Light rust on a set of dies?

[Highland Lofts]

I acquired an old used set of RCBS 45/70 dies and they have some rust on them, what's the best way to address the problem?

I'm sure one of you guys came across stuff like this and figured it out already. .
Thank you in advance.

 

[74man]

There is this stuff called Kroil Oil, it eats rust. I bought a bullet remover and they were rusted also. Let them soak over night and used a wire brush and they came out like new. If you have really bad rust inside, notify RCBS and send them back to RCBS for re-conditioning or if really bad they will probably replace them. The green box reminds me of RCBS. Who makes the dies?? Take the locking rings off when you clean them!!!

 

[troy fairweather]

Some oil and a wire brush.

 

[Highland Lofts]

Rcbs dies.
The rust is on the outside only.
I'll see what others have to say and buy something tomorrow.

 

[EricBu]

I acquired an old used set of RCBS 45/70 dies and they have some rust on them, what's the best way to address the problem?

I'm sure one of you guys came across stuff like this and figured it out already. .
Thank you in advance.

View attachment 1066552

Kroil, CLP, WD-40, Hopps #9.....whatever you have on hand and a stiff toothbrush will get them like knew...then wipe it off, then apply a nice coat of Kroil or CLP (or any oil really) and wipe dry to prevent future rust. I buy CLP and Kroil by the gallon so tend to always turn to one or the other for anything like this.

 

[billybob44]

Soak a few days in cleaning vinegar. You can buy in the cleaning products at Home Depot.
I have used this on a lot of lawn mower parts=works GREAT.

You may want to take off the turn-lock adapters first..Will probably discolor the adapters..Bill.

 

[LiveLife]

New Rcbs dies ... rust is on the outside only.

what's the best way to address the problem?

Regardless what method you use to remove rust, you will still need to treat the metal surface or rust will return.

One method I used to remove surface rust on metal parts is to dry tumble in walnut media treated with Nu Finish as residual polymer left on the surface will help prevent rust from returning.

My friend forgot about his dies in the garage and they developed heavy surface rust that required use of rust remover but just dry tumbling in walnut media removed quite a lot of surface rust - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/cure-for-rusted-dies.838315/#post-10864325

Went from this

To this

 

[thump_rrr]

Boeshield T-9 and a bronze brush.
Boeshield will also prevent it from happening again.

 

[Bearded Phil]

I've used Evaporust to good results. Should be able to find it at Ace or most hardware stores.

Remove any gaskets and let the dies soak overnight. Scrub with a nylon brush and wipe clean. Re-soak or for longer as needed. Cool thing about the Evaporust is you can put it back in the bottle and use it again later. Eventually it stops working they say when it gets too dirty/used up.

Give the dies a good rubbing with ballistol after and keep an eye on them.

 

[Reloadron]

I just use a bronze brush and any of the oils mentioned. Then just apply a light coat of oil.

Ron

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Dunk them in a mixture of citric acid and water. That rust will fall-off in a few hours and be shiny new.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I acquired an old used set of RCBS 45/70 dies and they have some rust on them, what's the best way to address the problem?

I'm sure one of you guys came across stuff like this and figured it out already. .
Thank you in advance.

View attachment 1066552

what are those lugs for?

 

[Mark_Mark]

Regardless what method you use to remove rust, you will still need to treat the metal surface or rust will return.

One method I used to remove surface rust on metal parts is to dry tumble in walnut media treated with Nu Finish as residual polymer left on the surface will help prevent rust from returning.

My friend forgot about his dies in the garage and they developed heavy surface rust that required use of rust remover but just dry tumbling in walnut media removed quite a lot of surface rust - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/cure-for-rusted-dies.838315/#post-10864325

Went from this

To this

I have a great idea!!!!! hear me out.

take the rusty dies apart, put in a dry tumbler with walnut, extra car wax, and a but of alcohol or mineral.

what you guys think????

 

[Bazoo]

I wire brush them with a powered brush in my drill when I have rusty dies.

