Brass Cuts ?

renaissance7697 · July 31, 2007, 01:16 PM

Does anyone else have this problem?

When counting out brass ( from the tumbler into 100 count baggies)
I seem to get tiny "cuts" on my finger tips.
Sort of like "paper cuts" only much smaller.
They sting for DAYS afterward.
Sometimes my finger swells up.
Apparently the case mouths of the newly polished brass cuts my finger tips.
It seems to happen more with 45acp than other brass.

It is really annoying, because the "sting" lasts so long
Literally 3-4 & 5 DAYS.

Is there something about BRASS that gets in the tiny cut and annoys so?
Is it the tumbling medium?

I've tried wearing cotton gloves > no good brassslips of my fingers.
Tried Latex > NG makes my hands sweat too much ( and the brass cuts through the latex also.

I'v tried being "careful" .....
I think it is when I "Grab" a fistfull of brass to count out from

Anybody else have this problem?

Any solutions ?

stinger · July 31, 2007, 02:34 PM

Slow down?

Scorch · July 31, 2007, 03:48 PM

Counting out the brass? Are you reselling it? If not, why are you counting and bagging it?

The tiny cuts open up your skin to dirt and abrasives as well as powdered metal in the tumbling media. Like any cut, it will take time to heal. If this is too much to bear, get some topical disinfectant and treat your fingertips after you are done handling the brass.

Edward429451 · July 31, 2007, 07:32 PM

I use a big slotted spoon to sift brass from the tumbler, or one of those plastic pans with slots in it sat on top of a 5 gal bucket. Kinda looks like a prospectors pan for panning for gold.

renaissance7697 · July 31, 2007, 08:10 PM

I load on a 650
In batches of 100
One Box of primers in the tube
100 Cases tossed into the case feeder
100 bullets in the tray

It is comforting to see them all finish at the same time

CrustyFN · July 31, 2007, 08:12 PM

After I tumble I throw the brass into a spagetti collander and mix it around with my hands until all the media is out. I have never been cut, guess I'm lucky.
Rusty

WSM MAGNUM · July 31, 2007, 08:15 PM

Never happens to me. I was tumbling hundreds of .45 ACP brass last week and I had both hands in there picking them out. No cuts, just makes me wish I had a seperator though.

donttellthewife · July 31, 2007, 10:12 PM

Only 100 at a time on a 650, what do you do for the other 23 3/4 hours of the day

**44 AMP** · August 5, 2007, 10:35 PM

I have been loading for quite a while, a couple of dozen different cals, and have never had the problem you describe. I seperate brass from tumbler media using a plastic bucket and a colander, and don't get the cuts you describe. Once in a while I will cut my self (usually on trimmed brass before chamfering it) or chamfered too sharp can cut, but no little paper cuts like you say.

Use gloves, or bandaid your fingertips. Or just get some calluses!

Guy B. Meredith · August 6, 2007, 12:00 AM

Naw.

I inspect cases before reloading by running the mouth on my left thumb end/nail to sense roughness. No problems.

Ozzieman · August 12, 2007, 04:40 PM

Something my wife taught me.
Go and buy yourself some cheep surgical gloves. At Sims club there like $10 for 250 or something like that.
I use them when reloading or working on the car. It’s nice to get dirty and greasy and just pull them off and throw them away and your hands look clean enough for Sunday dinner.
And NO cuts, well I do get the gloves cut from time to time but just put on another pair.

**Unclenick** · August 12, 2007, 05:53 PM

I've never had this problem that I've noticed. It is possible my skin is thicker and I don't notice it, but it seems unlikely. I'm wondering if you are allergic to something in the media or the polish, such that your skin reacts to cuts shallower than most of us feel? I also wonder why your brass is so sharp? Freshly trimmed brass may be sharp, but that should burnish down with use and be dulled by tumbling. The whole problem is a bit mysterious to me. You can put a rubberized abrasive tip on a Dremel tool and dull all your case mouths intentionally, I suppose.

As to hand wear, if you are unable to wear the latex gloves, look for some of the little rubber thumb and finger tips used by people who count a lot of money. They would slip on your fingers and let you count without exposure to the brass at all. Office supply places should have them. These are thicker than finger cots, often having a textured surface for traction.

Alleykat · August 16, 2007, 06:31 AM

Quote:

I load on a 650
In batches of 100
One Box of primers in the tube
100 Cases tossed into the case feeder
100 bullets in the tray

It is comforting to see them all finish at the same time

Every-now-and-then, a perfect application for the term, "absurd", comes along.

tbtrout · August 16, 2007, 08:16 AM

No, I have dug my hand through the tumbler looking for brass, never been cut.

swmike · August 16, 2007, 11:04 PM

go get yourself a scoop used for cleaning the "nuggets" out of cat litter. If you insist on counting, just scoop out of the polishing media and count from there. If the case mouth is cutting your fingers, just pick them up by the base.

OR:

Just do it like the rest of us with 650's. Separate the cases from the media with a media separator or strainer, stock the cleaned cases in a large container, and pour them in the feeder when it's empty. Counting takes too much time. If you box them, count the boxes at the end of the day.

T. O'Heir · August 16, 2007, 11:26 PM

After trimming? If so, you need to chamfer and de-burr the cases. You may have a slight allergy to either the brass or the media though.
"...wish I had a seperator(sic)..." Like CrustyFN says, use a collander. Go to a dollar store and buy a plastic one with a handle. Drill the bottom holes a bit bigger and shake. The media comes out and you have the brass all in one bin. I use an old boot box to shake into.
"...into 100 count baggies...In batches of 100..." MTM sells 100 round ammo boxes for rifle and pistol. No more counting.

