Cleaning Dies.

Old 454 · October 25, 2012, 10:37 AM

Is there any thing you all use to clean old lube out of your dies ?

I am getting build up in mine and I have used a dental pick to get the easy to get out stuff, but I would really like to get all that junk out of them.

Is there any kind of cleaner that you all use to remove all the lube and what not out of the dies ?

Thanks

the led farmer · October 25, 2012, 10:52 AM

this is from lee precision but i can't imagine a reason why it isn't universal

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

WIL TERRY · October 25, 2012, 11:05 AM

I CLEAN DIES exactly like I clean all the guns and with the same tooling and chemicals. It ain't no big deal...

Old 454 · October 25, 2012, 11:06 AM

So hoppes#9 will get out the old lube? or for that matter any other cleaning solution.

I just thought there was a product out there, manufactored or home made to dissolve that old bullet lube.

Strafer Gott · October 25, 2012, 11:13 AM

Ballistol makes a dandy cleaner for dies. Just take them apart, run some through with a bore mop. The crud drops off along with the excess lube from lead rounds.

Old 454 · October 25, 2012, 11:15 AM

Most exellent. thank you.....I will look for that stuff this week end

mikld · October 25, 2012, 12:20 PM

I have a "soak" of Mineral Spirits (75%), Marvel's Mystery Oil (15%) and Kroil (10%) sitting on my bench. I use this soultion to clean my guns (soak overnight then wipe/patch) dies, and misc. hand tools (same as guns but leave a light film on the tools to prevent rust. I started out with Ed's Red, but ran out of components so I wound up with my "soak". Amounts are appeoximate. (I believe the Kroil helps remove any lead in the barrels, creeps real good, MMO and mineral spirits removes any grease/gunk and carbon...)

rodfac · October 25, 2012, 09:58 PM

Mineral spirits is the cheapest method, WD40 works as well, .... a nylon or bronze bore brush .45 gets the tough stuff, then a cleaning patch to dry 'em out....If I do them once a year, it's a lot. Generally, I only need to get the bullet lube out of my seating dies for cast bullet shooting. The jacketed stuff doesn't need it, nor do the sizing dies. If you need to clean the sizers, then you're probably using too much case lube. Rod

davery25 · October 25, 2012, 11:41 PM

i used hoppes # 9 on mine a while ago, worked a treat. It won't harm them

Old 454 · October 26, 2012, 10:44 AM

its not the case lube, its the lube from hard cast bullets, all that waxy build up. Its getting time to pull every thing apart and clean and store for the winter. I am going to buy a Case trimmer and really go through my brass stock and trim to length all my brass. it will take all winter to do that.

Was hoping there was a tryed and proven method to remove that junk from the dies.

thanks again for the advice

hooligan1 · October 27, 2012, 12:52 PM

I use "brake cleaner" (non chlorinated) and an airhose, then I oil them and use airhose again.

Bart B. · October 28, 2012, 05:56 AM

Naptha's what I use.

Then every once in a while I put some 600 grit abrasive on a rag, wrap it around a bore brush chucked in an electric drill than use it to polish the inside of the dies. What ever amount of metal's removed is negligible as far as changing dimensions is concerned. But those polished dies sure make full length sizing easier. And cases are shinier, too.

30Cal · October 28, 2012, 07:03 AM

1 or 2 Q-tips and a drop of isopropyl alcohol.

jcwit · October 28, 2012, 09:17 AM

Back in the days I still used tumble lube I used an empty qt paint can filled with MEK solvent. YUP, You need to be careful with it.

F. Guffey · October 29, 2012, 04:13 PM

Old 454, I take my dies apart, then clean them, the die is cleaned with a towel on a dowel, I have tried Hoppies #9 on a lot of stuff, that stuff (Hoppies #9) reminds me of John Wayne toilet paper.

F. Guffey

Blind Dog Jake · October 31, 2012, 05:30 AM

Ed's Red + Lanolin - Acetone works well.

moxie · October 31, 2012, 08:40 AM

After you clean it, tumble with a load of brass.

