Forget stainless steel pins

[joeyj]

I found that the smallest amount of stainless steel pins comes in a 2 pound package plus S&H, then you have to wait for them. I went down to my garage, grabbed an old piece of Romex, 12/2 with ground about 6 feet long. Skinned it and stripped it and then cut the copper into 3/8 to 5/8 inch pieces, give or take. That yielded 12 ounces of copper which I threw into my ''el cheap o'' Chinese tumbler, along with 125 pieces of brass, Dawn dish soap and lemon shine. An hour later, give or take, they look like they just came out of the factory. Totally amazed me, inside and out, plus the flash whole looked like new. There were a few chrome cases, and I could actually see my reflection on the inside of the case. I took some pictures for you guys, but as hard as I tried, I couldn't get them uploaded. Joe

[fritz1919]

EXACTLY!

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I go nuts when I read about folks throwing good money at every device made to do the same job I've been doing for decades.

My pistol brass rarely gets that filthy but for some muddy range pickup I throw in some spent .22. Works perfect for the .357 and .45 I load and if I ever desire to get the insides of the calibers they do not fit I'll use your method.

Good thinking!

(Lee FCD?, good Lord!)


fritz

[cephas]

Good job. Being a cheap, I mean frugal loader myself it's satisfying to find other solutions. Know a fellow who says small stainless nails work well. Found pins at a local shop that broke down a large order. Want my brass clean but shiny helps when trying to find them after firing.

[knight0334]

EXACTLY!

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I go nuts when I read about folks throwing good money at every device made to do the same job I've been doing for decades.

My pistol brass rarely gets that filthy but for some muddy range pickup I throw in some spent .22. Works perfect for the .357 and .45 I load and if I ever desire to get the insides of the calibers they do not fit I'll use your method.

Good thinking!

(Lee FCD?, good Lord!)


fritz

Necessity sure is! I've used coarse sawdust and chips before in a pinch.

[Delkal]

What would happen if you thru half a handfull if sand in it? Yes you would need to rinse it extremely well and to be safe probably even deprime it first. But I would bet it would get them glowing in 1/4 of the time (or MUCH less, maybe 5-10 min?).

[JoshIronshaft]

Were you tumbling wet or dry?

[joeyj]

Wet.

[Gunsnwater]

Why pins? What's wrong with walnut shells and corn cob? I only recently heard of pins.

[dkf]

Why pins? What's wrong with walnut shells and corn cob? I only recently heard of pins.

Wet tumbling with pins gets the brass spotless clean, primer pockets too. I get why it is popular but it is too much for me. If I get muddy cruddy range brass I'll wash in soap/water/vinegar and then spread on a towel to dry. Then tumble. But brass doesn't have to be spotless and squeaky clean.

[wt101]

I like the idea of something softer than stainless steel rubbing against the brass cases.Never tried the stainless pins.I somehow imagine the cases being very slowly worn down,to disappearance.