How much SS pins?

C

cryogenic419

New member
Question for those that have the Frankford Arsenal platinum tumbler (or larger tumbers) and are using SS pins.

I know it comes with 5 lbs of pins, but if you look at smaller tumblers they say to use 5 lbs of pins. Surely there has to be some scale up as you get into bigger tumblers and bigger loads of brass. Just curious if anybody has gone above that and what were your results.
 
I asked the same question a week or so ago nobody really answered.But I did try the suggestion of only using 1 gallon of water.I did 5 lb of brass and 1.6cc of citric acid.Cleaned the cases better than the other times.On some other forums posters think 5lb of pins is not enough for a tumbler rated at 30lbs. I'am going to buy more pins in fact I was going to post and ask if any pins are better than others.
 
My instruction also say additional pins are available.The recommendation says to add the 5 lb that came with the tumber it doesn't say anything about not adding more.All it says is not to exceed 30 lbs total
 
The proportions of free space (air), liquid and solids must be within certain ranges to achieve the best tumbling action at a set speed.I find it interesting that many posters write of two, three or more hours of tumbling with stainless pins while I get great results in 90 minutes. I think it helps I have tumbled rocks long before I tumbled brass. One of my old rock tumbling booklets goes into detail about obtaining correct rotational speed so the mass of rocks, media and liquid didn't slide down the side of the drum (to slow) or be picked up to high causing the rock to fall with violence (to fast) but to tumble. Using the theory, almost any size tumbler could be built.
 
As best I can remember I'm running a 3:2 ratio of pins to brass. Believe the numbers are 24 ounces pins to 16 ounces brass (150 pieces of 9mm). More or less pins would change the slurry consistency and effect the tumbling action.
 
I'm going to have to put my trust in Frankford Arsenal and their suggestion of 5 lbs. until someone can prove that I shouldn't. Since the unit was built from the ground up specifically for brass tumbling I would think they have tested enough to come to the conclusion that 5 lbs is the recommended amount of media to get satisfactory results with their design.

All I can base my expertise on is what I have seen come out of my tumbler when using the supplied amount of pins and I must say I can't imagine them looking any better.
 
And I can say for sure the times I filled the tumbler with water and brass that they didn't come out as clean as with 1 gallon of water and five lbs of brass.the only variable I did increase the the amount of citric acid.I've seen posts when using Frankford tumbler the brass is is clean in an hour or less.The only thing I can think they must be tumbling new brass.If we followed all manufacturer recommendations we wouldn't be loading for very many guns.I don't know about any other bought or homemade tumbler I have the Frankford.I do know if I fill it some of the primer pockets won't be clean and the inside bottom even on straight wall cases won't all be clean.
 
A squirt of dawn.The 1.6 cc of 99.9% citric acid equals about 1/3 teaspoon the reason I'am using that amount is because after some searches people think Lemi-shine is 50% citric acid so the 1.6 would be about 2/3 a teaspoon of Lemi-shine.The last batch I did were better than the first couple attempts.But it still took 2.5 hrs.I'am open to any suggestions.My last batch had more water spots than the others but that could be my water softener it cycles by gallons and I think was close to cycling.What do you think try a little more citric acid?
 
OK, so curiosity got the better of me. Went to STM's site and see he has a 40lb tumber for sale. In the instructions for that one it says:

10-15 lbs. of Stainless Steel Media
Fill drum 60%-70% full of brass (anywhere from 2100 pistol - 2800 .223)
Fill drum with Cold Water


Really makes me wonder if adding another couple pounds of pins might speed things up.
 
Willy, Try using ArmourAll wash & wax instead of the Dawn and see how that works for ya. I switched after a recommendation from several forums and IMO my cases come out looking better than with the Dawn plus it serves as a protectant to help the brass resist tarnishing.

Another tip I got from a reloader friend was to minimize water spots, dry the brass as quick as possible. Last batch I cleaned I put in a food dehydrator set at 100° for an hour. and they came out dry, warm and not a single water spot (and my water's pretty hard).
 
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