Cleaning a Lee Resizing Die?

[357mag357]

Do you clean your resizing dies? Is it something I should do on a regular basis or not at all? The ones I am referring to are the Lee Resizing Dies. What do you think?

 

[jfh]

Yes, I clean them. Disassembly, and a shot of scrubber / brake fluid works fine. Use a gunsmith's cotton swab on the interior to remove the junk.

Afterward, a light oil on the exterior for rust.

Jim H.

 

[sniper5]

+1 jfh.

 

[ranger335v]

Dies do get dirty, gritty. Ain't no advantage in that.

I use cheap carborator or brake cleaner, wrap toilet tissue around a pencil to swab them.

 

[loadedround]

#2 on JFH.

 

[fineredmist]

It only takes a minute or two to clean a die so make a habit of cleaning all dies before using and you will find that they do work a bit nicer. A little brake cleaner and a shot of compressed air and your done.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Yes...I clean all my dies. Disassemble wipe with a lightly oily rag and reassemble. I do this about once every 3 months or when I think of it. No special solvents oils or greases. Just a gun oil dampened rag...

 

[ChuckB]

My 9mm lead loads were getting shorter. I checked the inside of my Lee bullet seating die, and it was loaded with gunk- a combination of bullet lube and a little lead. It took a fair amount of work to clean it all out, and now all's right with the world. When I load lead now, I check and clean the inside of the bullet seater and the factory crimp die after every couple hundred rounds.

Chuck

 

[something vague]

It's no different than owning a gun, and that pertains to your press as well. For years of the best function possible, clean all your tools of the trade on a regular basis.

 

[Slamfire]

I use a powder solvent, cotton swab, patches and paper clips, whatever I can to get around in the cavity. Then I wipe clean, and spray with oil.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

I attach a brass brush on my drill and run it through the die. Then I use a patch and run it through with a nylon brush to make it tighter.

Thank you