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Old May 17, 2009, 09:06 PM   #1
czfonz
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Cleaning Dies

What do you guys use to clean your dies? I have a set of lee carbide dies that are in need of some cleaning.
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Old May 17, 2009, 09:08 PM   #2
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You're supposed to clean them? I'd probably use gasoline. [insert obligatory warning that gasoline is flammable]
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Old May 17, 2009, 09:22 PM   #3
F. Guffey
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I use a towel on a dowel.

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Old May 17, 2009, 09:26 PM   #4
MDS
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I use Hoppe solvent that I use for my guns.
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Old May 17, 2009, 10:21 PM   #5
PCJim
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Haven't yet found a reason or need to clean them.
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Old May 17, 2009, 10:27 PM   #6
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A squirt of Rem oil works well. It's 50% mineral spirits so it cleans well and dries in a couple of days.
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Old May 17, 2009, 11:07 PM   #7
That'll Do
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I use Hoppes #9 to clean mine.

I usually clean then every couple of thousand rounds or so.
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Old May 17, 2009, 11:46 PM   #8
maggys drawers
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Brake or carb cleaner works well and dries quickly.
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Old May 18, 2009, 12:59 AM   #9
Gregory Gauvin
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Marvel Mystery Oil.
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Old May 18, 2009, 01:06 AM   #10
czfonz
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I like the carb cleaner idea. I use it at work all the time and it cleans grime off car parts very well. I'll put a lil hoppes oil too because the carb cleaner dries up quickly.

thx
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Old May 18, 2009, 09:21 AM   #11
azar92
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Ballistol. Cleans and is also a great rust protectant.
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Old May 18, 2009, 04:10 PM   #12
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Just learned a few new one's.
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Old May 18, 2009, 04:33 PM   #13
Shane Tuttle
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Any of the above methods work just fine. I myself use Hoppes #9 and a soft cloth/Q-tip. Rubbing alcohol cuts the grime OK if you're on a budget or in a pinch.
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Old May 18, 2009, 06:21 PM   #14
orionengnr
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I just pulled my 45acp seating die the other day because i was getting inconsistent OAL. Looked inside, and Holy Crap! Bunch of lead shavings buried in a caked-up bullet lube goo. Took a jeweler's screwdriver, some paper towels and about 1/2 an hour to get it all out.

I doubt that Hoppes, mineral spirits, brake cleaner or any of the other suggestions would cut the waxy lube. Maybe throwing the die into a pot of boiling water or set it in the oven might have worked, but with the lead, nah, probably not such a good idea.

This is after pushing out about 2000 rounds. Am I the only one with this problem?
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Old May 18, 2009, 07:19 PM   #15
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The afforementioned products will work if you clean the die more frequently than 2000 rounds. Don't let it build up so bad and you'll be able to wipe it out with a paper towel.
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Old May 18, 2009, 07:25 PM   #16
Dingoboyx
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I use

a pistol cleaning rod and my old bronze/brass brushes that I have retired from cleaning the barrels with. Rather than throw them out, I keep them to clean my dies. I just clean the dies like I clean a barrel, and use wads on a jag, dry to clean out the gunk after brushing, then a lightly oiled wad, to stop rust when I am done. I lightly spray the outsides with Inox when I am done, again to stop external rust.

Basically I just treat them like a gun barrel. I clean them after each use, so they dont rust & are ready for next time
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Old May 18, 2009, 07:36 PM   #17
rjrivero
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I'm Lazy....

I toss them in the Ultrasonic every 5 thousand rounds or so. When they start to seat deep, or under crimp showing gunk buildup.
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Old May 18, 2009, 09:10 PM   #18
furtaker
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I use Hornady one shot gun cleaner
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Old May 19, 2009, 02:19 AM   #19
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Went to academy and bought a toothbrush style bronze bursh that has a smaller tapered end with a squirt of break free. I generally only have to clean my seating dies that I reload with lead. And something like my .300WSM that I generally only will load about 20 rounds every year or so, after I get through loading a box, I'll clean 'em before I put 'em back on the shelve. The rest of my stuff I never have a problem with, as the 300wsm is only a precautionary thing I do generally because I'm bored. But then again, I'll run the brass through my LEE deprimer, run them through my dillion tumbler, then resize them run 'em thru my tumbler again then proceed with reloading process.
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