Cement Mixer + SS Media + Bored Reloader = Epic Win!

technetium-99m said:
I had 25 lbs. of media for the 9mm run, although I think I can easily add more cases without loss of cleaning effectiveness.

Scott, by the time I priced a motor, bearing blocks, PVC, etc. I was only $25-30 shy of getting the larger mixer from HF after using my coupon. I'd love to see what you can come up with though, that design looks to work very well.

I'm really liking using the SS media.
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HMMMM If a guy had a Lathe already, and Scott Hearn and I thought about it a little, I wonder if something couldn't be developed?
Scott?
 
Actually Dennis, that guy put up a thread a thread on afrcom and Enos on how he built it. He's built a couple of versions. That one in the video with the pillow block bearings is the second and better one. There was no lathe involved, but a chop saw and welder is about all that I see as pretty necessary. A band saw might be handy for cutting out the fins for the inside of the "tank", I've go access to one of those too. I've actually thought about using wood for the base and giving it a heavy coat of polyurethane paint since I have a table saw and 12" mitre saw. The lathe might be handy for squaring the ends of the pvc pipe if a guy didn't have a way of cutting it real square though. I'd definitely be up for a road trip some weekend to throw a couple together.
 
dennishoddy said:
Instead of using Dawn, which I suspect is causing the tarnish when drying, have you thought of using diswasher detergent. It prevents spots on glasses, maybe it will work with the brass?
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I used dawn and a 5 gal bucket with my hand. No problems but always rinse as with the use of lemishine.

Could the brass had been tarnished before hand?

OKAY for the hick method at zero cost: 5gal bucket less than half full of brass about a third or a little more. Fill with hot water if available (hose works well if not) A long squirt of Dawn or a dose of Lemishine. Agitate by hand for a min or two. Watch the game and have a favorite cold drink. Commercial agitate and get a fresh cold drink. You get the idea. Agitate a few times over the course of 2-3 hrs during breaks from something else. I always de-prime first. Many let soak over 4hrs - to over night using Lemishine. Rinse. With dawn the brass doesn't shine, but it is clean. With Lemishin it seems this method takes longer to clean but the brass is much brighter.

I have not tried the dawn with a rinse and then a soak in lemishine. That might be the ticket for a no cost solution. I just need my brass clean, shiny just adds to much bling to my tactical needs lol.

Fastest way to dry the primer pockets is not to have a primer in there. plus it does a decent job of cutting the crude.

I would set on a tarp in the SWTX sun and the brass would dry in no time.

All that stated I may have to get one of those mixers and had been thinking about it for a few yrs. Since I moved the need just isn;t there though.

Great write up, great answers, and thanks for sharing.
 
Is all this work just to avoid the dust generated by using a case tumbler? Any other reasons for adding more work and cost into the process?
 
It just seems like a lot of hassle, but I guess disposable media tumbling is a lot of hassle too. I wonder how the pins are separated from the brass.
 
Hey Mitch,

I didn't see your question. The method is a little more of a PITA than dry media, and if I were only able to clean a couple hundred cases at a time I would not even consider it. My desire was to clean at least 2,500 40 cases at one go and have a machine that was more durable than the vibratory tumblers I have used.

I have a reasonably well put together mixer now that has a very easy to replace motor that works with both steel media and dry media, and will clean a massive amount of brass very quickly.

The pins are separated with a standard dry media separator filled with water, as the water drains from the cases the pins inside are carried with it.
 
Also, I was able to clean 2,300 223 cases with this thing in 1 hour. Currently I'm drying them with a fan inside but I have a hunch that during the summer months I'll be able to just let them sit in the sun for a bit.
 
I haven't replaced the media in my tumbler since I put it in in the summer of 2008. Half walnut / half corncob, I usually put 4 used dryer sheets in per load, and wipe the dust out of the bowl with a damp paper towel. But the stainless media definitely gets them way cleaner!
 
Do you have a picture or description of this dry media separator? Or is it you and a colander?
 
Can anyone tell me what size of media you are ordering? I am going to make the change also. Man it looks freaking awesome!!!

Cheers!!
 
I had a cement mixer set up like this in the mid 80's, I welded 4 studs on the edge that I put expanded metal and rabbit wire on. Used dry media turned up to dump media while running and then took clean brass out.
 
technetium-99m said:
I had 25 lbs. of media for the 9mm run, although I think I can easily add more cases without loss of cleaning effectiveness.

Scott, by the time I priced a motor, bearing blocks, PVC, etc. I was only $25-30 shy of getting the larger mixer from HF after using my coupon. I'd love to see what you can come up with though, that design looks to work very well.

I'm really liking using the SS media.
Click to expand...
Screw it. As usual your idea is just "better". I'm buying a cement mixer as soon as they go on sale again. Got any pics of those fins you added? Would 10lbs of media and 30lbs of brass work okay or does it need to be fuller?
 
Waiting for GT but what about just cutting some PVC in half? May be a 3" one?

On a related note, Sarah is going to elephant dung when I have a cement mixer sitting in the extra bedroom. Somehow I have survived the reloading bench being in the dining room.
 
I'm just letting the cases air dry now. The Oklahoma wind does a nice job of things. You can also let them sit on a towel next to a fan inside. If you need them dry quicker you can dump them in some alcohol and then let them sit.

Ill get some pics of the fins, just some aluminum angle pieces screwed to the side of the drum and sealed up with RTV. You also need to seal up the halves, the included gasket just doesn't cut it.
 
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