Rust ! Just on Hornady Micrometer/bright steel

[SteveW-II]

Is anyone else finding that Hornady's 'bright metal' seems to rust very quickly ?

I have my set up in the garage, along with a cheap Chinese mini lathe and mini mill (and tooling). The Hornady 'micro just' die micrometer, LNL powder micrometers (rifle/pistol) and LNL powder measure drums are all developing surface rust, despite being wiped down with CLP after use. None of the Chinese stuff is doing that. Even my cheap bare steel V blocks that I expected to rust like crazy are still okay.

Oh well.

 

[madd0c]

If you are storing it in its box it should have come with a rust inhibitor chip. Looks like a square piece of cardboard. You can buy a bunch of these chips for a few bucks:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=154282

Works well even in a plastic storage drawer I keep my LE Wilson case holders in which seem like they will rust while you watch them if I don't have the chips around them.

Oh, and one is good for a 1 square foot SEALED space. I throw a couple in the drawer since it isn;t sealed.
madd0c

 

[Otto]

Is anyone else finding that Hornady's 'bright metal' seems to rust very quickly ?

I live in the Austin area too and yes it's a constant battle fighting rust.
RIG works best for long term storage. Barricade, Eezox and Boeshield T9 are good for short term.
RemOil has a new formula that contains a VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor) available at Walmart and that's what I'm using now for the short term.
VCI's are used in vapor blocks and vapor papers as earlier mentioned.

 

[SteveW-II]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Most of my stuff is in airtight plastic containers with the VCI chips.

The point I am trying to make is that the Hornady bright metal shows surface rust in less than a week. Cheap Chinese V blocks, laying on the same bench, nothing.

 

[madd0c]

As far as I know, good tool steel has a high carbon content and no chromium content. The fact that it rusts in this case is an indication of good tool steel.
I have an LE wilson case trimmer that I thought was stainless when I got it just because of the finish. In less than 48 hours it had a very slight film of surface rust. I learned quickly to keep it oiled I think I could actually watch the thing rust lol.
After reading up on the LE Wilson site and some other digging about tool steel, it seems that the fact they rust is not an indication that they are an inferior product.

Hope that helps some
madd0c

 

[SteveW-II]

Some.

 

[tul9033]

I've seen the same rust on my LNL which is setup in my garage. The videos of others who have theirs inside still seem pristine.

 

[GooMan]

The rotor for the LNL powder measure is where I always see it.

 

[Dodge DeBoulet]

None of the bright metal on my Hornady setup is showing any rust. I unpacked it and set it up on December 16th, but in my cellar workshop . . . not my garage. At this time of year in Maine, my garage is averaging 26F

 

[Wilburt]

Same here, got light rust on the micro meter and the rotor:banghead:

 

[Kentucky Jelly]

I spray mine with one shot, and it does not rust anymore. I have mine set up in a basement that gets dank at times in the summer.

 

[SteveW-II]

I was/am still getting rust on my micrometers and powder rotors, despite storing the parts in air tight tupperware food containers containing those VCI rust control chips as well as kitchen roll sprayed with CLP folded up and lining the bottom of the container. So I have spray painted the ends of the rotors after cleaning them up, as well as the primer tube shield (was rusting grossly).

Now, at the end of each reloading session I wipe all the metal components I have used with a CLP rag, paying special attention to the rotor center section and micrometers. Its a REAL pain on the micrometers as I find Hornady's markings difficult to read even at the best of times. Once they have a bit of corrosion on them they become illegible. I am worried about the inside surface of the powder measure (where the rotor slips in) as I don't have any containers big enough to store that.

I have tried One Shot, but no better results.

I am considering looking for a secondhand Kennedy machinists metal tool chest on Ebay, refurbishing it and installing a Golden Rod heater/dehumidifier in it, just to store my Hornady 'stuff' in it. Maybe just packs of silica desiccant in with the VCI chips. I dunno. It really irks me that the Hornady stuff is so delicate. My Lee and RCBS stuff have none of these issues.

Just sharin' !

Steve.

 

[rfwobbly]

Is anyone else finding that Hornady's 'bright metal' seems to rust very quickly ?

Normally, it wouldn't be that much rust. But EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas!


Try washing your hands before reloading. The rust could be the result of salts from your own personal skin chemistry.

 

[SteveW-II]

The Texans don't know I am here. Just hiding out..

I wash my hands both before and after reloading. Without a doubt, the rust is caused by skin contact, or so I thought, until I noticed that the guide wire (cam) for the primer pick up slider was developing rust blotches. I don't ever remember touching that..