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+--- Thread: Cleaning new Lee dies (/thread-1892.html)
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Cleaning new Lee dies - alfajim - 05-26-2016
Now have everything I need to start reloading but need to clean the new dies. What is the best cleaning solution to use, paint thinner, lacquer thinner, kerosine, acetone or just plain solvent?
I have paint thinner but not the others can get at hardware.
Should I final rinse with hot water and soap?
Jim
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - Nuclearcricket - 05-26-2016
Jim, I prefer to use Denatured Alcohol. It is easy to get, in expensive and works pretty well. After the dies are cleaned I like to coat the inside of the sizing die with the same lube I will be using on the cases. This process has worked pretty well for me over the years.
Also I have found that if you change lubes at some point in time, reclean your sizing die and relube the inside of the die with the new lube.
Sam
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - Don McDowell - 05-26-2016
The Alcohol works well. I also use the same brake cleaner that I use to clean new mould blocks.
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - Old Jim - 05-26-2016
(05-26-2016, 07:47 AM)Nuclearcricket Wrote: Jim, I prefer to use Denatured Alcohol. It is easy to get, in expensive and works pretty well. After the dies are cleaned I like to coat the inside of the sizing die with the same lube I will be using on the cases. This process has worked pretty well for me over the years.
Also I have found that if you change lubes at some point in time, reclean your sizing die and relube the inside of the die with the new lube.
Sam
Yup what Sam said.
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - Lumpy Grits - 05-26-2016
New dies-I flush with brake cleaner then dry with compressed air. Coat the outside with WD40 and coat the inside of the size die with case lube before starting.
Gary
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - JReed - 05-26-2016
I use a can of carburator cleaner but break cleaner works too. Give them a good spritz then do just like Lumpy say's
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - Kurt - 05-26-2016
I just looked at my dies on the shelf. I have around 50 boxes 3 wide attacked 8 high 2 deep that I collected over the years for the different calibers have/had and I never cleaned one when I got them. It never crossed my mind to do that.
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - Lumpy Grits - 05-27-2016
Kurt-I clean my dies before their first use for the same reason I clean a new firearm before it's first use.
To get the makers crud out and to make sure all is 'rite'.
Gary
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - alfajim - 05-27-2016
(05-27-2016, 06:29 PM)Lumpy Grits Wrote: Kurt-I clean my dies before their first use for the same reason I clean a new firearm before it's first use.
To get the makers crud out and to make sure all is 'rite'.
Gary
That was my reason for asking what is the best cleaning solvent to use as all the new dies have an anti corrosive oil on them which feels gritty. I also read that it is very necessary to clean new dies for this reason especially the Lee steel 45-70 dies.
As some are suggesting to use alcohol I am assuming the protective oil is not petroleum based as alcohol will not work with oil based fluids.
Thanks for the suggestions all.
Jim
RE: Cleaning new Lee dies - Lumpy Grits - 05-27-2016
"As some are suggesting to use alcohol I am assuming the protective oil is not petroleum based as alcohol will not work with oil based fluids.
Thanks for the suggestions all."
91% alcohol will remove light dino based oil with ease.
Gary