Stainless Pins

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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by donhuff »

The ones I soaked did nothing either.
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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by Jaybm »

Just for talking's sake ... the only discolored brass I experienced was
when I left them in the US too long. Forget whose additive I was using
at the time and too lazy to see if it might be with the US out in the storage
room.

Never with the SS pins and tumbling. The longest tumbling duration would
have been ~ three hours with 75 / 100 mix of .38s and .357s.

Just saying ... Jim
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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by btoran »

Jim - below are some pics of the pvc drum i made for the dual drum harbor freight tumbler. home depot sells 2 ft lengths of pvc pipe but i needed to go to lowes to get the test plug. the ones my local h/w store and home depot sells have large plastic threads that won't work on this model tumbler (or the single drum model, for that matter).

the pvc is 4" diameter and you will need to cut it to 9.5". on one end, you glue a 4" test CAP. on the other, you use a 4" test PLUG, which tightens with a nut. the test plug comes with a wing nut, but that needs to be replaced with a regular nut so it clears the base of the tumbler. you also need a small strip of pvc (from the left over 2 ft section you bought), which gets cut to 7.75" long x 1.5" tall and then gets glued inside the pvc tube (butted up against the glued-in test cap). this actuator piece helps move the brass / pins around, so they don't just lay on the bottom of the drum when it rotates. finally, you need to add some friction to either the pvc tube or rollers, themselves. i put some extra pulley belts that came with the tumbler around the pvc tube, but there are other methods out there.

so, how does it work? i can't say......yet. stainless pins are due to arrive in a few days, but i only have about 20 cases that need cleaning so far. i will hopefully remedy that situation this weekend. what i do like is that it is very easy to get the test plug on/off (an open end ratcheting wrench makes quick work of it) and having one large single drum, vs 2 smaller ones, will be easier. let me know if you have any questions.

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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by Jaybm »

Pretty clever Bruce ! Have you water tested it yet ?
The single drum prototype would be just short of 5 in.
Not sure an "actuator" would be required ?

Home Depot is right across the street from Lowe's, go figure.

I'm going to do the math for the single drum conversion. Working
the seal and cap on and off the original drum is a real pain in the
you know what.

Thanks for sharing the idea ... Jim
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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by btoran »

Jim - I can't take credit for the idea. I found it when searching for hf drum problems. my first thought was to use a plastic or glass jar instead of the included drums and even tried some but getting the proper size and proved difficult. not sure the actuator would be needed on the single unit, but the guy who came up with the idea (for the double) said it was, so i included it. it's water tight so far, but the real test will come after it's loaded with pins and brass and goes through the spin cycle. btw, i used the standard two part pvc glue (purple/white) on mine.
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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by dannyabear »

I have seen the large plastic mayonesse jars,used by restaurants, they have a screw on cap.
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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by Jaybm »

I haven't had any luck finding the "right" size jar that would work.
Customizing a piece of PVC is a tinkerer's delight plus it's something
constructive to do on these bitter cold days.

Bruce or anyone ... how did you cut the 4" pvc ... I'm terrible at
hack-sawing a straight cut ??? Heard about using masking tape
and just following it. Coping saw is even worse.

Don't know if the "winter storm" will hit us, it's only raining so far
and slightly above freezing ( 34F ). LOL, I better hit the store and
get some bread & milk before it's all gone. Southern thing !

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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by GasGuzzler »

My FIL dabbled in design/build/sell "bury-able" vaults and he used both 4" and 6". Measure from the end several places around the circumference, connect the dots, hacksaw a guide bevel all the way around before attempting to cut through.
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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by btoran »

Jim - I used the hacksaw and tape method. i deliberately cut it a little on the long side because i figured it would come out a little lopsided and it did. i finished it on the belt sander.
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Re: Stainless Pins

Post by Jaybm »

Okay. thanks guys.

Winter storm is here ! You wouldn't believe how many business already closed.
Well you would if you seen how Southerners drive in the snow, especially young
first timers.

Won't be venturing out today ... Jim
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