How do you dry your ss wet tumbled brass

[USMC87]

I have been wet tumbling for a few years now and love the results, I rinse several times and run all the excess water off in my media separator then I pour the brass out on a piece of door screen elevated off the floor and let it air dry. The problem is that after the brass is dry it will have a line of residue on the bottom where it dried. How can I dry my brass without leaving that ugly residue on the bottom of pretty brass?

[labradigger1]

Distilled water has no minerals.
Try a toaster oven.

[JASON4X4]

I use wash and wax with lemishine and let air dry on a towel sitting on our dining room table overnight and have never had any spots

[Spruce]

Same as above. Just did a batch of 45 colt, no spots.

I like to dry pins before I put them away.
What are your methods for this?

[Jailer]

Food dehydrator

[anotherred]

For drying the brass I use a separator to remove the pins, then as much water as I can. Next, put the brass on an absorbent car washing towel, fold in half then shake them around. After that I put them to dry on a regular towel. Pretty brass with no water spots.

[bstone5]

For drying I put brass in screen wire strainer and heat with a heat gun for a few minutes.

After cleaning with the pins the brass is put in a vibrating cleaner with wall nut shell an some Nu-Finish to shine and to apply the Nu-Finish so the brass will be shinny for an extended time period.

[Stewbaby]

Same as above, air dry on towel

[hickfu]

food dehydrater for me...

152288

[rondog]

I dump them on a cotton towel, blot them real good with another cotton towel, then spread them out on a cotton movers blanket in the sun. Cotton is the most absorbent, synthetics will likely leave puddles which cause spots.

Oh, I tumble with a cement mixer, so I run large batches. :bigsmyl2:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/45s02a.jpg

Clicky......

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/th_DSC_0165.mp4 (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0165.mp4)

[Bayou52]

I've been SS wet tumbling for 3 years now. I've developed a drying technique that requires no heaters, dryers, ovens, fans, etc. Also, no water spots are left behind - just a bright, brassy finish.

I use a media separator to do this. After, the water is dumped, and with the brass still in the squirrel cage, throw a dry towel/rag into the squirrel cage with the wet brass and agitate briskly for about 30 seconds. Repeat a second time with a second dry rag/towel. This removes 99.9% of all moisture which is absorbed by the towels. A very small amount may remain in some flash holes. Simply let the cases set in the open air for another 15 or 20 minutes to completely dry.


I call this the "spin dry" method.

Pics say it all:


http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg578/Bayou413/IMG_20150221_182103_zpsvs258he5.jpg (http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/Bayou413/media/IMG_20150221_182103_zpsvs258he5.jpg.html)




http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg578/Bayou413/IMG_20150611_111556_zpsvmsnexwm.jpg (http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/Bayou413/media/IMG_20150611_111556_zpsvmsnexwm.jpg.html)


http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg578/Bayou413/IMG_20150514_131144_zps9lgzf4t9.jpg (http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/Bayou413/media/IMG_20150514_131144_zps9lgzf4t9.jpg.html)


Happy Tumbling:



Bayou52

[GRUMPA]

After rinsing I towel dry, then I have a 4'x8' piece of hardware cloth on an elevated 4'x8' piece of expanded metal. Usually it takes about an hour to dry, but that's with the primers out, much longer drying time with the primers in.

[matrixcs]

I find toweling them as dry as reasonable eliminates all the spots and speeds drying dramatically... It is amazing how soggy a towel is after a batch of 1000 of any caliber...
BTW: GRUMPA has the best looking brass I have seen.......

[USMC87]

Rondogs cement mixer video is the best method I've seen for large amounts, Bayou 52 that's some excellent looking brass. I'll be using some towels to soak up some of the water before drying, I had thought about using a laundry bag and put the brass in the dryer for a bit but I would probably need to find a new place to lay my head at night with my wife dealing with the chatter.

[jmorris]

The sun is the best way I have done it.

2000 cases not only dry in 2.5 beers but too hot to hold in a bare hand.

Also note the tub on the right full of water, combine that with the blue media separator and you rinse the brass as the media falls to the bottom of the tub.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/IMG_20130727_144639_090_zpsd9095290.jpg

I also have a little blower/heater combination that I have used as well but not often because it takes longer.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/reloading/SST/7.jpg

[GRUMPA]

The 1 thing I would like to point out that gets brought up.

FOLKS.....your going to get mixed results depending in the quality of the water. I use well water which is rather pure and free of almost all minerals. Folks that are on city water the results vary depending on the quality of the water.

