Updated wet process R&D...

[BigJ]

Less water means the brass will be exposed to air and will be more likely to tarnish.

Obviously the theory makes sense, but I've never experienced any such thing in practice.

I read on another forum that dish detergent actually breaks down the rubber in the thumlers tumbler lining and its that dissolved black rubber that is costing the brass... ??

I've only ever used Dawn (Platinum) plus Lemishine in my Rebel (with a rubber liner) for easily 100+ cycles now, and have never seen even a hint of that issue.

['ol shooter]

I use Dawn, and just cover the brass with warm water. After draining, flushing a few times, and spinning to separate the excellent STILLY pins, I soak the brass for 20 in warm water with Lemishine. Comes out nice and shiny, and stays that way as long as you keep your bare hands off it. No rubber issues with my tumbler either, but if the need ever arises, replacements are available.

[Lead Waster]

I'm starting to think that leaving the brass in the tumbler for too long is part of the issue. Like tumbling and the going to sleep,work,home and taking the brass out 24 hours late and it's too late because now it's been tarnished?

[JMP]

Tonight the Dillon failed to decap a 9mm +P shell. It got stuck inside the shell flash hole and had the primer sticking on the end of it, the actual shell was STUCK inside the carbide die... WTFE. I guess Dillon don't do high pressure.

My Dillon dies are too old I think, there is no snapping to the pin. They are all threads.

That surprises me. The Dillon should do any that aren't Berdan. Of course, dry tumbling before helps. I will look around and see if I have an extra one, and maybe I'll send it to you. In fact, Stilly, I am temped to make you an offer on my Dillon 650 with complete component sets, case feeds, ammo trays, blah blah blah, so you can use it in exchange for making me ammo if you don't kaboom my 9mm, 45 ACP, or 223. I know you are one of the Dillon fanboys that drank the blue whatever they call it. I got a Dillon hunk of junk, but when it comes to progressive reloading, that's the only way to go. Single stage reloading is the only thing to take seriously, MAYBE a turret.

[J-cat]

Obviously the theory makes sense, but I've never experienced any such thing in practice.

Try tumbling overnight.

[J-cat]

I'm starting to think that leaving the brass in the tumbler for too long is part of the issue. Like tumbling and the going to sleep,work,home and taking the brass out 24 hours late and it's too late because now it's been tarnished?

There is no issue if you fill the tumbler full of water and use the correct ratio of soap to acid.

[BigJ]

Try tumbling overnight.

Why? 2 hours is more than enough.

[llazyjs]

I'm starting to think that leaving the brass in the tumbler for too long is part of the issue. Like tumbling and the going to sleep,work,home and taking the brass out 24 hours late and it's too late because now it's been tarnished?

I do that 24 hour thing with no problems what so ever. I fill my FA tumbler to the brim with HOT water whether I have 50 rounds or 500 rounds of brass in it with a big healthy squirt of Dawn and Stillys big pins. I don't measure the Dawn or use the lemon shine stuff and my brass doesn't tarnish. It goes into the dehydrator for about 30 minutes then a 2 hour dry tumble in corncob and about a Tbsp of NuFinish and 6 months later the brass still hasn't tarnished.

[Lead Waster]

I read someone suggest cleaning the pins after/before tumbling. I don't know if that makes sense though. Sure, rinse out the crap, but how does that affect the tarnish?

I don't mind the tarnish, it's that weird bare-metal, slightly greasy feeling that bugs me. The first few times, the brass was shiny. Now ... something happened. THat's why I latched onto the "oh, maybe the rubber is dissolving" theory.

I'll try it with Dawn instead of Palmolive. Also try immediately taking them out, so I'll go home, sort and tumble some and then get them out to dry rather than let them sit around.

Maybe tumble them with some ketchup :P

Dry tumbling after brings them back to life a bit, especially with nufinish in there, but that defeats the purpose of wet tumbling. I want to just toss dirty, sorted brass in there and get nice clean shiny brass out when done.

I don't think I'll continue to deprime before tumbling either, it does make the reloading process much slicker, but also takes more time so ... why bother.

[liber]

I don't mind the tarnish, it's that weird bare-metal, slightly greasy feeling that bugs me.

Reminds me of Commercial Federal Ammo, I had a couple boxes of 7.62 that looked like Federal cleaned them in chicken grease...they did fire just fine, but they looked like crap...

I'm not so picky, but don't want my own reloads looking like chicken grease ammo.

For this reason, wet tumbling with no media works fine for me. I know there are others here that do that, I read it here before trying it.

[J-cat]

Why? 2 hours is more than enough.

Why not?

[J-cat]

My last two tumbles with recapped brass ended up with dull and somewhat greasy-ish brass.

I used Palmolive dish soap, I'll try dawn next time... I think it might make a difference. I didn't use any acid, but it might help with the greasiness (like how they advertise detergent with lemon power or whatever)

If you want your brass to look like new you need to use the right ratio of soap to acid. You're doing it wrong and complaining about problems you induced.

[J-cat]

I do that 24 hour thing with no problems what so ever. I fill my FA tumbler to the brim with HOT water whether I have 50 rounds or 500 rounds of brass in it with a big healthy squirt of Dawn and Stillys big pins. I don't measure the Dawn or use the lemon shine stuff and my brass doesn't tarnish. It goes into the dehydrator for about 30 minutes then a 2 hour dry tumble in corncob and about a Tbsp of NuFinish and 6 months later the brass still hasn't tarnished.

When I do that my brass comes out dark purple.

[BigJ]

Why not?

Because they tarnish? ;P

[liber]

Ok, I have to ask you guys about this. I've wet tumbled with Lemi-Shine and dish soap for the first time a few weeks ago. The first time I didn't wear nitrile gloves. My hands have been peeling since, but finally starting to stop.

Has anyone else had problems with Lemi-Shine? I haven't done anything else that would cause this, and in the past I've used citric acid to clean metal, haven't had a problem with it.

I searched online and it seems that Lemi-Shine is mostly citric acid, but has some other stuff in it...

I'm going to try using citric acid instead of Lemi-Shine next time I tumble.

I've seen Lynn comment about dishpan hands, maybe this is what he was referring to. I felt like I was shedding like a reptile...LOL