Cleaning of Dies
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Re: Cleaning of Dies
I clean my dies with a bronze pistol bore/chamber brush wound with fine steel wool. I follow it up by replacing the steel wool with at a wound-on shotgun cleaning patches (one at a time). I'll replace it at least 2 or 3 times. The first one will be moistened with rubbing alcohol, and the last one will be lightly moistened with gun oil.
For most chamberings using a .473" bolt diameter, a .45 caliber chamber/bore brush works, for smaller (.223/7.62x39, etc., I like a 9mm bore/chamber brush.
I keep a small vial with patches and add a few drops of oil. By the next time I'm ready to sue the patches the oil will have spread out quite a bit. I keep doing this on and off until the patches are evenly but lightly oiled.
It's important to do it as part of the tidying up at the end of the loading session. I use water soluble lube and it can attract moisture, so I like to get it out of the die pretty quickly after usage. My dies are pretty glitzy between loading sessions.
Greg
I clean my dies with a bronze pistol bore/chamber brush wound with fine steel wool. I follow it up by replacing the steel wool with at a wound-on shotgun cleaning patches (one at a time). I'll replace it at least 2 or 3 times. The first one will be moistened with rubbing alcohol, and the last one will be lightly moistened with gun oil.
For most chamberings using a .473" bolt diameter, a .45 caliber chamber/bore brush works, for smaller (.223/7.62x39, etc., I like a 9mm bore/chamber brush.
I keep a small vial with patches and add a few drops of oil. By the next time I'm ready to sue the patches the oil will have spread out quite a bit. I keep doing this on and off until the patches are evenly but lightly oiled.
It's important to do it as part of the tidying up at the end of the loading session. I use water soluble lube and it can attract moisture, so I like to get it out of the die pretty quickly after usage. My dies are pretty glitzy between loading sessions.
Greg
Re: Cleaning of Dies
I use Q-tips and Berryman's B-12 carb cleaner. It cleans anything off of metal. I know a lot of other guys use brake cleaner.
I use Q-tips and Berryman's B-12 carb cleaner. It cleans anything off of metal. I know a lot of other guys use brake cleaner.
Re: Cleaning of Dies
My sizing dies and seating dies get cleaned with a chamber brush (of the came cartrige) and Hoppes #9.
My sizing dies and seating dies get cleaned with a chamber brush (of the came cartrige) and Hoppes #9.
Re: Cleaning of Dies
..
What Chad said, been keeping them perfect for decades.
Open the window, move your face away.
..
..
What Chad said, been keeping them perfect for decades.
Open the window, move your face away.
..
Re: Cleaning of Dies
I clean my dies by disassembling them and spinning them in the mini lathe while poking a Q tip with Flitz up inside.
Ala Varmint Al.
http://varmintal.com/arelo.htm
Scroll down to the Flitz tube pic.
I clean my dies by disassembling them and spinning them in the mini lathe while poking a Q tip with Flitz up inside.
Ala Varmint Al.
http://varmintal.com/arelo.htm
Scroll down to the Flitz tube pic.
Re: Cleaning of Dies
I must admit i dont clean my dies all that often.
I tend to decap using a lee universal decapper, then ultrasonic clean, and then imperial lube and FL size, whipe clean cases and then seat.
The only gunk I get in my dies is imperial lube... I will clean the dies every few months with isopropal alcoholo, a quick spray of ballistol and then whipe them clean.
Do you think this is sufficient?
I must admit i dont clean my dies all that often.
I tend to decap using a lee universal decapper, then ultrasonic clean, and then imperial lube and FL size, whipe clean cases and then seat.
The only gunk I get in my dies is imperial lube... I will clean the dies every few months with isopropal alcoholo, a quick spray of ballistol and then whipe them clean.
Do you think this is sufficient?
Re: Cleaning of Dies
Tumbling before sizing makes for cleaner dies, longer....
My dies are just as precious to me as my chambers are...NO dirt, grit, or gunk is to be introduced on purpose.
House Rules....
Beyond that, Brake Cleaner, or Carb Cleaner, and a shotgun swab of the appropriate size mounted on a short rod will clean the ever living hell out of any "dirty" die.
Apply a light coat of case lube when clean/dry to prevent rust...I shoot 'em with One Shot.
Tumbling before sizing makes for cleaner dies, longer....
My dies are just as precious to me as my chambers are...NO dirt, grit, or gunk is to be introduced on purpose.
House Rules....
Beyond that, Brake Cleaner, or Carb Cleaner, and a shotgun swab of the appropriate size mounted on a short rod will clean the ever living hell out of any "dirty" die.
Apply a light coat of case lube when clean/dry to prevent rust...I shoot 'em with One Shot.
