How do you store your dies?

[ballman6711]

So in another thread GW Staar wondered how everyone stores their dies.

9mmepiphany brought up one of those areas where everybody has their own way.....storing dies not on the press. Would be interesting to see what people do whether they use bushing or toolheads.

I thought I would start a thread since it got me curious as well. I use an LnL single stage press, so all my dies have bushings. For me the easiest way to store my dies is in the original box, even with the bushings. And I've found that the boxes are big enough that I can put a fourth die in the box, which allows me to have separate seat and crimp dies.

So how do you store your dies? Whether you have toolheads, bushings, or screw the dies in and out, how do you store them?

chris

 

[algaeguy]

I store mine in the boxes also

 

[AJC1]

In original boxes in the house in the AC. I leave the lid open for a day, after I use them in the garage just in case. Then I snap it shut and put them away.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So in another thread GW Staar wondered how everyone stores their dies.



I thought I would start a thread since it got me curious as well. I use an LnL single stage press, so all my dies have bushings. For me the easiest way to store my dies is in the original box, even with the bushings. And I've found that the boxes are big enough that I can put a fourth die in the box, which allows me to have separate seat and crimp dies.

So how do you store your dies? Whether you have toolheads, bushings, or screw the dies in and out, how do you store them?

chris

I bought a bunch of Lee 3- and 4-die and Hornady flip-top cases a few years ago from Midway. They were on sale, free shipping, special code discount, etc… The Hornady boxes will actually hold 5 dies and three shell holders, plus a few index cards for data. The Lee dies stack better but there’s no squeezing an extra die or shell holder in there. I stack them all on top of my roller tool cart.

 

[tominboise]

I store the dies I use in my turret press in the turrets. The dies for my Dillon are stored in the tool heads.

 

[epags]

Here is how I store my dies. They are in a plastic enclosure since I live near the Pacific ocean and salt infused mosture.

 

[lightman]

In the original die box, on a shelf over my loading bench. My loading room is in the house and is in a controlled environment.

 

[Ru4real]

In a coffin. Where else to store dead people?

 

[kalielkslayer]

Anything I load on the single stage gets put back in the original case with the shell holder (RCBS).

What I load on a progressive (Dillion) the dies are stored in the tool plate.

 

[Hikingman]

Original box in a large Rubbermaid bin stored in a bedroom at home. (Temps. around 73F.)

 

[westernrover]

A small Akro bin each for the dies I use for each cartridge. Maybe a bin or two for the dies I don't use. The bins go in a small steel chest of drawers. I can pull the drawer open, and grab a die easily without fiddling with various boxes and the latches they put on some. Few of my dies are from sets so no one original box would fit my sets, and it wouldn't do to have to open several boxes to get all the dies I need for a job. In storing dies, I have to be concerned with dust, but I live in a very arid climate with bone-dry humidity. It's pretty easy to take care of steel. Brass can tarnish and I get some ozone damage on stuff vulnerable to that over the long term, but steel tools are fine inside an unsealed drawer for many years. I still use a protectant on valuable items, but I have lesser un-plated steel tools that do just fine without anything.

I have to say though that I reload for two cartridges and might add a third this year. I have to admire those who've organized their storage for dozens of die sets. Edit: I just counted my dies. I have twelve. I bet there are some of you who couldn't count all yours without losing count or missing as many as I have in my entire collection.

 

[Varminterror]

I’m convinced that die and turret storage solutions must shrink, because every solution I have used over the last ~25yrs of having my own bench has eventually become too small…

My current set up is a few tall filing cabinets I picked up for free from my son’s old grade school when they did some renovations, with racks cut from HDPE to fit the turret heads and dies. I do wish I had a bit better method for storing Wilson chamber type dies and seating caps, the racks I made work, but aren’t what I’d call ideal.

For almost all of my reloading life, once a die set comes out of its box, it never goes back inside unless I sell the dies. Maybe it’s an affliction, I keep my die boxes stacked by cartridge, and I hate shuffling boxes to get to the dies I need, disrupting the stacks and wasting time. So I store dies and turrets for accessibility, and store the boxes in a more “long term” system.

 

[entropy]

Original boxes, in a drawer.

 

[JFrank]

I store the dies I use in my turret press in the turrets. The dies for my Dillon are stored in the tool heads.
View attachment 1128598

Wow ‘ you are a serious reloader.
Very impressive..Sir

 

[Bobaloo22]

I also store mine in the original boxes, I’m careful about the moisture levels in my shop so sometimes I have desiccant packs on the shelves with the kits.

 

[rfwobbly]

In the Tool Head on a foam cushion strip on the rear of the benchtop...

 

[Walkalong]

Most in the original boxes, some in RCBS boxes instead, most stacked in the storage space in the reloading bench, the hand dies in a cabinet on the wall.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

In turrets ready to go.

 

[Blue68f100]

I store mine in the original boxes as they came in if big enough to hold the LNL bushings. If not I use a Hornady case. They then go in to a drawer with the label up. I built this drawer specifically for dies and 1# bottles. The drawer has the HD ball bearing slides rated for 200#. It's not as quite as heavy as my bullet drawer just above it, which is full with 100, 250, 500 round boxes. All excess and lead bullets have another storage location under the bench.

 

[Stefan A]

In turrets. But, I will have to do something new when I get my SPP6000. I will probably keep each die in a bushing inside the case.

 

[mcb]

Most of mine are in tool heads on tool heads stands for my Dillon XL 650. The rest are in the original boxes in a draw with other reloading parts and accessories. I probably need two or three more tool heads, all though I usual have one tool heads that gets dies swap around for stuff I reload less often and smaller quantities.

 

[CQB45ACP]

On press for 7. In original boxes (in my sock drawer) for remaining 5.

 

[Wildbillz]

I keep my RCBS dies in there boxes in a cabinet or drawer. The ones I have setup for the Dillon press are in the tool heads on stands in the cabinet.

WB

 

[Seedy Character]

In the original box, with shell holder.
In a drawer, from smallest to largest caliber.

The Dillon is set up for .357. Have never changed it.

 

[Chuck R.]

The majority (single stage rifle) in their original boxes. The progressive dies remain in their toolheads.