October 25, 2012, 10:37 AM	#1
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Cleaning Dies. Is there any thing you all use to clean old lube out of your dies ? I am getting build up in mine and I have used a dental pick to get the easy to get out stuff, but I would really like to get all that junk out of them. Is there any kind of cleaner that you all use to remove all the lube and what not out of the dies ? Thanks

October 25, 2012, 11:13 AM	#5
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	Universal solvent for anything gun Ballistol makes a dandy cleaner for dies. Just take them apart, run some through with a bore mop. The crud drops off along with the excess lube from lead rounds.

October 25, 2012, 12:20 PM	#7
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	I have a "soak" of Mineral Spirits (75%), Marvel's Mystery Oil (15%) and Kroil (10%) sitting on my bench. I use this soultion to clean my guns (soak overnight then wipe/patch) dies, and misc. hand tools (same as guns but leave a light film on the tools to prevent rust. I started out with Ed's Red, but ran out of components so I wound up with my "soak". Amounts are appeoximate. (I believe the Kroil helps remove any lead in the barrels, creeps real good, MMO and mineral spirits removes any grease/gunk and carbon...) __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

October 25, 2012, 09:58 PM	#8
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Mineral spirits is the cheapest method, WD40 works as well, .... a nylon or bronze bore brush .45 gets the tough stuff, then a cleaning patch to dry 'em out....If I do them once a year, it's a lot. Generally, I only need to get the bullet lube out of my seating dies for cast bullet shooting. The jacketed stuff doesn't need it, nor do the sizing dies. If you need to clean the sizers, then you're probably using too much case lube. Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

October 27, 2012, 12:52 PM	#11
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	I use "brake cleaner" (non chlorinated) and an airhose, then I oil them and use airhose again. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

October 25, 2012, 10:52 AM	#2
the led farmer Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2012 Location: so cal Posts: 246	this is from lee precision but i can't imagine a reason why it isn't universal http://leeprecision.net/support/inde...-removing-rust

October 25, 2012, 11:05 AM	#3
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	I CLEAN DIES exactly like I clean all the guns and with the same tooling and chemicals. It ain't no big deal...

October 25, 2012, 11:06 AM	#4
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	So hoppes#9 will get out the old lube? or for that matter any other cleaning solution. I just thought there was a product out there, manufactored or home made to dissolve that old bullet lube.

October 25, 2012, 11:15 AM	#6
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Most exellent. thank you.....I will look for that stuff this week end

October 25, 2012, 11:41 PM	#9
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 318	i used hoppes # 9 on mine a while ago, worked a treat. It won't harm them

October 26, 2012, 10:44 AM	#10
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	its not the case lube, its the lube from hard cast bullets, all that waxy build up. Its getting time to pull every thing apart and clean and store for the winter. I am going to buy a Case trimmer and really go through my brass stock and trim to length all my brass. it will take all winter to do that. Was hoping there was a tryed and proven method to remove that junk from the dies. thanks again for the advice

October 28, 2012, 05:56 AM	#12
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Naptha's what I use. Then every once in a while I put some 600 grit abrasive on a rag, wrap it around a bore brush chucked in an electric drill than use it to polish the inside of the dies. What ever amount of metal's removed is negligible as far as changing dimensions is concerned. But those polished dies sure make full length sizing easier. And cases are shinier, too.

October 28, 2012, 07:03 AM	#13
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	1 or 2 Q-tips and a drop of isopropyl alcohol.

October 28, 2012, 09:17 AM	#14
jcwit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2007 Location: Upper Indiana Posts: 609	Back in the days I still used tumble lube I used an empty qt paint can filled with MEK solvent. YUP, You need to be careful with it. __________________ U.S. Army Veteran NRA Certified Range Officer

October 29, 2012, 04:13 PM	#15
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	Old 454, I take my dies apart, then clean them, the die is cleaned with a towel on a dowel, I have tried Hoppies #9 on a lot of stuff, that stuff (Hoppies #9) reminds me of John Wayne toilet paper. F. Guffey Last edited by F. Guffey; October 29, 2012 at 04:15 PM. Reason: add ( Hoppies #9 )

October 31, 2012, 05:30 AM	#16
Blind Dog Jake Member Join Date: November 26, 2011 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 41	Ed's Red + Lanolin - Acetone works well.

October 31, 2012, 08:40 AM	#17
moxie Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2006 Location: TX Posts: 513	After you clean it, tumble with a load of brass. __________________ If you want to shoot...shoot...don't talk! Tuco USAF Munitions 1969-1992 RVN 1972-1973

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