rusty dies and press

bruce P · December 15, 2010, 08:06 AM

Hello this my first post here and this was the only place I could find the button to make a post. So if I'm in the wrong place please inform me where and how to post a new thread in the correct area. thanks .
I recently recieved some reloading equipment RCBS dies and a press. They have been in poor storage and have flakey rust on them I would like to know the correct way to clean them and then to inspect them to be certian they are safe to use . Please be kind to me since I have never reloaded before but wish to begin doing it since I do own a wildcat .357 herret pistol and the guy reloading for me has retired from it and gave me back my dies

DiscoRacing · December 15, 2010, 08:07 AM

Welcome to the Forum.... I have had a trace of surface rust on my dies and clean them with hoppes just like i would have on a firearm.

bruce P · December 15, 2010, 08:12 AM

thank you but this is more than light rust it looks like they have been setting in water , I just dont want to damage them more than they might be. I was thinking of using NAVEL JELLY rust remover ?

DiscoRacing · December 15, 2010, 08:15 AM

I would disassemble then and try something like WD40 or some cleaner...at any rate...if the rust was enough to pit the dies...im not sure they would be in good enough shape to keep using

bruce P · December 15, 2010, 08:19 AM

ok, if they are pitted I'll recycle them,,, what a shame tho !!!

bruce P · December 18, 2010, 10:09 AM

I soaked them in automotive "GUNK" carb cleaner and then used a brass brush on the outsides and cotton swabs inside the look really good I think I saved them but am going to a gun shop to have an expert look at them before I use them . Thanks for all the help everyone

jaguarxk120 · December 18, 2010, 11:37 AM

The only real "expert" that should look at the dies is RCBS. They made them and they know how they should look.

There are many good guns shops out there, BUT that doesn't mean they know everything about guns/reloading, unless your talking to a old time smith you might as well be talking to the wall.

December 15, 2010, 08:06 AM	#1
bruce P Junior Member Join Date: December 15, 2010 Location: Petoskey Michigan Posts: 7	rusty dies and press Hello this my first post here and this was the only place I could find the button to make a post. So if I'm in the wrong place please inform me where and how to post a new thread in the correct area. thanks . I recently recieved some reloading equipment RCBS dies and a press. They have been in poor storage and have flakey rust on them I would like to know the correct way to clean them and then to inspect them to be certian they are safe to use . Please be kind to me since I have never reloaded before but wish to begin doing it since I do own a wildcat .357 herret pistol and the guy reloading for me has retired from it and gave me back my dies

December 15, 2010, 08:07 AM	#2
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	Welcome to the Forum.... I have had a trace of surface rust on my dies and clean them with hoppes just like i would have on a firearm. __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

December 15, 2010, 08:15 AM	#4
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	I would disassemble then and try something like WD40 or some cleaner...at any rate...if the rust was enough to pit the dies...im not sure they would be in good enough shape to keep using __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

December 18, 2010, 10:09 AM	#6
bruce P Junior Member Join Date: December 15, 2010 Location: Petoskey Michigan Posts: 7	results I soaked them in automotive "GUNK" carb cleaner and then used a brass brush on the outsides and cotton swabs inside the look really good I think I saved them but am going to a gun shop to have an expert look at them before I use them . Thanks for all the help everyone

December 15, 2010, 08:12 AM	#3
bruce P Junior Member Join Date: December 15, 2010 Location: Petoskey Michigan Posts: 7	thank you but this is more than light rust it looks like they have been setting in water , I just dont want to damage them more than they might be. I was thinking of using NAVEL JELLY rust remover ?

December 15, 2010, 08:19 AM	#5
bruce P Junior Member Join Date: December 15, 2010 Location: Petoskey Michigan Posts: 7	ok, if they are pitted I'll recycle them,,, what a shame tho !!!

December 18, 2010, 11:37 AM	#7
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	The only real "expert" that should look at the dies is RCBS. They made them and they know how they should look. There are many good guns shops out there, BUT that doesn't mean they know everything about guns/reloading, unless your talking to a old time smith you might as well be talking to the wall.