How to clean FL sizing die?

[m1ajunkie]

I am new to reloading and I have re sized roughly 500 .223 cases so far. I have noticed that my resizing die is now leaving several tiny scratches length wise on the brass that it wasn't doing before. They are not deep, just shine in the light.

I have a lee FL die. How do I clean the inside of the die out? Does it need it or is it okay?

 

[vman]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

Spray it will some isopropyl alcohol and whipe it down and clean the inside with some q tips and tissue paper.

You could use carb cleaner if you have that.

Make sure its dry and them spray it with a lube such as Ballistol or One Shot.

Once its clean run a q tip into it and see if theres any rough spots... that might be causing the scratches.

 

[former naval person]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

You may have scratched the die. Autozone sells polishing paper grits in an assortment up to 2000 grit. Use a little piece of that on a brass brush to polish the inside of the die neck. Then make sure the cases are clean. JMHO

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

That is typical of tiny bits of galled brass sticking to the walls of the die due to insufficent case lube. To "clean it out" will indeed require a lap of some kind. Former Naval's suggestion will work. You can also wrap a snug fitting patch of green 3M pot scrub pad around an old .22 cleaning brush and chuck the threaded end in a drill, run the lap until the die no longer scratches cases.

Use a better lube and apply it more consitantly to prevent a recurrance.

 

[m1ajunkie]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

Thanks for the help, I took the decapping rod out and ran q tips as well as some carb cleaner I had in the shop up in the die. I then used some shop rags(thick paper towels) to twist into the die tightly. These rags came out pretty black at first. Then cleaned up.

I put it all back together, and ran a few cases. The scratches have disappeared except right at the base of the case where it seems the die stops.

Is there something I need to change or is this something that is just part of it?

For lube, I am using hornady one shot case lube. Sprayed on and then spread around with my finger not leaving any excess.

When reassembling the decapping rod back into the die, I just put it roughly back where it was before and tightened the nut down. IS that correct? On the cases I measured after cleaning the measurements were the exact same as before cleaning.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m1ajunkie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the help, I took the decapping rod out and ran q tips as well as some carb cleaner I had in the shop up in the die. I then used some shop rags(thick paper towels) to twist into the die tightly. These rags came out pretty black at first. Then cleaned up.

I put it all back together, and ran a few cases. The scratches have disappeared except right at the base of the case where it seems the die stops.

Is there something I need to change or is this something that is just part of it?

For lube, I am using hornady one shot case lube. Sprayed on and then spread around with my finger not leaving any excess.

When reassembling the decapping rod back into the die, I just put it roughly back where it was before and tightened the nut down. IS that correct? On the cases I measured after cleaning the measurements were the exact same as before cleaning. </div></div>

How 'bout running some 'copper solvent' on the patches, or just plugging the end of the die and filling it up with copper solvent and letting it disolve those brass deposits?

Chris

 

[1911jerry]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

If you use brake cleaner, make sure it is non clorinated. The clorinated type will leave residue which will have to be removed.

If you need a small sheet of 2000 grit wet and dry, I have some and can send you a 1/4 sheet. just PM me an address and I can drop it in the mail.

JS

 

[Tripwire]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">That is typical of tiny bits of galled brass sticking to the walls of the die due to insufficent case lube. </span> To "clean it out" will indeed require a lap of some kind. Former Naval's suggestion will work. You can also wrap a snug fitting patch of green 3M pot scrub pad around an old .22 cleaning brush and chuck the threaded end in a drill, run the lap until the die no longer scratches cases.

Use a better lube and apply it more consitantly to prevent a recurrance. </div></div>

The bold part above I agree with, in part, and it's caused by starting with a dry die, and insufficient lube on the case.

I'd be more inclined to fix it with a tight-ish fitting nylon bore brush spun in a cordless drill flooded with copper solvent rather than anything abrasive by nature. Abrasives will remove the brass faster but as they pass by each bit of brass on it's way to the next it's removing a little bit of die material as well. I tend to treat my dies exactly like I treat my chambers. No abrasives introduced, ever.

 

[Tripwire]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m1ajunkie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

For lube, I am using hornady one shot case lube. Sprayed on and then spread around with my finger not leaving any excess.

</div></div>

I use it too and have had my best success with running it on the cases while it's still wet. I hold 5 cases in the palm of my hand, spray them, roll them around to get full coverage, and size them right away. Then move on to the next five in the load block, etc, until the lot is done. Spraying a healthy shot of it up inside the die before I start sizing also helps things along.

Lot's of peeple have trouble with One Shot and if they'd veer away from the directions verbatim, and run it wet, they'd have zero trouble.


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m1ajunkie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
When reassembling the decapping rod back into the die, I just put it roughly back where it was before and tightened the nut down. IS that correct? On the cases I measured after cleaning the measurements were the exact same as before cleaning. </div></div>

The exact position of your decap rod isn't critical; as long as it's centered in the die, it doesn't bottom out inside the case, it punches out your primers, and expands it the necks the way it's supposed to do if you are expanding your necks that way.

Roughly where it was is sufficient.....

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: How to clean FL sizing die?

"For lube, I am using hornady one shot case lube. Sprayed on and then spread around with my finger not leaving any excess."

I tried 1-Shot but didn't like it much so I gave it away. It's only real advantage is to lube a lot of cases quickly. I don't do large volumes of anything so I don't need it. I apply my Imperial die lube with finger tips as I pick each one up for sizing; that's clean, no waste, plenty fast enough.

From what I read on the net it's critical that the user shake the can before and during use to properly mix the lube with the carrier and then allow the carrier to evaporate/dry completly before use. That's what I did and found it to work fine except for the over-spray, which is what I didn't care for.