Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

New issue tumbling, I think!


Eyesa Horg

Recommended Posts

The last couple of batches of reloads I've done, both 45 & 38, I've been noticing brass dust on my reloader. Just started wet tumbling this season. When I took our brass out of tumbler I noticed I'm getting a burr at the mouth of the cases. It easily catches a finger nail and is rough on the inside. The burr looks like what you get when you cut tubing with a tubing cutter. Is this from the mouths banging into each other for hours or possibly just from being reloaded so many times? To chamfer them all would be a large PIA! They appear as though the crimp didn't completely open up, but rough. Nothing else has changed in my loads. Thanks for ideas.

EH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes the crimp doesn't completely open up. Result of our use of light loads and soft bullets. And yes it does chew up the mouth of the case after multiple reloads, eventually they split.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

59 minutes ago, Ranger Dan said:

Yes the crimp doesn't completely open up. Result of our use of light loads and soft bullets. And yes it does chew up the mouth of the case after multiple reloads, eventually they split.

So, not likely related to wet tumbling then?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wet tumbling is not at fault.  You can give a shot of dry lube inside the case mouth and that would reduce the risk of scraping the the brass.

Edited by I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't wet tumble and haven't heard of this.  However, if you've been reloading for years and the only thing that changed before this issue appeared was the wet tumbling, then I'd look at it harder.  Maybe you are doing something different from others.

 

edit: you didn't just clean your loading machine did you?  Might have been doing this before but it was too grungy to notice? :lol:

Edited by Abilene, SASS # 27489
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eyesa, If u resize, remove primers before wet tumbling, it may solve the rough edges, also primer pockets will be cleaned as well?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

What media are you using?

You want a slow turning tumbler.

Rinse the brass twice, before drying. 

I'm using the large Frankfort arsenal with a 9mm case of LemiShine, a little less than a 12ga hull of StratoSheen and 1& 1/2oz of ArmorAll carwash with wax. The edge of the mouth is all rough and look like brass filings on the bench once loaded again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Wild Hair Larry said:

You may have said but how long do you tumble. 

The full 3 hours. On my 45 brass I do a half hour with cheap carwash to get the blowby off,then rinse, then 3 hours as in my reply to Lumpy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, pachaug kid said:

Eyesa, If u resize, remove primers before wet tumbling, it may solve the rough edges, also primer pockets will be cleaned as well?

I do deprimed, however without the pins there's still some gunk in the pocket. It doesn't seem to be an issue reseating new primers however. I'll try to get a closeup picture to post.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

I'm using the large Frankfort arsenal with a 9mm case of LemiShine, a little less than a 12ga hull of StratoSheen and 1& 1/2oz of ArmorAll carwash with wax. The edge of the mouth is all rough and look like brass filings on the bench once loaded again.

No media like pins or ceramic stones?? :huh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

No media like pins or ceramic stones?? :huh:

No, I used the pins at the beginning of the year when I got the tumbler and deprimed. I had never deprimed this brass in over 6 years. I'm thinking maybe the mouths have just work hardened so much that they are finally deteriorating.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

No, I used the pins at the beginning of the year when I got the tumbler and deprimed. I had never deprimed this brass in over 6 years. I'm thinking maybe the mouths have just work hardened so much that they are finally deteriorating.

Try it with the pins ;)

They also act as a 'cushion' for brass.

Do you fill it with water? You should.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Try it with the pins ;)

They also act as a 'cushion' for brass.

Do you fill it with water? You should.

I usually fill to within a couple inches of full.

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been wet tumbling for years with pins and deprimed, never had this problem, the pins may help to ckean up the case mouth of those tiny burrs.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

I've got new rifle brass for next year!! Will try the above suggestions and see how it goes. One thing for sure is I need a sink in the basement! Up and down the stairs is getting old! Glad to hear it's probably not the tumbler causing the issue. One thing I do like about depriming first, is that the reloading goes smoother with no fail to deprime issues happening.

Thank you all.:)

EH

Edited by Eyesa Horg
Typo
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been wet tumbling for quite a while. Started with the stainless pins but saw on YouTube some mention they didn't use any media, just Dawn and Lemi-Shine.

Never had any issues with the brass.  I also use the Frankford tumbler. I fill all the way up and run for 2 hours. I use the included plastic screen when emptying to keep the brass in and then fill it back up half way, shake it, dump it out. I will do this until the water is clean with no signs of soap. Then I dump all of the clean brass on a towel and pat dry then put the brass in an old food dehydrator to fully dry. Brass always comes out looking brand new.

My guess is the brass (if it's been reloaded many times) is just getting brittle. Some folks anneal their brass to keep this from happening.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I just swiped this photo from a for sale ad here. This is what I'm talking about with the rough mouth opening. His pic is way clearer than mine! Enlarge a bit to see, especially the upper right. I'll have to get on my PC to include a pic of the brass dust they leave on everything after loading. 

image.thumb.jpeg.a81c54f3d779369c3fff765520deba65.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Cut back on the amount of cases in the tumbler. 

Thanks, I'll try that. I've been filling it about half wayish or so and water to a tad below the mouth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Can you post a picture or 2 of your tumbler setup? 

I can do that! It's just the large FART (Frankfort Arsenal Rotary Tumbler) or are you looking for something in particular with my unit?

I'm using the large Frankfort arsenal with a 9mm case of LemiShine, a little less than a 12ga hull of StratoSheen and 1& 1/2oz of ArmorAll carwash with wax. 

 

Haven't used the pins since the first try with this tumbler after depriming.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.