September 7th 2023How to clean brass by wet-tumbling — plus drying methodsAce tactical shooter Jim See, of Elite Accuracy LLC, has tested a Frankford Arsenal rotating brass tumbler. This tumbler can tumble your cases with a liquid solution, just like the older Thumbler’s Tumbler. Jim reports that the wet-tumbling method worked very well. Jim posted on Facebook: “I am super impressed with the Frankford Arsenal Rotary tumbler and cleaning kits they sent me. I tumbled 350 pieces of brass in one hour. They look great.” Jim was happy to not have to deal with dry media such as walnut shells. Dry media produces dust and can leave residues or clog flash-holes.Interestingly, Jim recommends you try wet-tumbling WITHOUT using stainless media. Give it a go. You don’t need to worry about pins getting stuck in flash-holes and case-necks* when you tumble without media. Jim reports: “Stainless pins are included in the Frankford kit. Mine went straight to the trash.” The pins are not necessary to clean your cases inside and out. “The brass bumping brass with warm water and Frankford liquid cleaner works well by itself.” One wag said: “That is great to hear. The stainless steel pins can be a pain. “Other Facebook users agreed with Jim’s assessment of the Frankford Arsenal Rotary tumbler:”I have had one for two years and it works great. I run 250-300 Dasher case at a time in it. But I use pins because I am OCD about clean Brass.” David W. “I’ve owned one for over a year and half and it works great with or without pins.” Luke C. “I bought one about six months back and have not used any stainless steel media (pins). I use dawn, distilled aqueous, and Lemi shine(R). Turns nasty 5.56 brass bright and shiny.” Brian D. “I also don’t use pins and use a mixture of Dawn soap and Lemi Shine.” This video shows you how to assemble the Frankford rotary tumbler and operate it. Jim See, however, does not feel that stainless media is necessary. How to Dry Brass – Hair Dryer vs. MachineThe downside to wet tumbling, is that you will end up with a heap of wet brass after the cleaning cycle. There are several ways to dry brass. You can use the sun or a kitchen stove (but be careful not to “overcook”) your brass. One Facebook poster asked Jim, “What is your method of drying wet brass and how long does it last?” Jim See replied, “I drain the dirty water and then rinse the brass in hot, clean water. Then, I roll the brass for 30 seconds on a towel and place it in a 1-gallon bucket. Next, I place a hairdryer in the bucket with the brass and let it run about 5 minutes. This procedure allows me to dry my bucket in less than 10 min.” Jack Lanhart uses a different method: “I use an food dehydrator.” It takes between 30 and 45 minutes. Frankford Arsenal has a matching Platinum Series case dryer that simplifies the drying process for brass. Lyman also makes a great Cyclone Case Dryer. Both machines cost around $65.00 each and have multiple levels to separate different types cartridge brass. Lyman claims that “the forced heated air circulation will dry your brass interior and exterior within an hour or so, without any unsightly spots.” The Lyman dryer can also be used for ultrasonically-cleaned gun parts. *The Frankford Rotary tumbler comes with media separators, if you decide to use the provided pins and other media. Click HERE to view a diagram on how to use the media separators.Tags: Case Cleaning, Frankford Arsenal Jim See, Rotary Tumblers, Stainless Media
NRA Approves New E-Class Competition — F-Class on a Budget
First there was F-Class, and now there will be E-Class, the” E” standing for “Economy”. The NRA Competitive Shooting Division has just approved a new form of weapons opposition starting
