titanse05
30 September 2014, 13:20
Hello everyone,
Last year in my search for cleaner brass I came across wet stainless steel media tumbling. Once I saw the results people were getting I knew that it was the way to go.
I just wanted to share the steps that I took assembling my own wet media tumbler.
How i built my own rotary tumbler (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/344986_How_i_built_my_own_rotary_tumbler.html) was the thread that served as my inspiration in completing this project and I just adapted my setup to fit my needs.
Parts List
1/2" Shaft Motor 1725 RPM
(4) 1/2" Pillow Block Bearings www.usabearingsandbelts.com (http://www.usabearingsandbelts.com/18m7/pillow-block-bearing-units/ucp-series-steel-units.html)
3' piece of 1/2" diameter Steel Rod @ Lowes
3' piece of 1/2" Heater Hose @ Advance Auto Parts
1-1/2" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
4" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
14" belt @ Tractor Supply
5 lbs of Stainless Steel Tumbling Media www.buffaloarms.com (http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=164066)
6" PVC pipe @ Lowes
1-1/2" PVC pipe @ Lowes
6" PVC end cap @ Lowes
6" to 4" PVC reducer cap @ Lowes
4" rubber pipe cap w/pipe clamp @ Lowes
PVC primer & cement @ Lowes
Duct tape
Various mounting hardware @ Lowes
Built on an existing shelf in addition to using some scrap OSB that I had laying around. If you have a welder you could build a metal frame. However, I just find wood easier to work with.
Drum assembly
1. Cut a 9" long piece of the 6" PVC pipe
2. Using a tablesaw, cut the 1-1/2" PVC into thirds along the length of the pipe. These pieces will be used as the paddles on the inside of the drum.
3. Install the paddles using hardware. I used #10 flathead screws and nuts. I recessed the screws and placed them where the PVC caps would cover them once installed in order to maintain water-tightness.
4. Cut off and grind down the extra screw length using a dremel or files. Seal with silicon caulk.
5. Installed the end cap and reducer cap using the PVC primer and cement.
6. Place duct tape on the caps so the rubber shafts have something to grip.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2012-12-02_17-02-43_631.jpg
Here is my tumbler. It is installed on an existing pull out shelf on my reloading bench.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-21-40_293.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-21-52_552.jpg
Here is a video of the tumbler in action. (http://s230.photobucket.com/user/titanse05/media/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-20-54_778.mp4.html)
Here is the final product. 200 pieces of deprimed 223 Lake City brass wet tumbled for two hours.
Before:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2012-08-26_22-38-56_640.jpg
After:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-38-37_35.jpg
Here is some 45ACP I tumbled.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/20140111_213700_zpsqqrkiigt.jpg
Best part was that this was a previously corn cob media tumbled batch that I decided wasn't clean enough. The water that was dumped out after tumbling was almost as dark as a just fired batch.
The stainless steel tumbling just does a tremendous job of cleaning the inside of the case as well as cleaning the primer pockets. Needless to say, my dry tumbler has been sold.
There are several benefits of clean shiny brass- it is not just aesthetically more pleasurable, sometimes there are splits and flaws that are noticeable only when the brass is good and clean....and you shouldn't reload it...especially when you're reloading older military brass. Something to think about.
Last year in my search for cleaner brass I came across wet stainless steel media tumbling. Once I saw the results people were getting I knew that it was the way to go.
I just wanted to share the steps that I took assembling my own wet media tumbler.
How i built my own rotary tumbler (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/344986_How_i_built_my_own_rotary_tumbler.html) was the thread that served as my inspiration in completing this project and I just adapted my setup to fit my needs.
Parts List
1/2" Shaft Motor 1725 RPM
(4) 1/2" Pillow Block Bearings www.usabearingsandbelts.com (http://www.usabearingsandbelts.com/18m7/pillow-block-bearing-units/ucp-series-steel-units.html)
3' piece of 1/2" diameter Steel Rod @ Lowes
3' piece of 1/2" Heater Hose @ Advance Auto Parts
1-1/2" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
4" diameter pulley @ Tractor Supply
14" belt @ Tractor Supply
5 lbs of Stainless Steel Tumbling Media www.buffaloarms.com (http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=164066)
6" PVC pipe @ Lowes
1-1/2" PVC pipe @ Lowes
6" PVC end cap @ Lowes
6" to 4" PVC reducer cap @ Lowes
4" rubber pipe cap w/pipe clamp @ Lowes
PVC primer & cement @ Lowes
Duct tape
Various mounting hardware @ Lowes
Built on an existing shelf in addition to using some scrap OSB that I had laying around. If you have a welder you could build a metal frame. However, I just find wood easier to work with.
Drum assembly
1. Cut a 9" long piece of the 6" PVC pipe
2. Using a tablesaw, cut the 1-1/2" PVC into thirds along the length of the pipe. These pieces will be used as the paddles on the inside of the drum.
3. Install the paddles using hardware. I used #10 flathead screws and nuts. I recessed the screws and placed them where the PVC caps would cover them once installed in order to maintain water-tightness.
4. Cut off and grind down the extra screw length using a dremel or files. Seal with silicon caulk.
5. Installed the end cap and reducer cap using the PVC primer and cement.
6. Place duct tape on the caps so the rubber shafts have something to grip.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2012-12-02_17-02-43_631.jpg
Here is my tumbler. It is installed on an existing pull out shelf on my reloading bench.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-21-40_293.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-21-52_552.jpg
Here is a video of the tumbler in action. (http://s230.photobucket.com/user/titanse05/media/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-20-54_778.mp4.html)
Here is the final product. 200 pieces of deprimed 223 Lake City brass wet tumbled for two hours.
Before:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2012-08-26_22-38-56_640.jpg
After:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/2013-01-06_16-38-37_35.jpg
Here is some 45ACP I tumbled.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/titanse05/Gun%20stuff/20140111_213700_zpsqqrkiigt.jpg
Best part was that this was a previously corn cob media tumbled batch that I decided wasn't clean enough. The water that was dumped out after tumbling was almost as dark as a just fired batch.
The stainless steel tumbling just does a tremendous job of cleaning the inside of the case as well as cleaning the primer pockets. Needless to say, my dry tumbler has been sold.
There are several benefits of clean shiny brass- it is not just aesthetically more pleasurable, sometimes there are splits and flaws that are noticeable only when the brass is good and clean....and you shouldn't reload it...especially when you're reloading older military brass. Something to think about.