What am I doing wrong? SS Pins tumbling

[ddgarcia05]

I have a harbor freight dual rotary tumbler with one pound of SS pins, one pound of brass, water, a generous amount of dawn and what I think is a generous amount if lemishine.

The first shiny group is was in the first container (4 hrs), second group was tumbled 8 hours, third group was over 12 hours. (3rd group also done with the first one but with different result)

Why are none as shiny as the first group? To much soap? Lemishine?

 

[345 DeSoto]

I had the same problem. I cut back on the Lemi-shine (I had figured more was better) and it did the trick. I cleaned Carbine cases, and wound up using 1/2 a case of Lemi-shine per tumble...only a FEW drops of Dawn, too...

 

[shadow9]

Too much time in there?

Why running extra hours if the first four did the trick anyways? I just started reading up on this, it seems that S/S tumbling doesn't need nearly the time dry-tumbling does, and the manufacturer I was reading up on only recommended 2-4hrs max for cleaning...

 

[ddgarcia05]

I wasn't able to come home for lunch and turn off the machine after 4 hours. 12 hours due to 4 hrs initial cleaning which left it dull and then the 8 from not being able to come home from lunch.

Should I try a fresh batch or try to shine the ones I cleaned?

 

[BrianC636]

I use the same system as you. It's real easy to go overboard on the cleaning agents. As recommended, I use wash and wax along with a small pinch of Lemi Shine. Tumble for about 2-3 hours or so and pull them. They come out shiny every time.



I'd start a new batch and load what's already clean.

 

[LeftyTSGC]

I have the same Harbor Freight dual rotary tumbler.

My recipe:

1.25lb of SS pins per tumbler (I bought the 2 1/2 pd bag.
I only load enough brass to fill half the container
Fill water just above the brass
one or two drops of Dawn dishsoap (literally a drop or two)
I use a half a 9mm case of Lemi-Shine.

I then tumble for only 2-3 hours, rinse and they come out like your first picture every time.

I primarily clean 9mm and .45LC brass, some 38spl.

 

[jmorris]

Too much time. If you look at the head stamp, the indent of the letters and numbers will still be brass color because the pins couldn't beat the brass at that spot.

 

[FROGO207]

Either use a timer to turn the brass on when wanted OR start them at lunch time for the afternoon. Tumbling more does not really improve things, if you do tumble longer try leaving the lemyshine out. It does not make much difference in my brass. YMMV

 

[dredd]

I tumble in a 15/lb drum.

The "stated" recipe (I think) is two table spoons of soap and a 1/4 tea spoon of 'shine.

I have cut the soap in half. 2 is too much (90% of the time)

2 hours nets great brass. There are a few pockets that are not spotless.

4 hours is the limit if you ask me. I do tumble dirty stuff at 4 and that pretty much does the trick.

So.... as stated above, cut back on the soap & shine for the volume of your barrels.

After 4 hours, i think you are kinda going backwards.

 

[bob4]

I've tumbled brass for 24 hrs and it comes out fine. I also only use a pinch of Lemi-shine although I don't know what more would do and a drop or two of dawn is all.
The only time I had an issue was when the media was brand new. Needs to be washed first. Be sure to rinse it well before the next batch. Possibly cut down the amount of brass in the tumbler.

 

[zeek96]

too much lemon shine. Just a pinch will do ya. I have done the same thing with too much of it.

 

[tyeo098]

Get a light timer from walmart for 1$.

Set it and forget it.

 

[hartcreek]

I used to just a bit of laundry soap 1/4 tea spoon to the small drum and they would come out looking better then that.

 

[243winxb]

Brass cleaning. See posts from Unclenick here http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=708100&page=2&highlight=unclenick From photo below >

Also The test fluids selected for this investigation were Fuel C, CE10a, CE17a, and CE25a. Fuel C was
selected as the control since it is representative of premium gasoline and is a standard test fluid widely
used for studying material compatibility to gasoline. CE10a represents an aggressive formulation of E10,
and as such, it can be viewed as a baseline test fuel since E10 is currently available in many, if not most,
fuel dispensers.

Dawn dish detergent contains as much as 5% Ethanol. Ethanol may cause stress crossion cracking.

 

[ddgarcia05]

I did two more containers and they came out perfect. I use a pinch of lemishine and a drop or two of dawn.

 

[jmorris]

The first shiny group is was in the first container (4 hrs), second group was tumbled 8 hours, third group was over 12 hours. (3rd group also done with the first one but with different result)

The variable that caused the change was in your first post.