[Munch]

I was wondering what method is considered the "right" way to clean your carbide and/or titanium nitride pistol dies. While resizing some 9mm cases I noticed that some were getting some black gunk on the outside of the case after being run through the resizing/deprime die. The dies are Hornady, and have loaded about 1000 rounds total.

 

[jack404]

i dont have TiNi coatings i use carbide where possible

i have a small ultra sonic cleaner and toss them in that with a mix of water and denatured alcohol ( methylated spririts for the Aussies)

never a hassle

i also Use SBGO as a lube and thats cut some hassles too

but why i use the alcohol in the cleaner as SBGO sticks hard

 

[Bindernut]

I use Brake Cleaner spray and/or Kroil to clean my dies (including several Hornady TiNi sizers). If it's real nasty, I use Brake Cleaner aerosol to flush the crud out. Otherwise, I just soak em in Kroil and brush the junk out of em.
Havent damaged any of em yet with either chemical.

Jack's idea of using an ultrasonic cleaner is a good idea if you've got one. I don't, so I just spray/soak/brush my dies.

Do you have a tumbler that you're cleaning your brass with?
If so, it sounds like you've got some excess polish/dust residue on the brass that is building up in the dies. Maybe too much polish on the tumbler media.
If not, then it's probably a collection of dust/dirt and whatever the brass rolls around in.

 

[76Highboy]

The easiest way to clean a die set is to wipe them down with rubbing alcohol. You can clean the inside of the dies with a Q-Tip and alcohol. Then I simply spray a little Hornady dry case lube on a cloth (same cloth I always use for this) and wipe them down and you are good to go. The alcohol evaporates of the dies leaving them dry and the dry lube helps keep them running smooth and puts a layer protection on them. It does not take much.

 

[Munch]

I have a Thumler tumbler that I've been using a 50/50 mix of the lyman brown media/ corn cob. I will cut out the lyman stuff as I don't really see any advantage to using it. I also have added some of the Berry's polishing liquid recently. I appreciate the feedback and will try the brushing out with alcohol and hornady dry lube since I don't currently own an ultrasonic tub. If that doesn't cut through the crud I'll step it up to the brake cleaner. I have both on hand, so I hope for an easy fix. I bought this set of Hornady dies just to try out the T.N., so far I really cant tell the difference from carbide. What do y'all think about the T.N.? Thank you all for the tips!

 

[jack404]

the TiNi are fine ( even excellent! ) until it gets a scratch and then it grips more on the scratch side than the still coated amazing what the Ti Ni does and how it effects it when its removed , so treat em well