Lee Full Length Sizer -maintenance?

[glenns]

I reload using a Lee Classic Turret Press. I have used the same 9 mm die set for the last 3-4 years. Not sure how many I've loaded - maybe 2-3,000 a year.

Tonight it was very difficult operating my full length sizer - I was just using the sizer to take out the old primer and put in a new one. It got stuck on the down stroke and difficult on the up-stroke.

Took out the decapper and tried to clean the inside with a brush. Didn't seem to help.

What maintenance are you supposed to perform on the full length sizer or do they wear out after a number of reloads?

Glenn

 

[HOWARD J]

I polish the inside of the die with a barrel brush coated with Flitz polish & finish up with patches to clean off the polish

 

[BHarada]

Not sure what you mean by saying you're using your sizing die to decap only. While you can use a sizing die to resize only by removing the decapping rod/pin, you can't use it to decap only since the sizing ring is at the base of the die and any case you push into it is being resized.

Is this happening in a non-carbide sizing die? If it is then I'd suggest you check the amount of case lube you're using. With my carbide dies I've had some tight fits in the up stroke with hotly loaded brass, but nothing close to feeling stuck. And nothing on the down stroke.

 

[HOWARD J]

Best polish job for carbide resizing die:
place box cutter in vice---use a Dremel tool with a 1/2" polishing wheel & rub wheel against box cutter blade until wheel is small enuf to fit inside resizing die,
Coat with Flitz polish & run at med. speed inside die until a high shine is achieved.
Clean out any polish left with patches.
Use resizing wax on first piece of brass---works for me

 

[glenns]

Try to explain more:
1. I was using my progressive Lee press as a single stage press. So I was just resizing and depriming.
2. When it became 'sticky' I disassembled the resizing/depriming die and took out the decapper.

It is a Lee Carbide die and I don't use any lube since it's 9mm brass (should I be using lube?)

 

[glenns]

Best polish job for carbide resizing die:
place box cutter in vice---use a Dremel tool with a 1/2" polishing wheel & rub wheel against box cutter blade until wheel is small enuf to fit inside resizing die,
Coat with Flitz polish & run at med. speed inside die until a high shine is achieved.
Clean out any polish left with patches.
Use resizing wax on first piece of brass---works for me

HOWARD J - I will try that.
Thanks,
Glenn

 

[FROGO207]

You can get brass galled on the interior surface of a carbide die. Usually the brass will have a vertical scratch----or many after resizing it as well as being hard to run in and out of the die. If this happens use a split dowel and a strip of 600 or finer emery paper chucked into a drill to polish out the softer brass galling. That paper will not touch the hardened surface of a carbide die. Then polish the interior with a little wax and use as normal. I have done it to several sizing dies I have purchased really cheap due to the previous owner thinking they were ruined. RC had a good explanation of how to use the sandpaper and dowel to clean your die but I cant find the link just now. As far as maintenance I just put them into the tumbler for a couple hours with walnut media and NU-Finish to clean them when the spirit moves me to if they look rusty or bad for any other reason.

Some will spray a bit of lube on their brass every so often to "help" keep things from sticking. I have used my Lee 9MM Carbide dies to size upwards of 500K brass with no problems with only a yearly dip in the tumbler.

 

[dickttx]

When reloading 9mm I keep a little graphite puffed on the bench top near the press. I just roll the case mouth over it about every fifth round.
The Lee 9mm carbide insert is about 3/8" and tapered instead of the normal small ring on other calibers.