Reloading dies cleaning tips

[vaalpens]

Cleaning Dies and Coating Dies ; I could publish a short book on it . Basically if you don't have an ultrasonic cleaner ,just get an appropriate metal pan ( or empty soup can ) and place them in it cover with Acetone or Lacquer thinner .
Allow a couple of minutes and take a QTip swab wash or wipe inside while in the solution . Upon removal immediate compressed air dry ,followed by your choice of lube product . I use Boeshield T9 inside and out , set on cardboard allow #5 minutes and wipe any excess off with paper towels or clean shop rag . You can take the Dirty thinner and strain it via coffee and paper towel filter and place it into an appropriately Marked Metal can for later reuses also .
I wear special Stansolv gloves for chemical protection . You can just Double up on nitrile gloves from that harbor place but DON'T keep your fingers submerged in either solvent . As an occupational hazard I have ZERO fat left in my hands ,hell I don't even have legible fingerprints any longer !.

Thanks for the detailed information you provided. Good thing you reminded everybody to use good gloves when working with cleaning solvents. Not having legible fingerprints probably opens up some job opportunities we are not allowed to talk about in an open forum.

 

[AJC1]

The same over here. No supporting facts, but it just seems SS pins and dies shouldn't go together.

For all that's is Holly don't tumble them in pins. My reloading buddy scrapped his Hornaday dies that way.

 

[EricBu]

For all that's is Holly don't tumble them in pins. My reloading buddy scrapped his Hornaday dies that way.

That made me laugh out loud. Poor dude. Good warning though, lots of us over the years have gotten in the habit throughing things that needed cleaning into the old vibratory tumbler.....that doesn't alwasy transfer to rotary tumblers with pins;-)

 

[JimKirk]

Thanks for the advise. We always get lazy and don't want to make the extra effort to take things outside. It is a safety issue and a health issue.

Do you use the Rem oil wipes? I love those and use them to wipe down my guns after cleaning, or after handling them. leaves a nice clean sheen on them.

I just use the spray can Rem oil(with the straw) on the dies ...then blow it out with air ... Leaves enough protection from rust but does not hinder the use ...

I use the Break free CLP wipes on my gun when storing ...but I just spray a little Rem oil on rag to wipe off after shooting ...

 

[BushMaster-15]

Thanks for the detailed information you provided. Good thing you reminded everybody to use good gloves when working with cleaning solvents. Not having legible fingerprints probably opens up some job opportunities we are not allowed to talk about in an open forum.

IF the Dept. of Army FBI CIA ,didn't already have Me ; I'm sure some extended lockups would have been in order . Perhaps MY DoD class A security was MY freedom ticket

 

[luzyfuerza]

Use a heat gun to help lead bullet lube flow out of your seating dies more easily.

Other than a quick wipe-down, I don't think that I've ever cleaned sizing or belling dies in pistol cartridges.

I use carbide pistol dies, so no case lube is required. But I've found that a quick blast of One Shot case lube on every 200 or so pistol cases helps my 650XL cycle much more smoothly. This helps everything in the reloading process work more consistently, including dropping powder.

I have never found One Shot case lube to be adequate for rifle cartridges, however.

 

[Pottimus]

Would a quick trip in the rotary tumbler be too harsh? Asking for a friend....

 

[vaalpens]

For all that's is Holly don't tumble them in pins. My reloading buddy scrapped his Hornaday dies that way.

Thanks for the information.

 

[vaalpens]

I just use the spray can Rem oil(with the straw) on the dies ...then blow it out with air ... Leaves enough protection from rust but does not hinder the use ...

I use the Break free CLP wipes on my gun when storing ...but I just spray a little Rem oil on rag to wipe off after shooting ...

Thanks. I actually need to get some Rem oil wipes again, so maybe I'll try the Rem oil spray can also to use it for the inside of the dies.

 

[vaalpens]

Use a heat gun to help lead bullet lube flow out of your seating dies more easily.

Other than a quick wipe-down, I don't think that I've ever cleaned sizing or belling dies in pistol cartridges.

I use carbide pistol dies, so no case lube is required. But I've found that a quick blast of One Shot case lube on every 200 or so pistol cases helps my 650XL cycle much more smoothly. This helps everything in the reloading process work more consistently, including dropping powder.

I have never found One Shot case lube to be adequate for rifle cartridges, however.

Thanks. I did clean a Lee expanding die yesterday, and there was some build up something on the expander. For pistol dies it seems the most buildup is on my FCD, then a little bit on expander. The seating die plug also gets dirty, so probably makes sense to keep it clean.

 

[vaalpens]

Would a quick trip in the rotary tumbler be too harsh? Asking for a friend....

Good question. The key probably will be to make sure no media is left inside the dies after the clean.

 

[Engineer1911]

I ate all the popcorn, beer is all gone, and you people still haven't figured out how to clean dies. Do you have children? What is "Wash the Car Saturday" like? Done only on 3-day weekends?

 

[EricBu]

I ate all the popcorn, beer is all gone, and you people still haven't figured out how to clean dies. Do you have children? What is "Wash the Car Saturday" like? Done only on 3-day weekends?

 

[Rule3]

I ate all the popcorn, beer is all gone, and you people still haven't figured out how to clean dies. Do you have children? What is "Wash the Car Saturday" like? Done only on 3-day weekends?

Do kids actually wash the car or mow the lawn anymore??
Clear the table, wash or dry dishes?

 

[JFrank]

I’m wondering how many different ways have been suggested to clean a die ?
Has anyone mentioned the use of a bore scope to look inside ?

 

[Rule3]

I’m wondering how many different ways have been suggested to clean a die ?
Has anyone mentioned the use of a bore scope to look inside ?

It is a pretty complex procedure

 

[JFrank]

I figured there were few different ways but I didn’t count the responses.

 

[vaalpens]

I ate all the popcorn, beer is all gone, and you people still haven't figured out how to clean dies. Do you have children? What is "Wash the Car Saturday" like? Done only on 3-day weekends?

I think everybody that shared information already figured out how to clean and protect their dies. Thanks to everybody that shared their die cleaning tips and experiences.

 

[vaalpens]

I figured there were few different ways but I didn’t count the responses.

Everybody has their own way to clean their dies, just as everybody has their own procedures to clean brass, or not to clean them. I will try and recap all the cleaning/protection methods that have been shared.

 

[Rule3]

Without reading the whole thread has anyone mention using the FART!?? Or Sonic Blaster cleaner??

 

[vaalpens]

Without reading the whole thread has anyone mention using the FART!?? Or Sonic Blaster cleaner??

It seems the consensus is that you don't want to use SS pins with dies, unless you just use the FART without SS pins. Mostly everybody tries to stay away from using water to clean their dies I would think.

 

[Rule3]

It seems the consensus is that you don't want to use SS pins with dies, unless you just use the FART without SS pins. Mostly everybody tries to stay away from using water to clean their dies I would think.

I was joking

 

[RikSors]

Qtips and air compressor

 

[Walkalong]

I use about anything at hand. Carb cleaner, brake cleaner, WD-40 or some other aerosol light oil. I definitely do not clean with water as it promotes rust more easily.

I clean seater dies the most depending on how much lubed cast bullets I seat.

My reloading area is in a temperature/humidity controlled area so rust is more easily avoided.

This

 

[irishlad]

I just use Q tips with 91% rubbing alcohol on them and blow them out with the air compressor. My reloading area is temp and humidity controlled so surface rust isn't a problem.

That is what I do too. Quick and easy