Die Cleaning? - The Firearms Forum

Over The Hill · 01-14-2010, 02:31 PM

Should Carbide Dies be cleaned? If so with what? And how often. Mine look a little dirty inside. I tried to blow them out with compressed air - didn't work very well.

army mp · 01-14-2010, 02:49 PM

I shoot a lot of cast bullets. But clean all my dies the same. Even the rifle that I load jacketed only in. I run a dry patch threw with a pistol cleaning rod, then Hopps bore cleaner. And finish off with a little WD-40. I don’t think I would use an air compressor. You will get some moisture

JLA · 01-14-2010, 07:46 PM

take em apart and clean them after each use. I use rem oil to clean mine. The soot from fired cases and minute amounts of brass shavings built up and create a brownish paste that can be pretty hard to get off if you neglect it. Build up is worse in the dies that work the brass. My bullet seating dies dont really get that dirty unless im loading cast lead lubed with alox, that stuff makes a fricken mess...

Gearheadpyro · 01-16-2010, 07:52 PM

I run a chamber mop up into my dies to clean them out, and coat lightly with Rem Oil. I personally would not use any sort of penetrating lube (like wd-40) because they have the possibility to get sticky after sitting for a while. (This is because they are more volatile then oils). It may be difficult to wipe the penetrating lube out before the next use if it will be a while.

Over The Hill · 01-19-2010, 02:39 PM

OK. Thanks guys. I'll be cleaning dies tonight!

Insulation Tim · 01-19-2010, 05:45 PM

Another lesson learned by me. Good advice and something that I had never thought about.

01-14-2010, 02:31 PM	#1
Over The Hill Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 25	Die Cleaning? Should Carbide Dies be cleaned? If so with what? And how often. Mine look a little dirty inside. I tried to blow them out with compressed air - didn't work very well. -->

01-14-2010, 02:49 PM	#2
army mp V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: western Pa, Posts: 479	Re: Die Cleaning? I shoot a lot of cast bullets. But clean all my dies the same. Even the rifle that I load jacketed only in. I run a dry patch threw with a pistol cleaning rod, then Hopps bore cleaner. And finish off with a little WD-40. I don’t think I would use an air compressor. You will get some moisture

01-14-2010, 07:46 PM	#3
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: Die Cleaning? take em apart and clean them after each use. I use rem oil to clean mine. The soot from fired cases and minute amounts of brass shavings built up and create a brownish paste that can be pretty hard to get off if you neglect it. Build up is worse in the dies that work the brass. My bullet seating dies dont really get that dirty unless im loading cast lead lubed with alox, that stuff makes a fricken mess... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

01-16-2010, 07:52 PM	#4
Gearheadpyro V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 110	Re: Die Cleaning? I run a chamber mop up into my dies to clean them out, and coat lightly with Rem Oil. I personally would not use any sort of penetrating lube (like wd-40) because they have the possibility to get sticky after sitting for a while. (This is because they are more volatile then oils). It may be difficult to wipe the penetrating lube out before the next use if it will be a while. __________________ www.southernmarksman.com Owner of & Chief Instructor for The Southern Marksman, LLC NRA Life Member, NRA CRSO, Multi-Discipline NRA Certified Instructor

01-19-2010, 02:39 PM	#5
Over The Hill Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 25	Re: Die Cleaning? OK. Thanks guys. I'll be cleaning dies tonight!

01-19-2010, 05:45 PM	#6
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,316	Re: Die Cleaning? Another lesson learned by me. Good advice and something that I had never thought about. __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"*