Cat Friendly Press 'Cleaning

[Char-Gar]

I don't generally worry about cleaning my reloading presses, but my Redding turret which is a light green color had lots of dark gunk in the wrinkles of the paint and was starting to look shabby. Shabby enough to bother me.

There are all sorts of solvents and cleaners that will take that stuff off but I am very careful about chemicals in my shop. My shop is off my bedroom and my three cats like to hang out there. I once almost killed Beamer (black cat) with some spray brake cleaner. When in use some of the spray got on the bench top and he walked accross it, licked his paws and became paralized and almost died.

He pull through thanks to a good vet, but I am very careful with chemicals and will not use an spray of any kind. I also will not use a vat of something to soak things in for the same reason. So how do I clean a press.

I use Ed's Red on a soft tooth brush. I don't brush hard enough to send droplets into the air, and wipe wipe it off quickly so it won't drip on the floor. I do a small spot at a time.

Ed's Red does a fine job and used carefully won't be an issue for Beamer, Murphy an Chuy.

[468]

What about one of the citrus based cleaners? Take the press outside. Scrub it. Rinse it. Dry it. Should be good to go...

[buck1]

If I recall, Simple Green is not toxic and a great cleaner degreeser. Also I have used upolstery cleaner with much good results.

[462]

What about a small, hand-held steamer?

[onondaga]

Simple Green or better Mean Green, I use that to clean RC model glow engines. Soak spray, brush, rinse, dry, lube, done.

Gary

[Longwood]

Clean tools make me look too much like a "Rank Amateur":confused::kidding:

[Pressman]

Do this when the good woman is away.
It really works, dismount the press and run it through a cycly in the dishwasher. It will be CLEAN. Dishsoap is a good grease cutter and the dry cycle leaves almost no rust spots on exposed metal parts.

Just do not get caught.
Ken

[Char-Gar]

Humm...Wife will be out of town for the next ten days to two weeks. Should be a good time to get all of the presses clean.

[kelbro]

Humm...Wife will be out of town for the next ten days to two weeks. Should be a good time to get all of the presses clean.

Works for fishing reels too :) Just have to lube immediately afterwards.

[noylj]

Warm water and Dawn works well for me on the painted parts.
Why complicate it?
Or, unbolt and take it outside and use your sprays there.
I have seen the orange cleaner and green cleaner eat right through paint before.

[468]

Works for fishing reels too :) Just have to lube immediately afterwards.

...and for auto parts

[geargnasher]

I kept our "old" dishwasher (still worked, just found a quieter better version on sale, that's all) and will install it in the new shop as a parts cleaner. I have a friend that uses one for cleaning automatic transmission parts. Use TSP and Cascade.

Gear

[Ozark Howler]

I find the best all purpose cleaner for presses, dies, etc. is HEET, the automotive fuel additive, HEET cleans grease, oil, and grime easily and is not hazardous to paint finishes (automotive clearcoat recommended), it dries quick and clean, without any residue. Prior to any cold bluing touchup jobs, I degrease with HEET and have experienced excellent results. It may be hazardous to cats though....

[Lloyd Smale]

cant you just put the cats in a differnt room or outside till your done cleaning it or unbolt it and clean it somewhere else?

[Hip's Ax]

I keep my reloading bench covered with an old table cloth to keep the cat off. I use to catch her up there all the time. Works well.

[Kevin Rohrer]

I use an orange cleaner on my presses. I disassemble them, then soak and scrub with a green Scotchbrite pad and the orange cleaner. After rinsing, the brightwork gets additional scrubbing with a purple Scotchbrite pad soaked in Breakfree. After that, grease the unseen parts, lube the visible ones, and reassemble.

Here's a press with 60-years of gunk on it:

Before:
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0431.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0434.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0435.jpg


After:
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0459.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0450.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0451.jpg