[13Echo]

If you have minerals in your water, especially calcium or iron, you are going to get at least some spotting as they dry unless you somehow prevent the water from drying on the brass (toweling off, dripping off) or substitute soft, mineral free water. I find the best, and most reliable method is to dump the damp, not wet brass, into a tumbler with some dry corncob or walnut and run for 15 minutes.

[EddieNFL]

Throw 'em in the vibrating tumbler with corn cob. Use the right stuff it won't clump.

[MrWolf]

+3 on food dehydrator

[OnceFired]

I use purpose built items.

I use a cement mixer to clean the brass. Then 3x rinses since the next step involved steel hardware cloth.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/10396411416_2f814392d9_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/gQGjUG)

I separate media using my wood frame & hardware cloth cage. It'll handle 5 gallons of 223 at a time.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/10396727123_7748e3cbc0_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/gQHWKV)

Then they go to my 8' long drying table. I open the plywood top, pour the brass onto the hardware cloth screens which are also lined with perforated cupboard cloth and set in the sun.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/10434217536_372c1c98ea_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/gU36mm)

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/22504290410_b93915bc32_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AhCnv5)

If I don't have quite enough sun, I can place a mirrored door under the table to cook it from both sides. That's frankly why I built the shelf underneath, but most of the time I just store stuff on it. You can see the mirrors behind the table, which I also use to brighten up the garage. The wood items on the right are the new(er) feet I use for the media separator. And underneath can make out the black plastic bin I use to catch the pins with, but I really need to update the media separation. I usually put down a huge black plastic tarp because I get so many flying pins. I need to enclose the whole thing so the pins are just contained.

EDIT: The whole thing is on caster wheels, too. It is a beast. I have waterproofed everything on it except the bottom shelf and top cover. Those are next.

By backup plan is a convection oven but that can only do about 10-20% of this table at a time, so it's a lot more work. I'll save that for winter.

OF

[OnceFired]

Here's the media separator assembled. I didn't clean out the plastic pan or laid down the tarp under it, but you get the idea.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5652/22666929326_3ee33a3b4e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AwZWoj)

[USMC87]

That's a monster of a media separator, I have to say you guys sure come up with the best ideas I have saw. Thanks for all the comments and pictures, Hopefully I will have better luck with the finished product from here on out.

[Pee Wee]

Food dehydrater, $19.95 harbor freight with 20per cent coupon.

[Clark]

I use file folder box lids upside down with paper towels. I put them on the floor in the basement overnight. By morning all the brass is dry.

[big bore 99]

I like to clean my 45-70 brass after depriming with hot soapy water and a tubing brush in a sink. I then rinse under hot water. Then I throw them in with a load of laundry and let them go. I made a couple of 1X2's with equally spaced 1/4 wooden dowels glued in. I just sit them on the pins and let them dry that way. Works good for larger shell, but imagine it would be a pain for many smaller ones.

[stanford]

Its really cool looking at this post. I was not aware that drying your brass after SS tumbling would keep it shiny. Every time I SS tumble I always place the brass in one of these http://www.harborfreight.com/18-lb-vibratory-bowl-with-liquid-drain-hose-96923.html and use some nufinish. If I don't do this within about an hour the brass looks tarnished and really old looking. Once I polish in the tumbler it stays shiny and clean without tarnishing. Next time I perform some SS tumbling I will have to grab a few cases and dry it really well with a blow dryer and see it this really works.

[Bayou52]

Its really cool looking at this post. I was not aware that drying your brass after SS tumbling would keep it shiny. Every time I SS tumble I always place the brass in one of these http://www.harborfreight.com/18-lb-vibratory-bowl-with-liquid-drain-hose-96923.html and use some nufinish. If I don't do this within about an hour the brass looks tarnished and really old looking. Once I polish in the tumbler it stays shiny and clean without tarnishing. Next time I perform some SS tumbling I will have to grab a few cases and dry it really well with a blow dryer and see it this really works.

Also, you may want to try substituting auto wash and wax in the place of dish detergent. I find the auto wash and wax impedes the return of tarnish, and the brasses stay shiny after wet tumbling.

Just an idea for your consideration......

Bayou52

[stanford]

Also, you may want to try substituting auto wash and wax in the place of dish detergent. I find the auto wash and wax impedes the return of tarnish, and the brasses stay shiny after wet tumbling.

Just an idea for your consideration......

Bayou52


Without the dish detergent will it not hinder the cleaning process?

I will have to try this.

[Bayou52]

Without the dish detergent will it not hinder the cleaning process?

