Author Topic: i have lee carbon die, they are getting gritty (Read 877 times)

abj · « **on:** February 11, 2003, 11:35:04 AM »

i have lee carbon die , i would like to find out if a person needs to clean them out on a regular basis. and if i am suppose to clean them, what do i use. then after cleaning the die, do i need to lube them with some kind of wd fourty , or a drying spray lube. do i just wipe them off, after cleaning? would powder stick to a lube if i did lube them after cleaning. someone please help. thank you . abj

PaulS · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2003, 12:24:59 PM »

abj,
If you are talking about a CARBIDE die, you can clean it with some 0000 steel wool on a piece of wooden dowel. DO NOT use any lube with a carbide die - not on your cases - not on the die.

If you are talking about a CARBON steel die, you can clean it the same way. With steel dies you MUST use lube on each case that you size. You must lube the body and neck of the case and the inside case neck.

PaulS

KN · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2003, 12:39:03 PM »

I clean my dies with WD-40, (yea I know some think its taboo) been doing it for 30yrs. Blow out the excess and use a swab of some sort to make sure all the dirt is out. If there is some thing in them that WD wont take out I'll try some thing stronger like mineral spirits. Theres really no part of a die, steel or carbide that youll hurt with any kind of household chemicals. Except water, you don't want them rusting. KN

The Shrink · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2003, 01:35:43 AM »

ABJ

The other thing is, clean your cases. If you are getting dirt inside the die, it's coming from your cases. Get a vibratory cleaner and some media and clean those things periodically.

southern utah · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2003, 08:25:42 PM »

I use spray carberator cleaner on a Q-Tip or spay the die clean and blow dry. Helps to have a compresor in the garage.

PaulS · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2003, 09:57:43 PM »

Quote from: KN

I clean my dies with WD-40, (yea I know some think its taboo) been doing it for 30yrs. Blow out the excess and use a swab of some sort to make sure all the dirt is out. If there is some thing in them that WD wont take out I'll try some thing stronger like mineral spirits. Theres really no part of a die, steel or carbide that youll hurt with any kind of household chemicals. Except water, you don't want them rusting. KN

Actually KN, WD-40 is as good a cleaner as any and better than most. It is a water displacer and evaporates with very little residue. Be wary of ammonia and clorine cleaners as these will damage dies - Steel dies should be protected with a THIN film of light mineral oil to prevent rust on the parts that don't get lubed.

PaulS

KN · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2003, 10:36:10 PM »

PaulS, I've used WD-40 to clean my guns for 30yrs. The old notion that it will gum up an action is pure bunk. If you don't get all the gunk out it will certainly sludge up when it dries but thats the crud that didn't get cleaned out, not the WD-40. I do use a good gun oil when finished, WD isn't that good a lubricant. This will probably start an argument with the die hard anti-WD crowd but in 30 yrs I have never had a malfunction that was caused by WD-40. KN

Lead pot · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2003, 03:19:36 AM »

Hi All.WD is good for a lot of things,I spray it on my mould blocks after casting,it helpes removing lead from under the sprew plate and the vent grooves,BUT DONT use it on your good case color rifles it will in time take it off.Lp

GypsmJim · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2003, 02:05:16 AM »

If the "Grit" you are talking about is scratching your cases, and they are carbon steel dies, and you have been loading a lot of nickle plated cases, you may have scratches in the die. They will need to be sent to the factory for repair.

If they are simply "dirty", the previous suggestions will work fine.

GypsmJim · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2003, 02:07:02 AM »

If the "Grit" you are talking about is scratching your cases, and they are carbon steel dies, and you have been loading a lot of nickle plated cases, you may have scratches in the die. They will need to be sent to the factory for repair.

If they are simply "dirty", the previous suggestions will work fine.

rickyp · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2003, 02:19:13 AM »

I take them apart use a cleaning patch and wipe everything down every so often it keeps the bullet lube and stuff away

on a side note i do lube my cases before sizing them in my LEE carbide dies. I will lube about every 10 th case or so just a very light coat it keeps the pressure need to resize them down

Bug · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2003, 06:11:23 AM »

I don't like using steel wool. The little bitty pieces get everywhere and rust everything up. This is in an unheated outbuilding where my reloading & shooting stuff stays. Years ago, I started using Scotchbrite pads for stuff like this. The finer you want it, the more USED UP it needs to be. For cleaning dies - carbide or carbon steel - I remove whatever stem the die has, then wrap a nylon brush with scotchbrite for a snug fit. Run it in & out of the die several times, while spinning it with a drill - run the drill in reverse so you don't unscrew the brush from the aluminum ferrule. Then a spray of crud cutter etc, and a final spray of lube (I use Tetra) , a wipe off, reassembly, and you're done..........Bug.

Nobade · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2003, 02:51:29 AM »

My favorite way of cleaning dies is to use a ultrasonic cleaner with kerosene in it. Then I wash them in Simple Green, rinse in clear water, and blow out with a air hose. It works great, and is quick and easy. If you don't have a case tumbler you need to get one and use it, keep those cases clean and your dies and guns will thank you for it.