I have used this several times. It is great stuff but don't leave it soaking for more than a day or two.
I also use Boeshield on my cast iron shop tools for protection.
http://www.theruststore.com/Kits-P48C13.aspx?gclid=CK3vt7mDxMMCFcsjgQodEKQAlw
Reloading gear and rust
- Thread starter mikemyers
- Start date
- Status
I also use Boeshield on my cast iron shop tools for protection.
http://www.theruststore.com/Kits-P48C13.aspx?gclid=CK3vt7mDxMMCFcsjgQodEKQAlw
OP
OP
mikemyers
Member
Thanks for all the advice; I just got home from Ace Hardware. They got in a gallon of the WD-40 "Rust Remover Soak". I've got one set of '44 dies, all my shell holders, and a few other random parts going through rust withdrawal. 
Hope I'm not making a mistake - this set of dies was supposedly set up by my friend for '44 back in the 1980's, but it seems logical to me that I should disassemble them completely, clean all the parts, then learn how to set them up on my own as if they were a brand new set.
So, they'll soak for a few hours now, then I'll loosen the locking set screw, and take out anything I can, then let them soak some more.
Hope I'm not making a mistake - this set of dies was supposedly set up by my friend for '44 back in the 1980's, but it seems logical to me that I should disassemble them completely, clean all the parts, then learn how to set them up on my own as if they were a brand new set.
So, they'll soak for a few hours now, then I'll loosen the locking set screw, and take out anything I can, then let them soak some more.
lauderdale
Member
Mike I hope all works well for you as the fellows and I sure are concerned! I my self don't know/and are trying to learn how to post pictures! I'm not all that wise but sure have a few nice individuals that have tried to help me from THR! Would love to see pic's of the out come/process? That's me I guess im weird or ? (Worried you may need to replace.)
OP
OP
mikemyers
Member
Hi! Yep, I know far, far more about photography than I've ever learned (or thought I learned) about reloading. Here's the "progress"...
The dies were left in the WD-40 solution for two hours, then I took them out and washed them off. I used a wire brush to clean the threads, etc. I loosened the lock nut on the locking ring, and it turned freely. I suppose I could have stopped there, but decided what the heck, why not take the three dies completely apart, and start at the beginning as if they were just new parts in the box.
I didn't get far - the small knurled knobs on the top of each die didn't want to turn. I figured that after 20 or so years, and a bit of rust, they were just "frozen" in place. So, I coated everything I thought was appropriate with penetrating oil.
Fast forward an hour - no change. Using pliers didn't help. So, I called RCBS, brought them up to date, and told them that my next attempt was going to be gripping the knurled nut in "vice grips", then use a large pair of "channel locks" to hold the die, and twist hard. RCBS said to go for it, and that they could always send me new parts if I damaged anything.
The "doing" was much easier than the "thinking". Channel locks on the die, and vice grips on the knurled ring, and just a little pressure, and it (they) all came off. So, I took everything apart.
The photo below shows what things look like right now. Some surface rust came right back, but I know how to get rid of that, and then oil the parts so there will no longer be any rust problem.
The first die (sizing, and de-capping) looks fine, just a bit of surface rust that I suspect will clean up fine.
The second die (for expanding the case mouth) should also clean up fine, but wow, it has all this "crud" on it. Maybe this is something that should be cleaned every year or so??? I have no idea. I'll assume it's fine (unless someone tells me otherwise), and clean and lubricate it.
The third die (for seating the bullet and crimping???), also looks fine.
I can explain all this to RCBS, and send them the photo, and see if they think I need anything new.
Note: all three dies looked pretty and shiny when they came out of the WD-40. They still look good in a normal photograph, but by using a flash, every speck of rust shows up, and they look far worse than what they would be if I just washed them off, and gave them a light coat of oil. I think I'll leave them in the WD-40 overnight, so there will be NO rust left whatever.
The dies were left in the WD-40 solution for two hours, then I took them out and washed them off. I used a wire brush to clean the threads, etc. I loosened the lock nut on the locking ring, and it turned freely. I suppose I could have stopped there, but decided what the heck, why not take the three dies completely apart, and start at the beginning as if they were just new parts in the box.