 

[LiveLife]

and a [bit] of alcohol or mineral [spirit]

I don't recall ever reading about adding alcohol but many add mineral spirits when media gets old/gunks up to "refresh" to extend the life of media.

I absolutely prefer to keep my Harbor Freight fine grit walnut on the dry side and add another capful of Nu Finish only once every several batches. Since brass I pick up is mostly new/once-fired (I see shooters all take them out of factory new boxes), my media really doesn't get that dirty and I replace media long before it really gets dirty/gunky because I like the fast cleaning action from Berry's tumbler.

For my brass pickup, 15-20 minutes is enough to clean them for reloading and they are plenty shiny enough but if I want to impress some shooters, I will let the tumbler run for an hour or so.

 

[Reloadron]

what are those lugs for?

I wondered about that too?

Ron

 

[ericuda]

Go to your local auto parts store and ask for some spray on rust remover. Best comes in just a pint or quart jug you put in your Wal-Mart pump sorayer. It is basically phosphoric acid. Works quick and easy with light brushing with the brush of your choice.

Oil probably works but the acid is easier and to me more thorough.

 

[LiveLife]

what are those lugs for?

I wondered about that too?

Likely Hornady die bushings with locking rings - https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-Load-Bushings-Conversion/dp/B07R95QZHS

 

[Mark_Mark]

I don't recall ever reading about adding alcohol but many add mineral spirits when media gets old/gunks up to "refresh" to extend the life of media.

I absolutely prefer to keep my Harbor Freight fine grit walnut on the dry side and add another capful of Nu Finish only once every several batches. Since brass I pick up is mostly new/once-fired (I see shooters all take them out of factory new boxes), my media really doesn't get that dirty and I replace media long before it really gets dirty/gunky because I like the fast cleaning action from Berry's tumbler.

For my brass pickup, 15-20 minutes is enough to clean them for reloading and they are plenty shiny enough but if I want to impress some shooters, I will let the tumbler run for an hour or so.

I used a nice squeeze of NuWax on Walnut and forgot about it, 18 hours later, mirror shine on the 10mm brass, could not tell the difference between the nickel and brass

 

[Obturation]

Avoid acid. Some transmission fluid and steel wool will fix you up. My 45-70 rcbs dies were crusty & rusty when I got them too. I found them vastly superior to the lee dies I had and I use them all the time now.

 

[LiveLife]

forgot ... 18 hours later, mirror shine

Been there and done that. When you wake up and while making coffee your wife goes, "Honey, what's that noise?"

And with a straight face, you say you wanted extra shiny brass for her rounds ... to match her shiny rings.

 

[Highland Lofts]

what are those lugs for?

I wondered about that too?
---------------------

They are Hornaday Lock n Load bushings.
Drop the die in the press and a 1/4 turn and start loading.
When done 1/4 turn take it out and insert next die, a 1/4 turn and start loading.

No screwing the dies in and screwing the dies out.
Really quick change over.

The bushings use to cost around $4 apiece, like everything else they are over $6 apiece now.

--------------------
As far as the rusty dies I'll contend with them tomorrow or Saturday. I'll hit the hardware store tomorrow.

Thank all of you for the replies.

 

[length_of_pull_1]

I boil em on the stove for about 15 minutes. It gets rid of the rust and whatever crud is on the inside. A light coat of any oil works wonders. I use mineral oil.

 

[Laphroaig]

In my experience, tumbling will get most of it, a wire wheel on the grinder the rest.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I acquired an old used set of RCBS 45/70 dies and they have some rust on them, what's the best way to address the problem?

I'm sure one of you guys came across stuff like this and figured it out already. .
Thank you in advance.

View attachment 1066552

My grandad's 30-06 RCBS dies were worse than that when I dug them out and started using them. Completely disassemble them, remove any non metal parts, CLR soak overnight, wipe down, dry tumble or vibrate a few hours in walnut or corn media.