Frozen lyman ideal #45 lube sizer.

[Don1357]

On a lot full of goodies I picked am old grimy#45 lube sizer. This thing is frozen, whatever passed for lubrication 20 years ago is not doing so hot now. I figure I would shove it in the oven at 200f to help loosen up the died up grease/grime and then start applying WD40 for as long as it needs it. I also figure that while I wait for the WD40 to do its thing that I would ask in case somebody had a better idea.

[Beagle333]

I boil em with some Dawn detergent in there. Just a good hot light boil and several dunkings. If you get to a real rolling boil for very long, the paint will bubble. That's okay if you are doing a total rehab and repaint, but not if you are just trying to free it up.

Do it somewhere that you can pour off the nasty lube and grease that will float. (not down your drain).
And you might have to change the water/soap and repeat a couple of times. It's a messy operation to get old lube out of one.

[tazman]

I would use Kroil instead of WD40. It penetrates better for me.

[bruce drake]

boil, dunk and repeat...
then strip down and rebuild and they'll last a long time before they need it again.

[Mk42gunner]

Is it frozen because of solidified old lube, or rust?

If lube, the boil or heating bit will suffice.

If it is rust, Kroil and judicious taps with a hammer will work eventually. I had to do this to an RCBS Lubamatic.

Robert

[imashooter2]

I'm a boiling fan as well. Be advised, that pot will never be good for anything else afterwards.

[jaguarxk120]

As others have said boil the thing to get the dried bullet lube out.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Don1357,
welcome to the forum.

I use a heat gun and Mineral spirits. it works well most of the time, especially if the lube is NRA 50-50 or the old lyman lamp soot lube, both of which are a very common lube used back in the day.

[Greg S]

I've got an 8qt pot dedicated for lube making. I'd break it down and boil it out before you damage the press.

[Don1357]

Thanks a lot, you guys are saving me from a lot of trial an error.

I think it is mostly dried up lube, but it looks like this stuff had decades to solidify. It may take a few boilings before it moves.

[imashooter2]

You'll be surprised. After the boil, let the pot cool and pull the solidified lube off the top. Then bring it to a boil again so when you remove the press the hot metal flash dries.

[5Shot]

I used a hair dryer on an old lyman...