Cleaning rust off dies with an ultrasonic cleaner

Tex S · November 19, 2012, 02:22 PM

I just got an us cleaner. Will it remove rust from dies? If so, what type of solution should I use? I have the Lyman case cleaner solution, but it specifically says not to use it with anything other than stainless steel.

JimDandy · November 19, 2012, 03:07 PM

Aren't cases brass? So you already use it with something other than stainless steel? Or does it say to not use it with stainless stell? I'm not advocating using it or not using it, just got a little flipped around on your question.

Spammy_H · November 19, 2012, 03:34 PM

Whatever you can use to clean your gun (not brass) would probably be ok to clean dies. But I would make really sure that you can get all moisture out of them and put a light coat of oil on afterwards.

I'm not sure rust would come off via ultrasonic cleaning - I think that mechanical action would be required to get the rust off.

I used break-free and steel wool to get rust off of my dies.

NWPilgrim · November 19, 2012, 03:47 PM

There a different "gun parts" solution for ultrasonic cleaners. I have not tried it on rust though. The us cleaner does NOT seem to remove the hard carbon on my AR15 bolt so I doubt it would get the rust either. I would go the bronze brush and penetrating oil route.

snuffy · November 19, 2012, 03:57 PM

Do you know of this stuff called Naval jelly? It's heavy duty ACID. The case cleaner Hornady makes is concentrated acidic ACID. It gets diluted 40-1 to use as brass cas cleaner.

If your dies are simply surface rusted, then a trip through an acid case cleaner solution would remove that surface rust. It they're pitted, it would remove the surface rust, then you could see how deep the pits are. CAUTION! You will need to IMMEDIATELY rinse the solution from those dies, dry them well AND put some rust preventative oil on them.

Tex S · November 19, 2012, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Aren't cases brass? So you already use it with something other than stainless steel? Or does it say to not use it with stainless stell? I'm not advocating using it or not using it, just got a little flipped around on your question.

Meaning the only type of steel it is safe to work on is stainless. Any steel other than stainless should not be used with the cleaner. Brass is ok.

November 19, 2012, 02:22 PM	#1
Tex S Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TEXAS Posts: 909	Cleaning rust off dies with an ultrasonic cleaner I just got an us cleaner. Will it remove rust from dies? If so, what type of solution should I use? I have the Lyman case cleaner solution, but it specifically says not to use it with anything other than stainless steel.

November 19, 2012, 03:57 PM	#5
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Do you know of this stuff called Naval jelly? It's heavy duty ACID. The case cleaner Hornady makes is concentrated acidic ACID. It gets diluted 40-1 to use as brass cas cleaner. If your dies are simply surface rusted, then a trip through an acid case cleaner solution would remove that surface rust. It they're pitted, it would remove the surface rust, then you could see how deep the pits are. CAUTION! You will need to IMMEDIATELY rinse the solution from those dies, dry them well AND put some rust preventative oil on them. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

November 19, 2012, 03:07 PM	#2
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	Aren't cases brass? So you already use it with something other than stainless steel? Or does it say to not use it with stainless stell? I'm not advocating using it or not using it, just got a little flipped around on your question.

November 19, 2012, 03:34 PM	#3
Spammy_H Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2009 Posts: 220	Whatever you can use to clean your gun (not brass) would probably be ok to clean dies. But I would make really sure that you can get all moisture out of them and put a light coat of oil on afterwards. I'm not sure rust would come off via ultrasonic cleaning - I think that mechanical action would be required to get the rust off. I used break-free and steel wool to get rust off of my dies.

November 19, 2012, 03:47 PM	#4
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	There a different "gun parts" solution for ultrasonic cleaners. I have not tried it on rust though. The us cleaner does NOT seem to remove the hard carbon on my AR15 bolt so I doubt it would get the rust either. I would go the bronze brush and penetrating oil route.