Anyone using stainless tumbling?

[jeffdt]

The mentioning of a cement mixer has piqued my interest. Do any of you remember these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cement-Conc...281?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257afe3609

Seems like the perfect size for doing larger batches of .223 cases. They must be water tight and certainly durable enough to stand up to sakrete. Price is right as well, seems like the perfect starting point for a home built SS media tumbler. A scavenged motor, a simple base to hold the drum using old casters as the rotational parts for the drum or old 3/4" black gas pipe with bearings attatched to the ends to serve as the cradle. The biggest expense would be the media.

 

[mirage243]

My question would be, how many rounds of 223 do you guy's shoot per day?????

 

[b.a.customkydex]

My question would be, how many rounds of 223 do you guy's shoot per day?????

I have a 5 gallon bucket full of 223 brass, and a 5 gallon bucket full of pistol brass that is range pick up and tarnished all to hell and back. If stainless media will bring it back to like new condition I might have to go pick up more and clean it ... then sort out the mil stuff, punch primers and run thru the swage and resell it. BUT I dont want to get into the SS set up if its not going to clean all that well. I dont mind doing small batches, that doesnt bother me one bit.

I load in batches of 500 to 1000 rounds at a time ... but then it might sit for a bit before I reload some more, thats why I am not sure if I want to invest in it or not.

What would be great is if I just took everything down to Clarke's place and used his

 

[Clarke123]

I have a 5 gallon bucket full of 223 brass, and a 5 gallon bucket full of pistol brass that is range pick up and tarnished all to hell and back. If stainless media will bring it back to like new condition I might have to go pick up more and clean it ... then sort out the mil stuff, punch primers and run thru the swage and resell it. BUT I dont want to get into the SS set up if its not going to clean all that well. I dont mind doing small batches, that doesnt bother me one bit.

I load in batches of 500 to 1000 rounds at a time ... but then it might sit for a bit before I reload some more, that's why I am not sure if I want to invest in it or not.

What would be great is if I just took everything down to Clarke's place and used his

To save some coin, I chose to use a very small electric motor that I already had (instead of spending $70 for the properly sized one).
This means that I have to (literally) sit with it for the 4 hour process to make certain that it doesn't stall and catch fire or overheat and catch fire!
I keep a wet paper towel on the motor, that has to be "re-wet' about every 30 minutes .. I know that it is a PITA, but it's my PITA ... and that's another reason for only doing large batches! Afterwards, I strain out the SS Media using my dry media separator for my vibratory device ... keeping a magnet handy to pick up the SS media that naturally gets thrown about the floor.

I use Lemi-Shine ONLY for short runs in my Ultra-Sonic, followed by a 15 Minute Citric Acid Bath .


As for tarnish ... my experience with "range brass" has been that an overnight soak in a solution of citric acid will remove most of that.
Note that i said "Citric Acid" and NOT Lemi-Shine ... Why not? My experience indicates that Lemi-Shine is formulated with some Acidic Acid (like Vinegar contains).
While Citric Acid finishes it job on brass in about 15 minutes, and the brass can be left in it for days, acidic acid leaches out the zinc / copper in brass and will pit it
if left in solution for much time.

I am experimenting with a long bath in citric acid prior to Ultra-Sonic cleaning. This in order to "soften" the primer pocket residue and promote a better result.
Initial results indicate near-wet-tumbler results, with primer pockets either totally clean or so close as to be as good and usually much better than vibratory processing.

 

[smokymtnsmoke]

Hey Clarke, do you buy your citric acid in bulk? If so where and what price are you getting it at?

I'm still running with my HF 6# double drum setup w/ water, vinegar, Dawn and citric acid that I picked up in the canning section at Ingles , but am limited in qty.

Here's another option on great tumblers. I maky be makeing this purchase soon...


From Brian,

yes i build and sell the tumblers. http://www.biggdawgtumblers.com (http://www.biggdawgtumblers.com)

i will sell frame only, frame and drum or complete kit with media. prices are on my web page.

 

[Clarke123]

Ok, Here’s some links to answer questions asked:

RESULTS of SS Tumbling: BEFORE & AFTER
http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=33581&
Tumbler Plans (Note: I used Bearing Pillow Blocks on e-bay to simplify my “Build”)
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=130815&st=0
Where to Find “Pillow Blocks”
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390434912437?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Another “Build” Described (Mine is of this “varation”)
http://www.ar15.com/mobile/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=344986&page=1
SS Media (Midway sells 5# Packages for ~$45 EACH!! .. You can “Buy Direct” with a minimum order for much less)
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=442180

 

[b.a.customkydex]

I just found a 5 pound tub of citric acid on amazon for 30 bucks shipped hmmm Might have to get some and start some brass soaking.

Also thinking about making a drum to set on the treadmill that the GF bought and NEVER uses .....

 

[mirage243]

B.A. did you get that stuff headed to me?

 

[b.a.customkydex]

B.A. did you get that stuff headed to me?

No I haven't, it'll be needed your way tomorrow after I see the doctor in the morning.

 

[jeffdt]

What do you all think of the "Dezincification" issues associated with the wet tumbling of cases? An interesting read over at Brian Enos' forum. A real issue or not?