I didn't get far - the small knurled knobs on the top of each die didn't want to turn. I figured that after 20 or so years, and a bit of rust, they were just "frozen" in place. So, I coated everything I thought was appropriate with penetrating oil.
Fast forward an hour - no change. Using pliers didn't help. So, I called RCBS, brought them up to date, and told them that my next attempt was going to be gripping the knurled nut in "vice grips", then use a large pair of "channel locks" to hold the die, and twist hard. RCBS said to go for it, and that they could always send me new parts if I damaged anything.
The "doing" was much easier than the "thinking". Channel locks on the die, and vice grips on the knurled ring, and just a little pressure, and it (they) all came off. So, I took everything apart.
The photo below shows what things look like right now. Some surface rust came right back, but I know how to get rid of that, and then oil the parts so there will no longer be any rust problem.
The first die (sizing, and de-capping) looks fine, just a bit of surface rust that I suspect will clean up fine.
The second die (for expanding the case mouth) should also clean up fine, but wow, it has all this "crud" on it. Maybe this is something that should be cleaned every year or so??? I have no idea. I'll assume it's fine (unless someone tells me otherwise), and clean and lubricate it.
The third die (for seating the bullet and crimping???), also looks fine.
I can explain all this to RCBS, and send them the photo, and see if they think I need anything new.
Note: all three dies looked pretty and shiny when they came out of the WD-40. They still look good in a normal photograph, but by using a flash, every speck of rust shows up, and they look far worse than what they would be if I just washed them off, and gave them a light coat of oil. I think I'll leave them in the WD-40 overnight, so there will be NO rust left whatever.
Make sure you degrease the parts before you submerge them. There's no doubt in my mind that what you have there is 99% phosphoric acid with a fancy label on the jug.
The places that are rusted will show a dark, near-black patina when the rust is removed. This is not harmful, and it actually provides some protection against future rusting.
Just clean the parts in hot water, dry, and oil them up after the rust is gone.
If you run out, you can use Coke or vinegar and get a similar result.
The places that are rusted will show a dark, near-black patina when the rust is removed. This is not harmful, and it actually provides some protection against future rusting.
Just clean the parts in hot water, dry, and oil them up after the rust is gone.
If you run out, you can use Coke or vinegar and get a similar result.
OP
OP
mikemyers
Member
Check this link to see what's inside the bottle, and how it works:
http://wd40specialist.com/products/rust-remover/
Now that everything is apart, I am soaking the bits and pieces for a few hours, after which I'll clean and oil them. I'll also take a new photo. RCBS told me they'd send me new parts if needed, but I suspect the parts I have now are perfectly usable.
I also tried the WD-40 on a badly rusted set of 30-30 dies; not even sure why I have them. They were in the old cardboard box, not the newer plastic die boxes. I was pleasantly surprised to see that all that rust vanished as well. I'll dry and oil them, and give them away to someone who says he can use them.
OP
OP
mikemyers
Member
An update for this thread:
I left my '44 dies in the WD-40 Rust Soak overnight. They were fully disassembled. When I took them out this morning, all the rust was gone - parts looked pretty much like new. I used Hoppe's to remove water and put on a thin coat of oil, then followed the instructions up above to clean them out, almost as if I were cleaning the bore of a gun, using paper towel "patches" until all the gunk was gone. Then a light coating of gun oil, and they're now all set to install.
Everything went smooth as silk, and the WD-40 was as good as I hoped it would be.
I left my '44 dies in the WD-40 Rust Soak overnight. They were fully disassembled. When I took them out this morning, all the rust was gone - parts looked pretty much like new. I used Hoppe's to remove water and put on a thin coat of oil, then followed the instructions up above to clean them out, almost as if I were cleaning the bore of a gun, using paper towel "patches" until all the gunk was gone. Then a light coating of gun oil, and they're now all set to install.
Everything went smooth as silk, and the WD-40 was as good as I hoped it would be.
lauderdale
Member
Good deal MIKE I learned something! And thank you for the pic's! I can get it in can form and that's will help me out!
- Status