July 31, 2007, 01:16 PM	#1
renaissance7697 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2001 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 203	Brass Cuts ? Does anyone else have this problem? When counting out brass ( from the tumbler into 100 count baggies) I seem to get tiny "cuts" on my finger tips. Sort of like "paper cuts" only much smaller. They sting for DAYS afterward. Sometimes my finger swells up. Apparently the case mouths of the newly polished brass cuts my finger tips. It seems to happen more with 45acp than other brass. It is really annoying, because the "sting" lasts so long Literally 3-4 & 5 DAYS. Is there something about BRASS that gets in the tiny cut and annoys so? Is it the tumbling medium? I've tried wearing cotton gloves > no good brassslips of my fingers. Tried Latex > NG makes my hands sweat too much ( and the brass cuts through the latex also. I'v tried being "careful" ..... I think it is when I "Grab" a fistfull of brass to count out from Anybody else have this problem? Any solutions ?

July 31, 2007, 03:48 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	Counting out the brass? Are you reselling it? If not, why are you counting and bagging it? The tiny cuts open up your skin to dirt and abrasives as well as powdered metal in the tumbling media. Like any cut, it will take time to heal. If this is too much to bear, get some topical disinfectant and treat your fingertips after you are done handling the brass. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 31, 2007, 08:10 PM	#5
renaissance7697 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2001 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 203	Why count ? I load on a 650 In batches of 100 One Box of primers in the tube 100 Cases tossed into the case feeder 100 bullets in the tray It is comforting to see them all finish at the same time

July 31, 2007, 08:15 PM	#7
WSM MAGNUM Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 750	Never happens to me. I was tumbling hundreds of .45 ACP brass last week and I had both hands in there picking them out. No cuts, just makes me wish I had a seperator though. __________________ Henry - Life NRA Member, USCCA Shield Member If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

August 5, 2007, 10:35 PM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,487	Get tougher I have been loading for quite a while, a couple of dozen different cals, and have never had the problem you describe. I seperate brass from tumbler media using a plastic bucket and a colander, and don't get the cuts you describe. Once in a while I will cut my self (usually on trimmed brass before chamfering it) or chamfered too sharp can cut, but no little paper cuts like you say. Use gloves, or bandaid your fingertips. Or just get some calluses! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 31, 2007, 02:34 PM	#2
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 772	Slow down?

July 31, 2007, 07:32 PM	#4
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I use a big slotted spoon to sift brass from the tumbler, or one of those plastic pans with slots in it sat on top of a 5 gal bucket. Kinda looks like a prospectors pan for panning for gold.

July 31, 2007, 08:12 PM	#6
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	After I tumble I throw the brass into a spagetti collander and mix it around with my hands until all the media is out. I have never been cut, guess I'm lucky. Rusty

July 31, 2007, 10:12 PM	#8
donttellthewife Member Join Date: April 9, 2007 Posts: 25	Only 100 at a time on a 650, what do you do for the other 23 3/4 hours of the day

August 6, 2007, 12:00 AM	#10
Guy B. Meredith Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 1,581	Naw. I inspect cases before reloading by running the mouth on my left thumb end/nail to sense roughness. No problems.

August 12, 2007, 04:40 PM	#11
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	Something my wife taught me. Something my wife taught me. Go and buy yourself some cheep surgical gloves. At Sims club there like $10 for 250 or something like that. I use them when reloading or working on the car. It’s nice to get dirty and greasy and just pull them off and throw them away and your hands look clean enough for Sunday dinner. And NO cuts, well I do get the gloves cut from time to time but just put on another pair.

August 12, 2007, 05:53 PM	#12
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,743	I've never had this problem that I've noticed. It is possible my skin is thicker and I don't notice it, but it seems unlikely. I'm wondering if you are allergic to something in the media or the polish, such that your skin reacts to cuts shallower than most of us feel? I also wonder why your brass is so sharp? Freshly trimmed brass may be sharp, but that should burnish down with use and be dulled by tumbling. The whole problem is a bit mysterious to me. You can put a rubberized abrasive tip on a Dremel tool and dull all your case mouths intentionally, I suppose. As to hand wear, if you are unable to wear the latex gloves, look for some of the little rubber thumb and finger tips used by people who count a lot of money. They would slip on your fingers and let you count without exposure to the brass at all. Office supply places should have them. These are thicker than finger cots, often having a textured surface for traction. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 16, 2007, 08:16 AM	#14
tbtrout Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 234	No, I have dug my hand through the tumbler looking for brass, never been cut.

August 16, 2007, 11:04 PM	#15
swmike Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2005 Location: Marysville, WA Posts: 670	go get yourself a scoop used for cleaning the "nuggets" out of cat litter. If you insist on counting, just scoop out of the polishing media and count from there. If the case mouth is cutting your fingers, just pick them up by the base. OR: Just do it like the rest of us with 650's. Separate the cases from the media with a media separator or strainer, stock the cleaned cases in a large container, and pour them in the feeder when it's empty. Counting takes too much time. If you box them, count the boxes at the end of the day.

August 16, 2007, 11:26 PM	#16
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	After trimming? If so, you need to chamfer and de-burr the cases. You may have a slight allergy to either the brass or the media though. "...wish I had a seperator(sic)..." Like CrustyFN says, use a collander. Go to a dollar store and buy a plastic one with a handle. Drill the bottom holes a bit bigger and shake. The media comes out and you have the brass all in one bin. I use an old boot box to shake into. "...into 100 count baggies...In batches of 100..." MTM sells 100 round ammo boxes for rifle and pistol. No more counting.