Bayou52
06-21-2015, 11:33 AM
Hi, All -
I've been SS wet tumbling for about 3 years now using a Thumler's Tumbler Model B. I can share some practical tips I've learned in the hopes they could benefit others:
1. The directions that came with the tumbler called for 2 pounds of cases and 1 gallon of water (8 lbs) together with 5 lbs of SS pins. This adds up to the tumbler's 15 lb capacity. On an experiment one day, I doubled the brass to 4 lbs and reduced the water to about a 1/2 gallon - enough to cover the brass in the drum by about 3 inches. So, more brass and less water. The tumbling time remained the same - about 4 hours for extremely and heavily tarnished brass. Result - no difference. Even with double the amount of brasses, they came out with a high sparkle shine. So, I now wet tumble 4 lbs of brasses per batch routinely,
2. Substituting 1 ounce of auto wash & wax for Dawn impedes the return of tarnish,
3. Using an o-ring in place of a factory belt is a better choice. The factory belts were breaking all too frequently and at about $6 a pop, they were too expensive. These o-rings are 80 cents and my very first one is now about 2 years old and still going:
http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=367_150_152&products_id=6511
4. Substitute anti-vibration knobs in the place of wing nuts and washers to cinch the drum lid - much easier to use:
http://www.mcfeelys.com/index.php/1-4-20-female-free-spinning-fluted-knob-qty-1-3gdv9.html
5. Use SS pins with a diameter of at least 0.047" in the place of 0.041" diameter pins like those that came with my tumbler. The larger pins will not get stuck side- by-side in flash holes like the smaller pins tend to do.
I hope these tips help.....
Happy Tumbling........
Bayou52
I've been SS wet tumbling for about 3 years now using a Thumler's Tumbler Model B. I can share some practical tips I've learned in the hopes they could benefit others:
1. The directions that came with the tumbler called for 2 pounds of cases and 1 gallon of water (8 lbs) together with 5 lbs of SS pins. This adds up to the tumbler's 15 lb capacity. On an experiment one day, I doubled the brass to 4 lbs and reduced the water to about a 1/2 gallon - enough to cover the brass in the drum by about 3 inches. So, more brass and less water. The tumbling time remained the same - about 4 hours for extremely and heavily tarnished brass. Result - no difference. Even with double the amount of brasses, they came out with a high sparkle shine. So, I now wet tumble 4 lbs of brasses per batch routinely,
2. Substituting 1 ounce of auto wash & wax for Dawn impedes the return of tarnish,
3. Using an o-ring in place of a factory belt is a better choice. The factory belts were breaking all too frequently and at about $6 a pop, they were too expensive. These o-rings are 80 cents and my very first one is now about 2 years old and still going:
http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=367_150_152&products_id=6511
4. Substitute anti-vibration knobs in the place of wing nuts and washers to cinch the drum lid - much easier to use:
http://www.mcfeelys.com/index.php/1-4-20-female-free-spinning-fluted-knob-qty-1-3gdv9.html
5. Use SS pins with a diameter of at least 0.047" in the place of 0.041" diameter pins like those that came with my tumbler. The larger pins will not get stuck side- by-side in flash holes like the smaller pins tend to do.
I hope these tips help.....
Happy Tumbling........
Bayou52