Heating Dies to Melt Wax

[Ickisrulz]

Would it hurt dies any (RCBS seating die and Lee push through sizing die) to heat up dies (200 degrees?) to melt wax build up? Seems easier than scrubbing.

Thanks

[ironcowboy]

I dont see why it would... Just watch for O rings....

[462]

I've never used heat, but Ed' Red works right quick.

[1hole]

The temp of boiling water won't hurt any steel or aluminum, brass, etc.

[mooman76]

The heat wouldn't hurt but the wax might seep into all kinds of nooks and crannies and after it hardens again might make things difficult to adjust and such. At worst case though you would just have to take it apart and clean it again. Could be worth a try.

[MtGun44]

No damage to the heat treat of the steel at 200 F.

[357maximum]

Spritzing the die quite heavily with orange based cleaner (De-Solv-It)and then forgetting it for an hour or two will allow cleanup with a rag.

A small amout spritzed into your tumbling media will rejuvinate the media that has been used to clean alot of cast shot brass also.

This same product will also remove grime from your bench and lube from SWMBO'eds countertop and stove.;-)

[schutzen]

My only question would be, what about carbide sizers? Is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the carbide insert significantly different than the steel of the die body and if so, will the insert fail if heated? I do not know the answer, but I would not risk my carbide sizers without further investigation.

Maybe there is a metallurgist on the board that can answer the question.

[SciFiJim]

My first thought was that people boil out sizing dies all the time to get the lube out, so heating to 200F shouldn't bother it at all.

[buck1]

Brake cleaner?

[ph4570]

Ed's red works for me. Put a soaked patch in a loop jag pistol cleaning rod and its a done deal with a couple of swipes.