Had a good idea yesterday. I had tumbled some brass, and I leave the media in the tumbler and just drain off as much water as possible. Then I leave the tumbler open to dry.

I had a flash of inspiration though...I put a paper towel in the tumbler, pushed it down to the bottom and left it sticking up, like a wick. Capillary action kicked in and started drawing the water up and really cut down on my drying time. I'm probably not the first to think of it, but I felt like Chemistry 1301 wasn't totally wasted. I love applied knowledge.

Why dry it? It won't rust.

Pour off as much water as you can, spread on a cookie sheet, when the oven hits 350 shut it off and walk away for an hour.

Actually you don't need the stove, pour off as much water as you can, pour the ss pins out evenly on a towel, and let the warm sun do the work.

quote:

Originally posted by rodell:
Why dry it? It won't rust.

It will.

I pour mine into a colander hung over a bucket and let it drip dry.

No need to dry them. Keep the pins covered with water. Won't rust under water. Gotta have oxygen to rust. Works great for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Lapidary:

quote:

Originally posted by rodell:
Why dry it? It won't rust.

It will.

I pour mine into a colander hung over a bucket and let it drip dry.

Mine hasn't in the four or so years I've been wet tumbling. And so what if it does?

Just tumble the rust off.

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:

quote:

Originally posted by Lapidary:

quote:

Originally posted by rodell:
Why dry it? It won't rust.

It will.

I pour mine into a colander hung over a bucket and let it drip dry.

Mine hasn't in the four or so years I've been wet tumbling. And so what if it does?

Just tumble the rust off.

Mine did (just a little on the bottom of the barrel) after a few days of sitting with a little water in the bottom.

"And so what if it does?" It probably won't make any difference in polishing brass, besides more mess in the barrel. I polish jewelry with mine, and any pitting or edges on the shot will leave scratches/uneven finish.

I do my final rinse with really hot tap water and pour off as much as I can. The pins dry out in the liner just fine.
I do live in a very dry climate and my tumbler is in the utility room so that helps I'm sure.

I'm tumbling at least every other day, so I don't bother. If I'm going to take a break for a few days I pour the drum through a miners screen to get most of the water out and pour the pins on a folding table with a fan blowing on it. Dry in a couple of hours. Put I do dislike chasing those little buggers all over with a magnet.

I have one batch of pins that rust a bit. Don't really care though as I just run use it and its gone again.

This!

quote:

Originally posted by M16:
No need to dry them. Keep the pins covered with water. Won't rust under water. Gotta have oxygen to rust. Works great for me.

I don't think drying SS media is difficult ro complicated.