Die Set Care

i clean off the packaging oil and then hit it with CLP or some kind of lube. I dont have any rust

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475 said:

That sounds like a great idea. I was worried about contaminating any powder or primers but I guess an ultra thin coat with zero access shouldn't hurt anything.

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yea as long as you keep it a light coat or use a dry lube then you won't have issues

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If you wipe off the dies after treating them there will be a very light coating left on the dies that will not contaminate anything. Even when you wipe the die dry there is protection left behind.

I'm glad I could help. There are many reloaders on this forum who are more than willing to help, all you need to do is ask...

What's the best way to remove rust on the inside of dies? I have a set I accidentally left in my shed for a short while (which is damp and humid) and therefore need to clean them. I have an ultrasonic cleaner but not sure what chemical mix is best to use.

Also, I have a tub of froglube that I used to treat a leatherman. Could I use the same application technique for dies in order to prevent further rusting?

Apparently I just should have known

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If you're asking if you should have known that steel dies would rust without some kind of protectant.....the answer is yes. I never read the instructions about removing the factory oil...maybe it isn't on the Lee instructions. I just sprayed them down and keep them sprayed.

I clean NEW dies with Brake Cleaner to remove any oil.

Then spray them with Silicone or Teflon spray even WD 40 (yes)

Contrary to what internet stuff says, WD 40 is a excellent rust preventive especially the new Specialist

My tools are in a garage in hot/humid Florida for a loooong time, no rust here.

WelshShooter said:

What's the best way to remove rust on the inside of dies? I have a set I accidentally left in my shed for a short while (which is damp and humid) and therefore need to clean them. I have an ultrasonic cleaner but not sure what chemical mix is best to use.

Also, I have a tub of froglube that I used to treat a leatherman. Could I use the same application technique for dies in order to prevent further rusting?

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I disassemble and thoroughly clean the die, cleaning the inside with a bore brush and some four ought steel wool. I wipe the die dry inside and out and apply a light coat of any of the leading gun oils or for that matter any light machine oil. Anyway, I use bore brushes to get the inside. Sometmes chucked in an electric drill and I save old bore brushes for just such task.

Ron

I coat mine in silicon spray and store in a zip lock bag when not in use. When ready to use, wipe em a bit and they are ready to go. I haven't had anymore rust since starting to do this. I do the same for the caliber conversion kits, but store them in their little containers. I will clean the powder drop cylinder prior to using with some good gun cleaner and then wipe dry inside and out so powder won't stick to it.

The only die I have had a problem with corrosion has been my Lee Universal decapper. It has large, smooth surfaces that are prone to rust. But because those surfaces are where my hands go when I spin it in and out of the press, I don't want to oil it and get the oil on my hands so I use a wax type resizing lubricant on it and that does the trick.

I would use it more but most dies are extensively knurled and even with a toothbrush its almost impossible to get a uniform, thin coating of waxy lube into and around the knurling.

Ttrl

Birchwood Casey Barricade Rust Preventative works well in the hot, humid Louisiana climate I live in. I use it on dies and guns....just follow directions. It's not greasy or oily and forms a protective barrier that stays in place. It's probably has a wax base that doesn't evaporate away.
Gary

I coat the externals with Carnuba wax and have not a lick of rust. I keep them in their original box and toss in a few anti-rust chips or a silicone sprayed piece of shop towel. I load enough that the Imperial die wax that coats the interior keeps the rust at bay. As a side note I purchased a few used dies at gunshows that had some rust (exterior only) and gave them a long ride in my tumbler and that cleaned them up nicely. not to mint condition of course, but good enough.

WelshShooter said:

What's the best way to remove rust on the inside of dies?

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I usually use Hoppes #9 and bore brush to clean the inside of dies

Rule3 said:

475 said:

How do you keep your die sets from rusting?

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Contrary to what internet stuff says, WD 40 is a excellent rust preventive especially the new Specialist

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+1

There was an exhaustive 3 month rust test done with salt water spray and WD-40 Specialist and Froglube (Coconut oil) were the two that survived to 3 months with minimal/least amount of rusting. Everything else caused quite a bit of rusting on test strips of metal.

As to removing surface rust from dies, I disassemble my dies and toss them in my tumbler with walnut media treated with NuFinish. The residual polymer on the surface will keep die surface from rusting for several months - www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=586563

Before pictures of rusty dies




After pictures of dies with rust removed and polished in walnut/NuFinish

gwpercle said:

Birchwood Casey Barricade Rust Preventative works well in the hot, humid Louisiana climate I live in. I use it on dies and guns....just follow directions. It's not greasy or oily and forms a protective barrier that stays in place. It's probably has a wax base that doesn't evaporate away.
Gary

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+1
Works good.

How do you keep your die sets from rusting? I got a die set and the instructions said to take them apart and clean off the oil they shipped them in. So I did and rust is starting to show. That's why I ask.

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I have to ask you the brand of dies. I have been told it is difficult to get good nights sleep near Dulac, Louisiana. They say the noise made by Chevrolet pick ups and Lee dies rusting can keep can keep the locals up at night. And then there is the volunteer fire department, they do not take the hand off of the switch until 'ALL!' volunteers shows up.

I use a towel on a dowel, I do not remove the lube, I smear it and leave a very thin coat on the die. I do not like starting over everyday. It has taken me years to get my dies into the shape they are in today. I have not gotten into the habit of bringing in the world of chemicals into my reloading.

F. Guffey

Treat them like a gun. Wipe fingerprints, wash hands to get rid of salt, thin coat of wd-40, keep at 50 percent RH.

Initial oiling with CorrosionX and an occasional washout using WD40 and a rag.