I will have to try this.

The auto wash and wax contains detergent on its own in addition to wax. I use 1 ounce per drum for my Thumlers tumbler 15 pound drum. When the drum is opened after tumbling, it contains a thick lather from the auto wash and wax.

I used to use Dawn and comparing the two, there's no difference in cleaning between Dawn and auto wash and wax: both clean equally well in my experience. The difference is that the wash and wax tends to impede the return of tarnish to the brass.

Happy Tumbling -

Bayou52

[stanford]

I really appreciate you responding to this post. I am definitely going to use the wash and wax from now on.

[Carrier]

The auto wash and wax contains detergent on its own in addition to wax. I use 1 ounce per drum for my Thumlers tumbler 15 pound drum. When the drum is opened after tumbling, it contains a thick lather from the auto wash and wax.

I used to use Dawn and comparing the two, there's no difference in cleaning between Dawn and auto wash and wax: both clean equally well in my experience. The difference is that the wash and wax tends to impede the return of tarnish to the brass.

Happy Tumbling -

Bayou52

I have found the same. I picked up Armour-all wash and wax as it was on sale. That with a shot of lemon shine works really well in the homemade tumbler my son made.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p45/r404a/afdbb24c3371ed8abd69563411214938_zpssdkhlsuz.jpg

[stanford]

I think that cement mixer puts us all to shame, I read the post this morning and I am still thinking about it. My little frankford arsenal rotary tumbler works great, but most of the time I really wish it was larger and could hold at least twice the amount of brass.

[Carrier]

I think that cement mixer puts us all to shame, I read the post this morning and I am still thinking about it. My little frankford arsenal rotary tumbler works great, but most of the time I really wish it was larger and could hold at least twice the amount of brass.

If I was doing that much brass then I would probably look at it too. The one we made is 16" by 7" and left the shafts long so we can double the length and go to a larger diameter. For the $50.00 it cost to make it works for us.

[offroader69]

I live in the desert. I just throw the brass on a towel and let the dry air do the rest.

[dannyd]

Air dry works the best for me

[drfroglegs]

You have spots because you have hard water. Do you know what the best remedy for hard water is? You guessed it, good ole lemishine!

After you rinse your brass throw them in a solution of just lemishine/water (no dawn) and let them sit for a few minutes. Then towel dry the outside and let it dry over a fan and you will have very little if any spots. This is similar to what your dishwater does, it uses a "spot remover" to neutralize the hard water so that when it dries it does not have mineral deposits on the outside of the glass.


Obligatory pictures:
http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/drfroglegs/Tumbler/IMAG0183_zpsc72f0779.jpg (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/drfroglegs/media/Tumbler/IMAG0183_zpsc72f0779.jpg.html)
http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/drfroglegs/8eab288115a55d7160d52bb9a55fb175_zps145b0191.jpg (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/drfroglegs/media/8eab288115a55d7160d52bb9a55fb175_zps145b0191.jpg.h tml)
http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/drfroglegs/Tumbler/IMAG0224_zpsa0068f27.jpg (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/drfroglegs/media/Tumbler/IMAG0224_zpsa0068f27.jpg.html)

[wingspar]

Still new to reloading, so not cleaning tons of brass at a time yet, so I do 50 rounds at a time in the washer and dryer. Just dump them into a sock and tie the sock to keep the brass inside. More than 50 pieces of brass at a time is kind of hard on the dryer. Certainly not as good as a good wet tumbler, but it does work and the brass is much cleaner than before the washer/dryer. It comes out of the dryer completely dry.

Sure am thinking about a Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Case Tumbler, but I wish they made a smaller model.

I would think 0ne of those Rotary Media Separators would be good for getting most of the water off from the inside and outside of the case, then simply let them air dry on a towel overnight. Does anyone here do that?

[jmorris]

My little frankford arsenal rotary tumbler works great, but most of the time I really wish it was larger and could hold at least twice the amount of brass.

I built three of these for a business awhile back, they tumble 30 gallons of brass at a time.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlZOYjmAnO0

The use a gantry crane to load and unload the full drums.

[Bayou52]

I would think 0ne of those Rotary Media Separators would be good for getting most of the water off from the inside and outside of the case, then simply let them air dry on a towel overnight. Does anyone here do that?

wingspar -

In answer to your question, please see my post # 11 on page one of this thread for a description of my "spin dry" technique using a media separator.

