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STM Stainless Steel Cleaning |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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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?
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Alan Robertson
Optics Master Joined: October/31/2009 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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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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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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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.
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Reaction time is a factor...
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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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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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Alan Robertson
Optics Master Joined: October/31/2009 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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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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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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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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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Bigdaddy0381
MODERATOR Georgia peach Joined: February/27/2007 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 13680 |
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more info on your setup.
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P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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Its this setup - http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/stm-complete-package-2.html
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Alan Robertson
Optics Master Joined: October/31/2009 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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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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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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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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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Alan Robertson
Optics Master Joined: October/31/2009 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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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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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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I'd love to see what you come up with.
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Alan Robertson
Optics Master Joined: October/31/2009 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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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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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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Alan Robertson
Optics Master Joined: October/31/2009 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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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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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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budperm
Optics Retard show me your sheep!! Joined: January/01/2009 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 31710 |
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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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"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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It might work but it would take a long time. Think brillo pad
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Bigdaddy0381
MODERATOR Georgia peach Joined: February/27/2007 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 13680 |
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cleaning brass is over rated. size and shoot. Heck, lube helps it chamber more gooder.
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P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 |
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budperm
Optics Retard show me your sheep!! Joined: January/01/2009 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 31710 |
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I'm part pack rat and part Raven.... I like bright and shiney...
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"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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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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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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budperm
Optics Retard show me your sheep!! Joined: January/01/2009 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 31710 |
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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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"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson |
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