. Others will just use soap. Clean is good. SS media is just awesome in itself.

 

[rockrat]

I use Dawn, Lemishine and automotive wash/wax. In the end the brass has a faint wax feel and even two years in a baggie, its still shiny

 

[SamGabara]

Have you annealed any after cleaning them with the chemical guy’s stuff? Would like to know if there was any scorched reside after annealing.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I use Dawn, Lemishine and automotive wash/wax. In the end the brass has a faint wax feel and even two years in a baggie, its still shiny

This is an automotive wash/wax. Great to hear that you experienced the same results.