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STM Stainless Steel Cleaning

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Chief Sackscratch

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    Posted: November/08/2012 at 08:11
Well I finally got the setup in.  Parents got it for me for my Birthday but with everything going on last week it wasn't ordered until late and didn't arrive until yesturday.  I set it all up last night and did the recommended cleaning of the pins from manufacturing. Haven't gotten to run brass yet but will be putting a batch in tonight to see how it goes.  Can't wait to see the magic I hear about with this stuff.  I'll try to remember to do before and after pictures.
 
Anyone else using this stuff?
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2012 at 20:12
I'm guessing you are talking about tumbling brass... if not, forget this post.

Well, I kinda do, but with a difference- I use brass pins, instead... same idea. I'm too cheap for SS pins. Spent about $5 on about 2 1/2 #s of 1/16" brass rod and cut 'em up myself- it took a long time, while I was watching a movie. They all have little chisel points on the ends and won't wear the brass. You'll have to develop techniques to keep from losing your little pins.

It doesn't take long to run a batch through the Thumler's.
Just put a few drops of Dawn, a dab o' Lemi- Shine and for an extra slick case, about a 1/4 tsp of Tartaric Acid (Cream of Tartar spice). The Tartaric Acid makes the cases feel as if they are lubed.

It's been awhile since I bought the brass and it probably costs quite a bit more, now, just like everything else.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/12/2012 at 22:07
I'll be interested to read what you think about it. From what I've read so far it's about the most effective method there is for restoring case capacity.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 11:04
I'm loving it so far.  I found some really old cases that looked like I'd left them outside for years.  About 4 hours and they look brand new.  I'll post photos when i find the time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 11:59
Originally posted by SVT_Tactical SVT_Tactical wrote:

I'm loving it so far.  I found some really old cases that looked like I'd left them outside for years.  About 4 hours and they look brand new.  I'll post photos when i find the time.
No lie!
You''ll  find yourself picking up all that old nasty range brass that everybody ignores- it's like a treasure hunt. I quit tumbling the really ugly brass for overly long times, as they get very clean with short tumble times, but just won't be factory shiny the first time around. Well, shoot 'em up and the next time you tumble them, they'll be just that much prettier.

I've tumbled fairly clean stuff for less than an hour and been happy. Primer pockets are all that  don't get perfectly clean with such short tumble times and that isn't a problem.

I'll rinse my cases and spread them on a towel out in the sun and they dry without any more effort or expense.

I got really lucky when getting set up and found a big red Thumler's model B with the high- speed motor for $103 shipped on ebay and it showed signs of having been used at least once.

I now have more brass for a few calibers than I could use in a lifetime.

One thing about range pistol brass... one inevitably will pick up overly- bulged brass that has been run through a Glock, or some pistol that had the ramp hogged out and that brass will require running through a swage, like made by Redding or Lee, to be reliable.


Edited by Alan Robertson - November/13/2012 at 12:05
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 12:14
The only thing I don't like is seperating the brass and pins.  I've just been rinsing in the tumbler for now but am going to try the basket method soon to see if thats any better.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 12:25
more info on your setup.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 14:07
Po' boy alternative- works great and won't erode your brass- 1/16" brazing rods cut to length. Welding supply stores are cheapest place to buy these- forget hobby stores, etc as they charge per stick instead of by pound.
Build up your grip! Can't tell by picture, but each gets a little chisel point when cut by dykes- total cost <$10... (need to oil my dykes, eh?)
These are small enough to pass completely through the flash hole and clean that out.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 14:57
Appears your pins are much longer than mine.  I'd say the pins in mine are none longer than the diameter of a 223 case head.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 15:36
Originally posted by SVT_Tactical SVT_Tactical wrote:

Appears your pins are much longer than mine.  I'd say the pins in mine are none longer than the diameter of a 223 case head.
I cut 'em generally about 5/8"-3/4", but they aren't precise and some are around your length.
There are reasons I cut 'em like this:
1) I cut them... after cutting the first rod or two, they started getting longer- fewer cuts.
 Like I said, build up your grip.
2) The don't easily get stuck in cases (sideways/angled)

I've been using a "salad shooter" that I got at the thrift shop for <$2 to separate the brass/pins. This method works, but is slow and a big hassle, so I'll build a brass/pin sorter, since recently coming into a stock of hardware cloth- have to figure out the best design, first.
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I'd love to see what you come up with. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 15:54
re: separating pins- 1 friend reports good success using one of those deep media separatorhand held shaker- type pans full of holes. He said that his RCBS case/media spinner worked great while it lasted and another friend still uses an RCBS spinner.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2012 at 16:32
Another thing to consider is disposal of waste water, which is full of lead compounds and nastiness which I don't want to dump in my yard or pour into a drain.
I use 5 gal. buckets. Initially, I drain the  tumbler contents through a bowl shaped piece of window screen which fits over a 5 gal. bucket, thus separating pins and brass from dirty water. Then, I lift brass/pins (in the screen hopper) and put them back into the tumbler with some water and slosh it around to rinse them- then repeat the process. I try to use a minimum of water and each tumble/rinse will produce over a gallon. 

I set the bucket with the screen over it (keeps out critters) outside or in the shop and let it evaporate.  After some number of tumbles, the gunk in the bottom can get scooped out and put into empty plastic container, eventually which will be turned into the city's hazmat collection for free. I've done a lot of tumbling and haven't filled up an empty plastic wide- mouth jar, yet.
 
I've seen videos of guys rinsing/dumping down their kitchen sink, but not this white boy. Pins will inevitably go into the drain along with the gunk , which will eventually find its way into the water supply. We're already bombarded by lead and mercury and lord knows what, just living in these times.
One of the great benefits of wet tumbling is not inhaling leaden primer compounds such as are found in dry media tumbling. I like to shoot in the evenings at one of the indoor ranges around here and minimizing any lead intake is something to think about as the ventilation at the ranges isn't as good as being outside with a breeze. Maybe I go too far, but who knows?

I know all of this sounds like it might be a great big hassle, but doing something the right way always involves more steps/details than doing it half- assed. It really doesn't take much effort or time... you'll see.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2012 at 06:42
Very interesting!!!!  hadn't seen this method before.  I'm guessing using brass or SS pins in a dry tumbler wouldn't work...  Has anybody tried using them dry?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2012 at 06:46
It might work but it would take a long time. Think brillo pad
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2012 at 06:47
cleaning brass is over rated. size and shoot. Heck, lube helps it chamber more gooder.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2012 at 08:16
I'm part pack rat and part Raven.... I like bright and shiney... Bucky
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2012 at 08:24
I've not got to reload any of the newly cleaned brass yet but I don't think I'll see an increase in accuracy.  What I do expect is longer brass life though.  One review I read  with a guy testing it took 100 new pieces of brass and fired them all the same load.  50 he put in standard corn cob media  and 50 he put in the stainless method.  He did this until he could no longer safely load the rounds.  The standard CCM had primer pocket issues at 6-7 reloads.  The STM lasted 9-10.  I'll see if I can find a link to that review.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2012 at 08:34
REALLY?!?!?!?
 
You'd think the SS would be more damaging to the brass...
 
I like the fact that it cleans inside and the primer pocket too!  Primer pockets I find totally tedious!!!
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