Brass Cleaning & Reloading Tips & Instructions
This page is a resource to help you get started using Stainless Tumbling Media as well as the Rebel 17 Tumbler. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or trouble that can't be solved with the instructions below.
Rebel 17 Tumbler Instructions
Click the link below to download the instructions.
Stanless Tumbling Media General Instructions
NOTE: I takes a few times to get the Stainless Tumbling Media broke in. The media is dirty from the manufacturing process and has a few burs. Media does not work in a vibratory cleaner.
- Step 1: Add 5 lbs (2.27 kg) of SS media into the drum
- Step 2: Next fill with 1 gallon (3.78 Liters0 of cold water (one gallon = 8lbs/3.63 kg)
- Step 3: Add your brass into the drum (2-4 lbs of brass)
- Step 4: Add dish soap. 1-2 Tbs (15-30 mL) of either Dawn, Ivory or Joys diish soap (if there are no soap bubbles in the water after you tumble, you need more soap)
- Step 5: Add 1/4 Tsp (1.25 mL) of LemiShine. This is the key to the shine (Not too much)
- Step 6: Tumble 3-4 hours with the Model B High Speed Thumbler's Tumbler
- Step 7: Pour out as much water as you can without losing any brass or pins (the more you rinse the brass and pins the better your results will be next time)
- Step 8: Fill drum with water, and separate brass by hadn or use an STM Media Separator with water.
- Step 9: Rinse your brass off really good with some warm water. (Not getting a good rinse can leave water spots on the brass)
- Step 10: Dump brass onto a towel and let dry. If any pins get stuck in the neck of the brass, throw those pins away.
- Step 11: Store Stainless Steel Media either wet or dry in drum.
Stainelss Steel Media FAQs
Will your media work in a vibratory type tumbler?
No, the media and the water weigh too much for the average type vibratory tumblers to get any results. You need a rotary style tumbler with a hexagon shaped drum or a tumbler with paddles inside. The MJR Tumbler will not work.
How many pieces of Brass can I tumble.
The Rebel 17 will hold 4 Ibs of brass and the Thumler's Model B unit will hold 2 Ibs. of brass. For estimated quantities see the bottom of this page.
How do you keep the brass Trom tarnishing or spotting arter it nas aried.
Make sure you occasionally tumble just the Media with soap or Simple Green for a few hours to clean carbon from media. Use only 1/4 teaspoon LemiShine or less, more is not better. Try using Cold water to tumble and Cold water to rinse brass and make sure you rinse the brass really good. Let the brass dry on its own and see if that helps.
The brass is shiny, but after a week or two it starts to get darker and doesn't look as shiny.
When you clean with SS Media you are cleaning down to the bare brass. As the brass is exposed to the elements and air it will discolor or oxidize over-time.
Does SS Media work on Nickel Plated brass?
Yes it does. Typically the tumbling time is about 40%-60% less for nickel plated brass. Start with shorter tumble time and determine the amount of time from your results.
Do you snip outside the United States?
Yes. Add a product to the shopping cart and you can estimate the shipping cost.
Do I need to dry the Media out when I'm done using it?
No. You can store the SS Media wet in the tumbler. It won't rust.
Will the stainless steel pins pass through the flash holes?
Yes. the pins are small enough to pass through all flash holes.
Will the media harm my brass?
No, the media will not harm your brass. It does not work harden, or damage your brass in anyway.
Do I need to use distilled water?
No, tap water works just fine.
Do I have to use LemiShine?
No necessarily. LemiShine is the key to get your brass shiny. If you don't care too much about the shine, then no. It can also help soften the water, which allows the soap to work better.
Is your Stainless Steel Media Magnetic
Yes it is! If you spill any pins you can pick them up using a magnet. Bonus tip: Place an inside out plastic bag over the magnet so you can pull the pins off the magnet.