Cleaning a die???

[1 farmer]

How often do you clean a full length rifle sizeing die and what do you use? I know when I get to much lube on the case it messes them up when I size them and I think I have case lube build up in the die. I use Lee dies and Lee case lube. Thanks

[Doug B.]

Nothing a little brake cleaner wouldn't remove.  May want to spray a light aerosol lube in die to protect against rust when you're done. Maybe using a little too much case lube while resizing?

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

When you clean the die, be sure to clean out the vent hole, circled in the picture below. The LEE lube will pack into the hole & dry out, plugging the vent. Might try less lube or switch to Hornady One Shot or Imperial Sizing Wax.



Bill

[Steve P]

You mean you don't have a can of WD-40 and a couple of those red cotton shop towls at your reloading bench?  My dies get a bath about every other reloading session.  One little hickup and they get a bath.

G-96, Gun Scrubber, and others work as well, but they are a little more expensive than the WD-40.

Steve

[Coltdriver]

I clean mine with CLP. On the outside with a nylon toothbrush and on the inside with a q tip.  I am in dry country so rust is not an issue but they do get gooped up from wax.   The CLP is a great first time cleaner too because it will remove the preservative that comes on most new dies. 

[ihuntbucks]

I use "Rusty Duck" and "Gun Scubber";they both work well .....Rick

[Old Fart]

Something I've been doing for a while now is thining
the lee alox lube down to about half strength.
Mineral spirits is what I think I use.
It sure cuts down on the buld up in the die.
And I haven't noticed any leading problem from it.

OF

[gypsyman]

If the die looks real bad, I'll put it in the tumbler. After an hour or so, wipe it off, inside and out, with a clean cloth sprayed with Rem Oil, or some other light spray lube. gypsyman

[NYSdeerslayer]

I run G96 on the case and through the die every 50 really depends how bad its gummed up.
Never thought to put it in my brass tumbler 

[Gatofeo]

I don't like WD-40. I stopped using it years ago.
Over time, it becomes a thick, gummy varnish. It will also creep in around primers and deaden them. I know these from personal experience.
For cleaning dies, I use brake cleaning aerosol or, for small tasks, Ronson lighter fluid and Q-tips.
Lighter fluid has a handy applicator to put just a drop on a patch or Q-tip, so spills or overflow are eliminated.
It's also good for degreasing chambers and bores before firing, which should be free of any oil or grease before loading. I keep a bottle of it on my reloading bench, and in my shooting bag.
Q-tips and pipe cleaners are useful for cleaning dies.
For heavy lubricant or lead ring deposits, use a bore brush slightly larger than the die's opening. Once clean, lubricate exterior and interior threads with a dry lubricant like graphite or molybdenum disulfide (allowing time for the carrier solvent to evaporate).
I avoid using any oils or greases in in my dies -- other than those intended for resizing -- so I don't run the hazard contaminating powder or primer.
I  have some dies I've used since the early 1970s. With the above treatment, and proper storage, they'll last lifetimes.