The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - Sounds good to me.

Sounds good to me. (reply)

John K. — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:32:18 +0000

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.

Sounds good to me. (reply)

Kentucky — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:29:37 +0000

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?

Doesn't happen, according to all I have read and personal (reply)

John K. — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:10:02 +0000

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

You're right . . . (reply)

Kentucky — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:04:18 +0000

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

You're right . . . (reply)

uncowboy — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:02:09 +0000

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

You're right . . . (reply)

Kentucky — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:54:47 +0000

. . . 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.

But the Thumlers drum is hex or oct, I disremember. (reply)

John K. — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:11:14 +0000

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

As far as I'm concerned, it's either use them dry . . . (reply)

Kentucky — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:37:37 +0000

. . . 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.

I think I am going to buy some of these pins and try it (reply)

John K. — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:51:47 +0000

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.

More on stainless pin tumbling media (reply)

John K. — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:24:05 +0000

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.

I think I am going to buy some of these pins and try it (reply)

Rob Leahy — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:22:13 +0000

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.

More on stainless pin tumbling media

Kentucky — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:40:34 +0000

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?