Stainless steel tumbling media

[JRLesan]

I built a new tumbler here a while back to experiment with the stainless steel pins. They do a good job - better than anything else I've tried over the years - but the shine doesn't last. The cases tarnish back up almost overnight and after several weeks don't look so good. Anyone else play with this stuff yet???

[edler7]

I've been using it a couple years, no problems. I read about some guys having this problem and it seems to be related to their local water chemistry and hardness. Are you using lemi-shine in your tumbler water ?

My recipe is a couple tablespoons of Dawn dish soap and 1/4 teaspoon of lemi-shine. Tumble a couple hours, then rinse in clear water, a final rinse in another dab of lemi-shine and water then into the oven for an hour or so at 250. I bought a plastic sheet rock mud box at Lowes for a few bucks, makes a nice brass holder/rinse pan.

I've also seen that guys run them in a vibratory tumbler with a little nu-shine for about 30 minutes after they are dry. Seems to keep the shine on them longer.

[308gunman]

Do they make a tumbler for the SS media that is resonably priced?

[JRLesan]

Is it necessary to use 'DAWN' versus 'Joy' which is what I used? I did use 'Lemi Shine' but could see no difference between 2 test groups; one with and one without the 'Lemi shine'. I could not find a reasonably priced wet tumbler which is why I built my own out of an old 'SAS' frame and other components.

[Stishooter]

harbor freight dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler for 49 bucks and with coupon online cost me 39...

[Stishooter]

@ 308gunman harbor freight dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler for 49 bucks and with coupon online cost me 39...

[longranger10]

I built a new tumbler here a while back to experiment with the stainless steel pins. They do a good job - better than anything else I've tried over the years - but the shine doesn't last. The cases tarnish back up almost overnight and after several weeks don't look so good. Anyone else play with this stuff yet???

We have had a few people have similar problems. I've got a few things for you to try: Make sure you rinse your media and brass really good when you are done using it. Run just the media with soap and water to help clean it too. If you use too much LemiShine it will cause tarnishing. If none of those options works then after you have cleaned the brass and rinsed it really good give it a quick bath in a bucket of clean water with 1/4 tsp. lemishine them let it dry.

-STM

[40Super]

I use the pins in my Lyman 1200 vibratory and use Dawn( it just works real good) and cheapo laundry detergent(plenty of both1/4cup ea?), plus just a small dash Lemon shine. more lemonshine will cause the soap to go "flat" plus cause dark brass. For my water I need it to feel really slippery from the soap, it allows the pins to "float" around. When I have to much lemonshine in it the pins want to pack and not churn. I also have to really , really rinse the brass off good, till all hint of the soapy feel is gone, otherwise the brass will get dark overnight.

As long as I get the ratios good , I get clean brass in 10-15min. I can't say it's the easiest method of cleaning brass but they sure do look Purdee !

[edler7]

Is it necessary to use 'DAWN' versus 'Joy' which is what I used?

I don't think it makes a lot of difference. They are both detergent, and their job is to make water wetter. Dawn is what I have seen recommended, maybe that's because that was what was in the kitchen (like at my place).

[lmfd20]

I use the dish detergent from the dollar store and lemishine. My last run looked better. I ran for about two and a half hours with the soap and ran fresh water through until it was somewhat clear. Then added lemishine and ran another 30mins. I let them air dry in my sun room under the fan. They are still laying on the towel and look brand new about 48hrs later. I've been lazy and haven't got around to putting them up.

[phil3333]

my way of doing it is I run the brass in my rotary tumbler for 1 hour and I do not use the
cheap dish soap it didnt work well for me, then they go on a towel with a high speed fan
blowing on them for 1/2 hour then in my vibratory tumbler for 1/2 hour to finish drying
and to add a more lasting shine this gives you a shine that last the brass in the pic here
are around three weeks old

[anotherred]

I've noticed mine tarnish over time. I do rinse excessively after tumbling, so I really doubt that is a factor. Its only noticeable comparing fresh tumbled vs. "old" brass. From what I'm guessing its just normal patina that happens with the brass as it sits. Maybe retumble in a vibratory with some wax would seal the brass form the air and keep it looking as bright as possible. That little darkening don't bother me, so I'm leaving it at good enough.

[40Super]

Put the lemonshine in with the soap and only run it one time instead of in 2 separate loads. It'll come out with the same shine.

[ACrowe25]

Man, it is hard to argue those results. I need to really look into one of these. Those that use... any recommendation for a tumbler? Any use the rock tumblers at harbor freight?

[M-Tecs]

I haven’t been having any issues with Dawn soap & Lemi-shine for smokeless cases but my blackpowder cases are coming out bronze colored. Any suggestion on how to get the like new shine the smokeless cases have?

[Racenviper]

I use Dawn and Lemi-shine, my brass comes out of the tumlber great looking, then it turns a dark color. I have seen mix results of brass tarnishing or it doesn't. I live on a well with salt treatment for water hardness, this is the one thing no one talks about when praising or dissing this method. I think the type of water used be it well softness treatment or city water is a must in trying to understand mixed results we see here.

[Russ in WY]

Mite try the Citric Acid as a last cycle . It leaves a protective coating on even after a warm water rinse , that seems to last for ever . Stays nice and bright if that's what U-R after.. My 2¢, Russ...

[Racenviper]

Lemi-shine is citric acid.

[Russ in WY]

True , However the Citric Acid that I used & was referring to was a Brewer's grade[Pure white powder]. I have the Lemi-shine , & it appears to be a granular compound & says with "Oil's".... can't say there is or isn't a difference... Russ...

[Bullet Caster]

M-Tecs,

Your brass will look more like brass after tumbling if you cut down on the detergent. I've tried several runs with citric acid, detergent and ss pins. The more soap you add, the more bronze coloured they become. A little detergent goes a very long way. What happens is that you override the citric acid in the Lemo Shine with the phosphates in the detergent. The phosphates cause the bronze colour. Hope this will help. BC