Wet Tumbling suggestions

[JTO]

So do people tumble before they resize, or after to clean off the lube, or both?

I tumble fired cases on the presumption that they are better re-sized when really clean. As I use Redding Imperial Wax, it sounds like tumbling after re-sizing might be a waste of time. I just wipe them off with a tissue, but I suspect there is still a very thin coating of lube left behind.

 

[75]

Before and after with Imperial Wax (I use inside necks too). The warm water and fairly liquid seem to sort out wax and I've never had anything sticky left behind.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

For wet tumbling with stainless pins I have had success with a tablespoon of washing up liquid. Added after the water so you don't create a big cloud of foam. Tumble for a few hours then rinse with plain water once or twice, then separate and air dry. Tried adding a little citric acid to the mix, but it didn't seem to make any difference for me - but my water supply is from a well and not perfectly pH neutral anyway.

Personally I do it (when I bother to clean brass at all, which is rare) after 100% of the other brass prep so that any remaining lube is removed along with everything else. I'm not saying that's "right" or even the "best" way to do it, but there is something nice about using brass in that condition - all other things being equal your reloads will look better than a lot of factory. If there's one genuine practical benefit it's that it will get the primer pockets clean without the risk of enlarging them (assuming you at least deprime first anyway).

The tumbler I use is the Frankford Arsenal one. It's pretty decent to be fair and has been very reliable - although as I say, I almost never use it.

 

[75]

. 3kg version is good for batches of 25-30 cases but I'd go bigger if you want 50-100 at a time.

Scratch that - 50 cases in there earlier and plenty of room!