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Thread: Rust On Shell Holders

  1. #1
    Boolit Master ACC's Avatar
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    Rust On Shell Holders

    Anyone have an easy way to remove rust off of RCBS shell holders? The some of the ones I inherited has rust on them and I would like to salvage them if I could.

    ACC

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    It depends rust can be a little or a lot.
    If it's light rust steel wool and oil or bead blast them.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    I just pitch mine in the tumbler for a while.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by pworley1 View Post
    I just pitch mine in the tumbler for a while.
    Great idea !

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    Boolit Master 44magLeo's Avatar
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    Steel wool should get the light stuff.
    If a bit more Evap O Rust works well. Once you take them out of the Evap O Rust you want to wash them off quickly with very hot water. Them immediately spray down with WD 40. This removes the water and prevents rust.
    If you don't they can flash rust. This will clean off with steel wool or a wire brush. Once rust fee I might use some Never Dull metal polish.
    Leo

  6. #6
    Boolit Master 44magLeo's Avatar
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    The Tumbler is a good idea. With a bit of polish in there they come out rust free and a wax coating to prevent rust.
    I didn't think of that. I don't have a tumbler.
    Leo

  7. #7
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    I buy them all the time at gun shows and off the auction sites. I just throw them in the tumbler and let them run until they're clean. If they're heavily encrusted, I hit them with a wire toothbrush prior to tumbling. It saves on a lot of extra labor and time.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  8. #8
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    Evapo Rust is my choice.....dale

  9. #9
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    This has been discussed many, many times.

    Dunk them in a solution of Citric Acid and water for a few hours (heavy rust will take a couple days). The rust will magically fall-off w/o damage to metal.
    Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA-Life, ARTCA, American Legion, & the South Cuyahoga Gun Club.

    Caveat Emptor: Do not trust Cavery Grips/American Gripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He will rip you off.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Evaporust works great and so does muratic acid used for swimming pools. Both need to be rinsed off and oiled. Muratic will also remove bluing. You just wipe it on and wipe the bluing off. Rust will take a few minutes, but don't leave it on. Evaporust is pretty safe to use and doesn't hurt the base metal.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    I'm a fan of the citric acid technique. 10% solution. Warm or hot water works faster.

    I'm no chemistry or materials maven, but I read here that the citric acid makes the steel a bit more tarnish and rust resistant (passivation I think it's called).

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy 2A-Jay's Avatar
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    I use Naval Jelly to remove rust on Shell Holders' Brush it on, wait about 15 minutes Wash it off (wear gloves when handling) pop them in my dehydrator to dry, then wipe em down with CLP wipes. I store my Shell holders in Tupperware type containers between reloading sessions.

  13. #13
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    All of the above methods will work for removing rust but there is no magic method to replace metal lost to rust.

    Often the damage from rust is minor and inconsequential, but it's always permanent.

    Once iron combines with oxygen to form rust (one of the many ferrous oxides) that material is lost. You can remove that rust and you can stop further rusting but you can't restore what was lost.

    Once the part is clean and free of rust, it needs to be protected with something that prevents oxygen from reaching the surface. (oil, grease, wax, paint, lacquer, etc. )

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I tumbled machined parts long before I tumbled any brass cases. Used several types of media depending on the results/finish that was needed. Harbor Freight has some inexpensive hard resin tumbling media that works quite well n rusty tools, and I add a bit (mebbe 10%-20%) to my corn cob blast media for excellent, quick cleaning. I just tumbled some old rusty 1/4" drive sockets in my rotary with HF and cob 50-50 and they came out clean and rust free with a bit of new shine...

    BTW it doesn't wear out... https://www.harborfreight.com/520-lb...dia-63672.html
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  15. #15
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    Evapo-Rust , Naval Jelly or a long soak in kerosene or Ed's Red Bore Cleaner .
    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by pworley1 View Post
    I just pitch mine in the tumbler for a while.
    Yup, I do that
    I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled

    Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum

  17. #17
    Boolit Master ACC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mdi View Post
    I tumbled machined parts long before I tumbled any brass cases. Used several types of media depending on the results/finish that was needed. Harbor Freight has some inexpensive hard resin tumbling media that works quite well n rusty tools, and I add a bit (mebbe 10%-20%) to my corn cob blast media for excellent, quick cleaning. I just tumbled some old rusty 1/4" drive sockets in my rotary with HF and cob 50-50 and they came out clean and rust free with a bit of new shine...

    BTW it doesn't wear out... https://www.harborfreight.com/520-lb...dia-63672.html
    I wonder how that stuff would work on shining brass?

    ACC

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by ACC View Post
    I wonder how that stuff would work on shining brass?

    ACC
    I don't know but my wife bout me the blue tumbler and I used it for several years with no problems.
    I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled

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  19. #19
    Boolit Bub Hollywood_Goon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Petrol & Powder View Post
    Often the damage from rust is minor and inconsequential, but it's always permanent.

    Once iron combines with oxygen to form rust (one of the many ferrous oxides) that material is lost. You can remove that rust and you can stop further rusting but you can't restore what was lost.
    Actually, you can replace what was lost. Check out spray welding (thermal spraying) or laser welding. Both methods work. There are videos on the net showing both methods.

  20. #20
    Boolit Bub Hollywood_Goon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kevin Rohrer View Post
    Dunk them in a solution of Citric Acid and water for a few hours (heavy rust will take a couple days). The rust will magically fall-off w/o damage to metal.
    I agree. Citric acid has been used for years. I don't understand how this new generation has slipped through the cracks and not heard about it.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check