what do you use to clean your dies

dstiltz · January 12, 2013, 11:16 PM

i was wondering what you use to clean your dies . does any one use brake cleaner and would that be ok ?

mohr308 · January 13, 2013, 12:08 AM

I've used Remington bore cleaner and brake cleaner.

Bart B. · January 13, 2013, 06:56 AM

Naptha or laquer thinner's good to get the dirt and lube out. And Flitz metal polish is the best thing to keep the die's inside surfaces smooth so there's minimum friction and case scratching when sizing, but clean it out after using it.

If one's sizing dies are pretty rough or scratched, cleaning patches on a large bore brush coated with 600 to 800 grit lapping compound chucked in drill spun at a medium speed wil smooth them up quite easily and not remove any significant metal. Be sure to clean that abrasive out and off of everything when finished.

hounddawg · January 13, 2013, 07:13 AM

warm water and soap works wonders. Dry em off with compressed air

jj320 · January 13, 2013, 07:32 AM

Soap and water

the led farmer · January 13, 2013, 09:18 AM

Just like a gun hoppes #9 and oil

http://leeprecision.net/support/inde...-removing-rust

bluetopper · January 13, 2013, 10:08 AM

Brake cleaner for me. Dissolves and blows out crud and dries in a jiffy.

hooligan1 · January 13, 2013, 11:36 AM

Yep I use brake cleaner and compressed air, and if they get any rust or generally cruddy, I throw them suckers in my tumbler for a few hours and they come out brand new.

Vance · January 13, 2013, 12:50 PM

Ultrasonic cleaner with hot soapy water.

Gerry · January 13, 2013, 01:31 PM

For the inside, I always used Q-Tips dipped in mineral spirits (paint thinner), and mainly for the bullet seating die when I was loading bullets tumble lubed with LLA. If I'm putting a set away for any length of time, I treat them like I would my gun, a bullet mold, or anything else that can rust. I lightly coat all surfaces with a thin film of oil and then store in a dry place.

Nathan · January 13, 2013, 01:35 PM

Weapon's Shield CLP and blue paper towels...same as a gun.

MarcB · January 13, 2013, 05:26 PM

Brake clean followed up with Tri-Flow lubricant and protector.

reynolds357 · January 13, 2013, 05:44 PM

Non chlorinated brake cleaner. A bunch of the old timers clean them in "white gas." I dont like smelling gas, but it by far works the best.

wncchester · January 13, 2013, 06:58 PM

Dies are steel so any conventional solvent or spray cleaner will clean them quite well, it sure isn't critical.

I rarely clean my dies after I finish loading, I just give them a spritz of any inexpensive spray oil, or a swab of Automatic Transmission Fluid, for rust protection and put them away. I CLEAN them before the next use, usually with cheep Walmart spray carb or brake cleaner OR a pencil wrapped with toilet tissue and mineral spirits/oderless paint thinner to make a big wet swab to twirl around inside followed by a dry swab to prepare them for use.

Remember that a totally clean sizer die needs good lubrication on the first case and 'short stroke' the ram a few times when it enters the die to spread lube on the inner walls and avoid getting a stuck case.

Hammerhead · January 13, 2013, 07:30 PM

Mineral spirits.
It breaks down bullet lube well and isn't as hard on your skin as brake cleaner.

NWPilgrim · January 13, 2013, 07:53 PM

Usually I just use a qtip and CLP to wipe out the body, then a dry one. If it is really gunked up with castlead lube then I blast it with newer brake cleaner. I make sure the first few cases going in are well lubed.

hodaka · January 13, 2013, 07:59 PM

I rarely see a need.

dstiltz · January 15, 2013, 02:42 PM

Thanks for the info I think I getting a build up of lube plus one shot said to lube your die with it.

reynolds357 · January 15, 2013, 06:57 PM

hodaka, I agree. I think the last time I cleaned a die was probably 5 or 6 years ago, but when I do I use brake cleaner or gasoline.

Hammerhead · January 15, 2013, 07:41 PM

You guys must not shoot cast.

hodaka · January 15, 2013, 07:56 PM

Yes, I shoot a lot of .45 and .38's and I do occasionally get some buildup of lube and lead but not very often. The seating die is the only one that suffers and usually I just take the die apart and run a paper towel through the die. It has been a long time so I should probably check to see what they look like. I shoot about 400/month.

springer99 · January 15, 2013, 07:57 PM

Very rarely clean my dies but when I do so, I just give them a shot of Hornady One-shot Case Lube(which is what I use when reloading) and wipe them off with a rag, etc. Then another shot prior to putting them away for storage.

hk33ka1 · January 15, 2013, 08:28 PM

Non clorinated brake parts cleaner

reynolds357 · January 15, 2013, 08:54 PM

Hammerhead, you are correct. I do not shoot cast.

January 12, 2013, 11:16 PM	#1
dstiltz Junior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Posts: 9	what do you use to clean your dies i was wondering what you use to clean your dies . does any one use brake cleaner and would that be ok ?

