Cleaning Dies

[Heym SR20]

What should you clean dies with, and particularly when storing them what you spray them with to keep them from rusting. I have to hand some spray on dry lubricant that would give a protective film but not be sticky.

 

[Ronin]

Keep them in a warm and non humid place.


Clean then whenever they get dirty with a brake solvent cleaner (I use an aerosol spray) and dissassemble the die internals, re lube with a spray of WD40 and wipe excess off.

They dont rust if you stick to this reigime.


Always use cleaned (tumbled brass)

 

[Muir]

Sweet Mother of Pearl!! You're supposed to clean your reloading dies after you use them??? Good Lord Almighty!

Hmmm...

Sounds like a lot of bother. I'll just use clean brass and leave the residual resizing lube in the die as a rust preventative.~Muir

 

[Rick]

Lmao! Just found out why mine rust !

 

[Ronin]

I clean mine maybe once or twice yearly to get the "crud" out that accumulates in the upper section, I dont clean after every reloading session.

 

[flytie]

Sweet Mother of Pearl!! You're supposed to clean your reloading dies after you use them??? Good Lord Almighty!

Hmmm...

Sounds like a lot of bother. I'll just use clean brass and leave the residual resizing lube in the die as a rust preventative.~Muir

OUTSTANDING

ft

 

[Brithunter]

Hmmm well I clean my dies when they need doing ( leavign dents in shoulders due to lub build up) and not before. Seems to work for me.

 

[Muir]

What lube do you use? I have switched to Hornady's "One Shot" lube except for heavy resizing and then I use Imperial Sizing Wax.~Muir

 

[finnbear270]

Lyman quick case spray lube for me, although I keep a tube of rcbs case lube 2 at the back of the shelving, just in case I forget to re order,the Lyman spray is very good I find, it has a very light thin nature,& can be let dry if you wish to go that route, also has an agreeable odour to boot.

 

[bogtrotter]

Dear oh dear I must promise to buck up, I use rcbs lube been reloading for over twenty years and have never had to clean my dies.

 

[finnbear270]

If I want to be sure that dies are clean, after they have been living in my untidy reloading "woodpile" / or "Cave" as someone usually refers to my gunroom , I just shoot em' up with a dose of flush out or even WD 40, wipe with a rag,done.

 

[Brithunter]

I am currently using Fastex case lube but it will need a new type before the year is otu or possibly next year as Fastex no longer do it................................ Pity as it's been very good. I have been using this small bottle and an old Lyman lube pad for about 6 maybe 8 years now.

 

[Muir]

Sounds good. I used to use RCBS lube. "Case Honey" it was called and worked well but GODALMIGHTY it was hard to get off the cases without solvent! I am not sure what RCBS Lube 2 is but let me ask you this: is there a product marketed in your country called "STP"? It's a motor-oil additive that is suppose to increase viscosity and add to engine life. It is the same slickum that RCBS used for their lube. I can buy a lifetime supply for reloading purposes for about $3 US. If you can find it, try it. Works splendidly as it is a bit thinner than the old RCBS mix. Just an FYI.

I forgot to mention that the one die I clean regularly is the seating die of any rounds I load cast bullets with. Lube build up makes seating depth adjustment tough sometimes.~Muir.

 

[bogtrotter]

Great tip Muir, yes STP is readily available over here.