Sub-zero s s pin tumbling?

[georgerkahn]

With 11*s last night, and more cold to come/stay in my area, I had very reluctantly drained liquids from my hi-speed Thumler's Tumbler which I regularly use to tumble my brass. So much have I used it, my slo-speed one with walnut shells has been collecting dust. I just had a flash of "brilliance" with the idea if anyone has used an anti-freeze solution along with the Dawn, Armor-All Wash 'n Wax, and LemiShine to again make their brass sparkle?

In my neck of the woods they purvey fairly inexpensive "non-toxic" "RV Anti-freeze Solution" ranging in the three to five dollar per gallon range. My thought would be to possibly use this instead of water for initial mix; then, take drained brass (sans pins) into house for rinsing in a sink I have in reloading room. Might this work? (NOT a chemist, I quiver at ignorantly mixing chemicals I know so little about)

Has anyone tried this or similar? YES: The two solutions are 1/ Put the ss tumbler to rest for winter months, just using the walnut shell one; and 2/ bring the wet tumbler into house -- which is something I'm not going to do. Hence, to use the "wet" with a non-freezing solution may be my solution.

Any ideas?

geo

[brass410]

be vewwry vewwry carefwul some of them rv antifreezes have undesirable chem contents amonias and rust inhibitors and such.

[ericandelaine1975]

I haven't done it but I work at a radiator shop. The chemicals in antifreeze corrodes pretty much any metal over time. You'd have to extensively wash your brass after you use that on them. Even then I personally wouldn't trust that it was all completely removed.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[brass410]

I thinks you might want to just add some alcohol of sorts (the sort you use for making case lubes, not consuming by the case) most commercial antifreezes have undesireable contents like ammonia and scale inhibitors.

[Camper64]

Cheap vodka might work.

[georgerkahn]

Thanks for the great responses! I had a hunch using the RV-antifreeze may not be a wise solution.... dang! Every year it seems "worser" for me to go through the winter without this tool/toy! For many, I'm sure it is not thaaat many, but I can document between 4,000 and 5,000 cases wet-cleaned this summer, alone. I used to swear by both ultrasonic (I have a Hornady) and walnut.corncob tumbling -- til I discovered the wet ss method.
I had not thought of alcohol as an anti-freeze. I hear Camper64's admonition to reserve the Grey Goose for other purposes -- but, again my ignorance: Isopropyl alcohol? I'm not thinking of the real cold (negative zero, Fahrenheit) days -- we do get many in the teens to high twenty-degree range -- so I really would not need to lower freezing point thaaaat much. Initial straining in garage with me wearing rubber gloves to keep hands dry...
geo

[redhawk0]

looks like there could be another use for Royal Crown...just make sure to sift the pins out before your next party.

redhawk

[Moleman-]

Set your tumbler up and have a spot lamp with a 100w bulb pointed at it a foot away or whatever it takes to not let the tumbler get hot. Should keep it above freezing

[labradigger1]

looks like there could be another use for Royal Crown...just make sure to sift the pins out before your next party.

redhawk

I can think of another use for the royal crown

[JimB..]

Start with 150 degree water, it won’t freeze in 3 hours if you’re above zero.

If you’re really worried, put a cardboard box over the tumbler and put a light bulb (incandescent, not LED) or reptile heater in with it.

[Carrier]

I just do it in my basement in the winter as that’s where I do everything else. Don’t think I would use any kind of antifreeze other than what’s in my vehicles and in my travel trailer plumbing.
The reason I got into wet tumbling is I wouldn’t have a dry one in my house that’s for sure

[woodbutcher]

Hi Redhawk0.It`s Crown Royal.Royal Crown is a soda pop.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[redhawk0]

Hi Redhawk0.It`s Crown Royal.Royal Crown is a soda pop.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

After rereading my post...I realized that...maybe I had a bit too much Crown Royal before posting...hahaha

redhawk

[labradigger1]

I just re read what I wrote as well, I plea auto correct.

[Greg S]

Just build a blue board box to put over it with a 40-60 watt bulb or reptile heating pad underneath it.

[NyFirefighter357]

Start with 150 degree water, it won’t freeze in 3 hours if you’re above zero.

If you’re really worried, put a cardboard box over the tumbler and put a light bulb (incandescent, not LED) or reptile heater in with it.

Hot water freezes faster than cold water. The water isn't going to freeze while tumbling. If you use a timer and it sits forgotten that is where the problem would be. Isopropyl I.E. cheap rubbing alcohol would work if you really think you need it.

[redhawk0]

I'd bet windshield wash anti-freeze would work. Its not much more that Methanol alcohol and water. It won't harm auto paint/chrome. I can't see it would damage brass either.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index....eeps-freezing/

redhawk

[georgerkahn]

So many great solutions (pun intended) -- THANKS again to all! I read redhawk0's link, and even added the 1936 Windshield Washer reference to my "fun fact" database . I hadn't thought of using windshield washer fluid; nor -- what I may in fact really try: inverting a fairly huge Styrofoam box cooler over it -- I do believe the size is "right" -- with a tubular (like in aquarium hoods) 40 watt incandescent bulb adjacent to the tumbler. One of my never-ending fears is the f-word (fire), so I'd not do this without me being in, at least, the nearby house. Sounds like a plan worth exploring -- from, say, 9:30AM through 4ish PM, I may be able to clean quite a few cases.
geo

[JimB..]

Hot water freezes faster than cold water.

Often true, but in the described scenario cold water will freeze faster than hot.

[McFred]

What happens if you tumble with the pins dry?