Works well for me -

Happy Tumbling -

Bayou52

[Carrier]

My bride of 30 years would cut my nuts off if I tried that in her washer and drier. I looked at the various ones like Frankford but the cost was too much so my son made one.
I flush the tumbler out with hose then fill my RCBS media separator about half full with hot water and with a dozen or so spins all the stainless steel pins on on the bottom and cases are rinsed. Then throw a towel in with them rotate and they are pretty dry. Leave them on a towel in a commercial grade cookie sheet and good to go.

[OnceFired]

The key with the lemishine vs hard water is to ensure you do not let the brass touch other metal until fully dried / evaporated. I can get tiger striping on my brass (from steel hardware cloth in the media separator) if I have not rinsed the citric acid off the brass thoroughly.

[wingspar]

wingspar -

In answer to your question, please see my post # 11 on page one of this thread for a description of my "spin dry" technique using a media separator.

Works well for me -

Happy Tumbling -

Bayou52

Now that I look at that post again, I did see it, but by the time I finished reading this thread and composing my post, I’d forgot. Thanks for the reminder. Certainly seems like the easiest way to get rid of about 90%, more or less, of the water and the steel pins, then dry on a towel overnight or longer if one is not in an immediate need for the brass. Pins could go on a cookie sheet into the oven at a low temp to dry quickly.

[SlowBurn]

After separating and towel drying, they go on a baking rack to complete drying:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5645/21050465875_278d493873_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/y5a97P)

[USMC87]

Nice brass and a good idea there Slow Burn.

[douglasskid]

Wow! I learn something every time.

[Murphy]

After tumbling mine, I use a RCBS media separator to remove the pins. Then carry the brass in a plastic bowl to the kitchen sink. I give the brass 2-3 good rinses and then roll them across a medium sized bath towl. Now the part you may laugh at. I remove any excess water in the case by blowing it out with my mouth. Hey, it works!

Then I fire of up the oven to 200 degrees and let it preheat. I toss the brass on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven for 15-20 minutes. From there it goes into my vibratory case tumbler for 30-45 minutes to put a little polish on the brass to protect it from tarnishing if it maybe a while before i use it. Seal it up in plastic ziplock bags and store it.

Murphy

[NyFirefighter357]

I use a Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Case Tumbler. It works great. I have found the smaller rifle cases hold water. I de-prime my cases first, this prevents water from holding in the brass & allows cleaning of the primer pocket. I use Dawn & Lemi Shine. When clean I drain the water & pins into a 3 gal. bucket, fill it again & add a strong magnet, this catches any stray pins, tumble for a few minutes to rinse. Drain again and "dry" tumble for a minute with a couple of strips of chamois cloth drying towel, tumble for a few minutes and it removes most of the water from the brass. Then I air dry on a towel with the ceiling fan on. I lube the cases for sizing or protection from tarnish in storage by adding synthetic wire pulling lube. It's water based and won't effect the powder. This is done after the "dry" tumble, before air drying. Then store in sealed bags. I then pour off most of the water in the bucket and either leave the pins wet or remove them with the Frankford magnet and place them in a container for storage & let the dry naturally.

[Walter Laich]

I'm a towel in the sun guy. put them in first towel and shake to remove most of water. Then on to a dry towel laid out in the sun. Second towel lays on a hardware screen rack so drying can happen on top and bottom

did find that a dark colored towel will really get warm in sun and speed drying not that we need that in Texas right now

[skeet1]

Murphy (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?1170-Murphy)

I guess Okie's think alike. I also place my cases on a cookie sheet and dry them in the oven.

Ken

[djgoings]

I place the wet brass in a garmet bag, then lay this on my drying rack in my clothes dryer. About 10 minutes on Medium heat does the trick. No spots! The garmet bag is normally used to wash/dry women's bras and other delicate clothing. Can buy for about $1 in Walmart.

[DerekP Houston]

I'm a towel in the sun guy. put them in first towel and shake to remove most of water. Then on to a dry towel laid out in the sun. Second towel lays on a hardware screen rack so drying can happen on top and bottom

did find that a dark colored towel will really get warm in sun and speed drying not that we need that in Texas right now

That's my technique, i probably stole the idea from you as well. Towel dry and pour out in the sun. If there is still some residue on the cases I'll toss them in the corncob for 30 minutes with some of the cabelas brass polish that came with it. Still using up the first bottle.

[Reverend Al]

I flush thoroughly with clean water, drain, separate the ss pins from the brass with a magnet, and then I put the brass into a 7 tray food dehydrator overnight ...

[casac47]

Proving once again, good old American ingenuity is far from gone !!