Cleaning sizing dies

[The Oregonian]

What is everyone's process, and how often do you do it? I just disassembled the FL bushing die, took alcohol q-tip to the inside and cleaned the bushing with paper towel with alcohol on it. Then took dry q-tip to the inside and it came out clean.

I wasn't having problems but figured it was good maintenance.

What do other people do?

 

[lancetkenyon]

About what I do too. Wipe it out with carb cleaner and a cloth. Then wipe with a cloth with just a touch of lube spray.

 

[Remmy700]

I use pistol caliber nylon brushes on a short cleaning rod with alcohol. Then when done I drop a size or two on nylon brush and wrap it with cleaning patches. Works very well.

 

[Dosh]

I use strips of old white cotton t-shirt wrapped around a .30 cal bore mop which screws into a rcbs green screwdriver type handle and carb cleaner. Used to lightly lube the die after, but I use lube on the cases.

 

[Remmy700]

Man back in the day I was so stupid I would just throw dirty brass in my high dollar Lee deluxe die set lol. Now days my brass is clean as a whistle before it hits my dies as I spend way more money on them now lol. Even when I clean them now u don't ever get nothing out so I guess progress and my reloading learning evolution has helped to contribute.

 

[elf]

I spray mine with brake cleaner before every use.

 

[jjmp]

Disassemble die clean with cotton cloth or heavy type white absorbent paper hand towel sprayed with wd/40 then chase with hoppies and dry ,use a #2pencil n patch wet with wd/40 and scrub wash inside of die useing pencil back word, then chase with hoppies and dry , if not useing the die , then lightly oil the inside including the neck area & resemble . Don't use wd/40 for long time storage it becomes sticky n gummy trust me use a good thin oil !,cheers

 

[MagnumManiac]

I clean my dies after EVERY USE.
My buddies think I am anal, but I have never had a stuck case and ALL of my dies look like new.
My buddies dies are all gunked up, rusty and full of carbon and soot. They never clean their dies and wonder why they have problems.
I use brake cleaner, sewing machine oil and very hot water to clean them.......even used the dishwasher when the missus isn't home!
Haha.

Cheers.

 

[jareese]

What is everyone's process, and how often do you do it? I just disassembled the FL bushing die, took alcohol q-tip to the inside and cleaned the bushing with paper towel with alcohol on it. Then took dry q-tip to the inside and it came out clean.

I wasn't having problems but figured it was good maintenance.

What do other people do?

Whatever, however you choose to clean them - do not put them in a sonic cleaner. Don't ask me how I know this...

 

[Daves762]

What is everyone's process, and how often do you do it? I just disassembled the FL bushing die, took alcohol q-tip to the inside and cleaned the bushing with paper towel with alcohol on it. Then took dry q-tip to the inside and it came out clean.

I wasn't having problems but figured it was good maintenance.

What do other people do?

I disassemble and use brake cleaner. Then CLP and wipe down with Q-tips.

 

[The Oregonian]

Whatever, however you choose to clean them - do not put them in a sonic cleaner. Don't ask me how I know this...

Well, I'm gonna ask . I considered it bc the sonic cleaners advertise you can do this and I thought about it for new dies with the goop on them. But for in service dies the alcohol q tip seems much easier.

Doesn't have to be detailed, but did it ruin them, or something else?

 

[gator378]

I spray mine with brake cleaner before every use.

I use WD-40 and wipe out with clean cloth rag. No problems yet.

 

[RetiredSniper]

What is everyone's process, and how often do you do it? I just disassembled the FL bushing die, took alcohol q-tip to the inside and cleaned the bushing with paper towel with alcohol on it. Then took dry q-tip to the inside and it came out clean.

I wasn't having problems but figured it was good maintenance.

What do other people do?

I too do the same thing you have described. Dies do get gunked up after a few years. Everyone shoud at least check their dies if not clean them too.

 

[ntsqd]

<sarcasm>You're supposed to clean dies? I'll be danged.....</sarcasm>