Cleaning

xdshooter1 · February 12, 2008, 06:41 PM

What does everyone use to clean thier dies? And how often do you clean them?
XD

ShootingNut · February 12, 2008, 06:51 PM

I use my Hoppes 9 and a Q-Tip, seems to work fine for me.
And I think that around 300 rounds or so, I clean the dies for each caliber that I load.
SN

amamnn · February 13, 2008, 11:39 PM

Brake parts cleaner, it's the same stuff as Gun Scrubber. It blows all the crud out in a snap, but it has to be used outside which is a pain when it's raining.

ShootingNut · February 14, 2008, 07:17 AM

Not me, to darn cold around here in the winter (-20), then in the summer you get eatin' alive by the mosquitoes!

stubbicatt · February 14, 2008, 09:53 AM

I only clean my dies when I notice dimples on the shoulders of brass. I use Mpro7 and a chamber brush for that caliber, followed by a squirt of nonchlorinated brake cleaner.

Smokey Joe · February 14, 2008, 11:49 AM

is something I avoid. (I hate maintenance of all kinds; do only what's necessary. Got better things to do with my life than polish brass buttons.)

The only dies that have needed cleaning are the bullet seating/crimping dies for my lead pistol bullets--They collect bullet lube and after a certain amount, will no longer seat the bullets exactly.

So I check those after each reloading session, and when there is noticeable gunk in the die clean it with a Q tip and whatever liquid gun cleaning solvent comes to hand--Butch's, Hoppe's, whatever is on my workbench.

Never had a problem with rusty or corroded dies. They just don't.

AlaskaMike · February 14, 2008, 01:01 PM

I use WD-40 and paper towels. The only dies I've ever seen any rust on were my Lee dies.

Mike

TNFrank · February 14, 2008, 02:09 PM

You know, I've never cleaned a die. I know I probably should but I just never get around to it, LOL. Guess I should do it before the next time I reload, if I can remember to.

BigJimP · February 14, 2008, 02:36 PM

A little bit of gun scrubber on a Q-Tip is all I use. I probably clean them about every 1,000 rounds or so / when I remove the tool head to change calibers. I don't find its that big a deal.

xdshooter1 · February 14, 2008, 08:04 PM

Thanks for the info

February 12, 2008, 06:41 PM	#1
xdshooter1 Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2007 Posts: 10	Cleaning What does everyone use to clean thier dies? And how often do you clean them? XD

February 13, 2008, 11:39 PM	#3
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	Brake parts cleaner, it's the same stuff as Gun Scrubber. It blows all the crud out in a snap, but it has to be used outside which is a pain when it's raining. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

February 14, 2008, 07:17 AM	#4
ShootingNut Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,475	Cleaning Outside Not me, to darn cold around here in the winter (-20), then in the summer you get eatin' alive by the mosquitoes!

February 14, 2008, 11:49 AM	#6
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Cleaning dies... is something I avoid. (I hate maintenance of all kinds; do only what's necessary. Got better things to do with my life than polish brass buttons.) The only dies that have needed cleaning are the bullet seating/crimping dies for my lead pistol bullets--They collect bullet lube and after a certain amount, will no longer seat the bullets exactly. So I check those after each reloading session, and when there is noticeable gunk in the die clean it with a Q tip and whatever liquid gun cleaning solvent comes to hand--Butch's, Hoppe's, whatever is on my workbench. Never had a problem with rusty or corroded dies. They just don't. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

February 12, 2008, 06:51 PM	#2
ShootingNut Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,475	I use my Hoppes 9 and a Q-Tip, seems to work fine for me. And I think that around 300 rounds or so, I clean the dies for each caliber that I load. SN

February 14, 2008, 09:53 AM	#5
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	I only clean my dies when I notice dimples on the shoulders of brass. I use Mpro7 and a chamber brush for that caliber, followed by a squirt of nonchlorinated brake cleaner.

February 14, 2008, 01:01 PM	#7
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I use WD-40 and paper towels. The only dies I've ever seen any rust on were my Lee dies. Mike

February 14, 2008, 02:09 PM	#8
TNFrank Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2007 Location: Crossville, TN., U.S.A. Posts: 490	You know, I've never cleaned a die. I know I probably should but I just never get around to it, LOL. Guess I should do it before the next time I reload, if I can remember to.

February 14, 2008, 02:36 PM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	A little bit of gun scrubber on a Q-Tip is all I use. I probably clean them about every 1,000 rounds or so / when I remove the tool head to change calibers. I don't find its that big a deal.

February 14, 2008, 08:04 PM	#10
xdshooter1 Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks for the info