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Thread: Cleaning sizing die

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Cleaning sizing die

    What do you use to clean the lube out of your sizing does? I have a problem with it building up and making everything sticky.

  2. #2
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    Disassemble it and run a cleaning patch saturated with alcohol through it.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Char-Gar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bakebfr480 View Post
    Disassemble it and run a cleaning patch saturated with alcohol through it.
    ^^^^^^^ correct answer
    Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. It is just my opinion based on my experience and knowledge. Your mileage may vary.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
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    Good advice above ! I used brake cleaner, but there are many solvents that work.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    I use a hairdryer to soften things up and then use acetone for the final clean up.
    ps Take the O ring off before cleaning.
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    Quote Originally Posted by JodyPenny View Post
    What do you use to clean the lube out of your sizing does? I have a problem with it building up and making everything sticky.
    While I cannot disagree with the solvents mentioned in above posts, I have been a user of Mineral Spirits. In my experience, this -- complemented with a bit of brushing and passing a patch or two through -- gets my dies quite clean! Kindly note that I use the "old" mineral spirits -- petroleum based with quite the odour. I bought a (blue) can so labeled, but quite clearly NOT the same stuff at Lowe's not that long ago which did not work well at all. Hence -- if you wish to try using this solvent, make sure yours is the paint thinner old stuff .
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    Disassemble. I use WD-40 with brass brush. Clean all the excess out. Wipe a little sizing oil on the inside with a quitip. Then on the outside Boesheild for the body or Fluid Film. My tools are in the garage and preventing rust is important.

    Thinks for reminding me. I need to go clean my dies and guns. Everything got rusty in the move snd its driving me nuts. But i still jeed to organize the shop. Owe were to begin. I need an assistant or aprentice.

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  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master
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    +1 with the mineral spirits. Use Q-tips, too.

  9. #9
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    I've never had much problem with build up in a sizer die, but the seating die would accumulate lube rather fast & often.

    For both, I run a nylon bore brush up in it to break the goo loose, then wrap a patch around it and do it again to get the mess out.
    It's quick, I leave the die in the press, and seems to do a good job for me.

    When I'm done, they get a good deep cleaning, then go into storage.
    Last edited by Winger Ed.; 01-25-2022 at 08:09 PM.
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  10. #10
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    Outer Rondacker's Avatar
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    All these methods work well. My buddy drops his in the ultra sonic cleaner. Claims it works the best.

    Me carb or brake cleaner then some patches. But I not had to clean one in a while since PC.
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  11. #11
    Boolit Master brassrat's Avatar
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    Just don't boil in vinegar unless you want a Lee die that has a blued finish like a gun.

  12. #12
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    I use Ed's Red
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  13. #13
    Boolit Master Randy Bohannon's Avatar
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    Mineral spirits with enough ATF to color it pink, good for paint brushes and dies, cleans and leaves some protection.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy iron brigade's Avatar
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    Kroil works well for that

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    Boolit Bub jlb300's Avatar
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    I also use the break cleaner or carburater cleaner and a few Q-tips, taking off the O-ring first, then a towel with a little gun oil on it to coat it so it slides in easily. No problems with that method.
    It ain't a sin to be stupid,but it is awful unhandy.

  16. #16
    Boolit Mold
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    I use Break Free.

  17. #17
    Boolit Bub gifbohane's Avatar
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    I usually remove the de-priming pin with shaft from the die while leaving it on the Redding turret and clean the die right there.

    Anyone see a problem with that?

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by gifbohane View Post
    I usually remove the de-priming pin with shaft from the die while leaving it on the Redding turret and clean the die right there.

    Anyone see a problem with that?
    That should work just fine, although you may get goop all over your press.
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