I'd still like to hear from anyone who has tried these to see if it's possible, or proper, to use them dry instead of in a liquid slurry format.

Way back when I started reloading I did the "wash 'em in the sink" routine, along with the attendant rinsing and drying follow-ups. The move to a tumbler and dry walnut media made the whole thing quicker and easier.

I can see that these little pins do a good job of cleaning, but the whole operation is more trouble than I'm interested in getting involved with. As it is now, merely tumbling the cases with crushed walnut hulls does the job quite nicely with no liquid mess involved.

Yes . . . I'm lazy, and not in a hurry. I'd try the pins dry merely to reduce the dust and obviate the need to replace the media as frequently.

Observations?

semi dry just a little water and soap...I have 3 vibratory machines and really don't want to by another...BUT the dust is terrible.

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

Sorry I didn't follow up sooner.

Short answer - I don't know. And there is definitely more hassle fooling with the wet operation, so I understand your position.

If you look at the videos on the site I mentioned below, he fills the drum up with water - I don't use that much, perhaps half full.

. . . or it's not worth the hassle.

I will admit I can see that they'd likely polish the cases up somewhat better than walnut hulls, but I'm not after a brilliant shine, just clean.

I'll also admit that using them wet might very well prevent the (relatively) hard pins from prematurely wearing the cases, but that's just speculation on my part.

In addition, I'm not absolutely certain they'd actually "tumble" in my Thumler without interior paddles as mentioned below.

That is sufficient to cause the contents to tumble. Lynn's description started off withvh just a round pipe.

. . . it's hexagonal, and it was originally intended to tumble rocks in a liquid abrasive slurry to polish them up for jewelry. As I recall, this usually takes days, whereas our brass only takes a matter of hours.

OK my worry is that the pins hitting the brass will WORK the brass. I can't se it beeing good. You will have to add an ANLE step after two or three cleannings. J.Michael

. . . that's a possibility. Work-hardening wouldn't be a good thing at all.

experience. Likely not enough mass and velocity - more of a scrubbing motion.

Did I understand from the first thread that you already have bought the pins but have been using them wet?

Are you going to go ahead and try them dry?

Yes, I've had the pins for a while, but I have only used them as intended, with water, soap, and Lemi Shine. Perhaps someday I will try them dry as an experiment.