January 13, 2013, 12:08 AM	#2
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	I've used Remington bore cleaner and brake cleaner. __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

January 13, 2013, 07:13 AM	#4
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	warm water and soap works wonders. Dry em off with compressed air __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

January 13, 2013, 11:36 AM	#8
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,586	Yep I use brake cleaner and compressed air, and if they get any rust or generally cruddy, I throw them suckers in my tumbler for a few hours and they come out brand new. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

January 13, 2013, 06:56 AM	#3
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Naptha or laquer thinner's good to get the dirt and lube out. And Flitz metal polish is the best thing to keep the die's inside surfaces smooth so there's minimum friction and case scratching when sizing, but clean it out after using it. If one's sizing dies are pretty rough or scratched, cleaning patches on a large bore brush coated with 600 to 800 grit lapping compound chucked in drill spun at a medium speed wil smooth them up quite easily and not remove any significant metal. Be sure to clean that abrasive out and off of everything when finished.

January 13, 2013, 07:32 AM	#5
jj320 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2013 Location: hobart,in Posts: 119	Soap and water

January 13, 2013, 09:18 AM	#6
the led farmer Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2012 Location: so cal Posts: 246	Just like a gun hoppes #9 and oil http://leeprecision.net/support/inde...-removing-rust

January 13, 2013, 10:08 AM	#7
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	Brake cleaner for me. Dissolves and blows out crud and dries in a jiffy.

January 13, 2013, 12:50 PM	#9
Vance Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: North Bend, OR Posts: 743	Ultrasonic cleaner with hot soapy water.

January 13, 2013, 01:31 PM	#10
Gerry Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 382	For the inside, I always used Q-Tips dipped in mineral spirits (paint thinner), and mainly for the bullet seating die when I was loading bullets tumble lubed with LLA. If I'm putting a set away for any length of time, I treat them like I would my gun, a bullet mold, or anything else that can rust. I lightly coat all surfaces with a thin film of oil and then store in a dry place.

January 13, 2013, 01:35 PM	#11
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,332	Weapon's Shield CLP and blue paper towels...same as a gun.

January 13, 2013, 05:26 PM	#12
MarcB Member Join Date: January 7, 2013 Posts: 41	Brake clean followed up with Tri-Flow lubricant and protector.

January 13, 2013, 05:44 PM	#13
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Non chlorinated brake cleaner. A bunch of the old timers clean them in "white gas." I dont like smelling gas, but it by far works the best.

January 13, 2013, 06:58 PM	#14
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	Dies are steel so any conventional solvent or spray cleaner will clean them quite well, it sure isn't critical. I rarely clean my dies after I finish loading, I just give them a spritz of any inexpensive spray oil, or a swab of Automatic Transmission Fluid, for rust protection and put them away. I CLEAN them before the next use, usually with cheep Walmart spray carb or brake cleaner OR a pencil wrapped with toilet tissue and mineral spirits/oderless paint thinner to make a big wet swab to twirl around inside followed by a dry swab to prepare them for use. Remember that a totally clean sizer die needs good lubrication on the first case and 'short stroke' the ram a few times when it enters the die to spread lube on the inner walls and avoid getting a stuck case.

January 13, 2013, 07:30 PM	#15
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Mineral spirits. It breaks down bullet lube well and isn't as hard on your skin as brake cleaner.

January 13, 2013, 07:53 PM	#16
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	Usually I just use a qtip and CLP to wipe out the body, then a dry one. If it is really gunked up with castlead lube then I blast it with newer brake cleaner. I make sure the first few cases going in are well lubed.

January 13, 2013, 07:59 PM	#17
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I rarely see a need.

January 15, 2013, 02:42 PM	#18
dstiltz Junior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Posts: 9	Thanks for the info I think I getting a build up of lube plus one shot said to lube your die with it.

January 15, 2013, 06:57 PM	#19
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	hodaka, I agree. I think the last time I cleaned a die was probably 5 or 6 years ago, but when I do I use brake cleaner or gasoline.

January 15, 2013, 07:41 PM	#20
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	You guys must not shoot cast.

January 15, 2013, 07:56 PM	#21
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	Yes, I shoot a lot of .45 and .38's and I do occasionally get some buildup of lube and lead but not very often. The seating die is the only one that suffers and usually I just take the die apart and run a paper towel through the die. It has been a long time so I should probably check to see what they look like. I shoot about 400/month.

January 15, 2013, 07:57 PM	#22
springer99 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2008 Posts: 355	Very rarely clean my dies but when I do so, I just give them a shot of Hornady One-shot Case Lube(which is what I use when reloading) and wipe them off with a rag, etc. Then another shot prior to putting them away for storage.

January 15, 2013, 08:28 PM	#23
hk33ka1 Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2010 Posts: 275	Non clorinated brake parts cleaner

January 15, 2013, 08:54 PM	#24
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Hammerhead, you are correct. I do not shoot cast.