Casualties from 19 months in storage....

[Onewolf42]

After 40+ years in central Florida I moved up to east Tennessee in November 2022. I moved into an apartment in Lenoir City while waiting for my house to be built near Sweetwater TN. I had all of my reloading components and equipment in storage during that time. I moved into the house about a month ago and got my storage unit stuff delivered about 2 weeks ago. On Friday evening I started unpacking and organizing my basement workshop (climate controlled). So far the only casualties of being in storage for 19 months are some of my reloading components: Redding T7 press, and a bunch of dies.

What's the best way to deal with the rust on the press and the dies?

Thanks.

 

[Aftermath]

fine steel wool and lightweight motor oil

 

[ironpony52]

fine steel wool and lightweight motor oil

scotch brite and oil. steel wool impregnates itself into the parent metal and will cause more rust spots...................

 

[Doom]

As long as it's flash rust and not pitting any good lightweight oil should work fine. Use the steel wool only if necessary. Nice looking house by the way.

 

[99mpower]

Evapo Rust for the dies

 

[Conaso]

scotch brite and oil. steel wool impregnates itself into the parent metal and will cause more rust spots...................

Which Scotch Brite?

 

[ironpony52]

The finest you can get, I would even go with a rag with oil on it first. Looks very light

 

[XLR308]

Plain white vinegar Is a pretty effective and non toxic rust remover.

 

[spife7980]

Wipe it off with a paper towel to see what’s staying,
0000 steel wool and some sort of oil, I just usually use a spritz of wd40 and then it should all go smooth after a little rub. After that I’ll wipe it down clean with a paper towel and I’ll lube it all with a light coat of eezox

 

[M4orturnate]

Throw the dies in the tumbler then oil

 

[Camelfilter]

I wouldn't be too concerned about exterior rust. Clean that up anyway you choose.

Die innards though? Yah, give them all a good look, even the ones which appear OK on the outside. 0000 wool on a smaller diameter dowel, spun in a cordless gingerly, w/WD40. For any you think may benefit.

 

[Aftermath]

fine steel wool and lightweight motor oil

Actually, those all look like they are now trashed. I'll PM you my address so you can ship them to me. No worries, I won't charge you anything to dispose of them properly. I suggest you use FedEx Overnight and insure for $1000.

 

[XLR308]

Actually, those all look like they are now trashed. I'll PM you my address so you can ship them to me. No worries, I won't charge you anything to dispose of them properly. I suggest you use FedEx Overnight and insure for $1000.

What a Nobleman you are, would you also accept first born ?

 

[DownhillFromHere]

Of all the abrasive products I've tried for fine cleanup/polishing, nothing has come close to the small variety pack of 3M automotive wetlap sandpaper. The finer grits will put a mirror finish on those surface-rusted bits.

 

[XLR308]

So long as it's not on the ram itself and by your picture it doesn't appear to be its just superficial.

 

[Aftermath]

What a Nobleman you are, would you also accept first born ?

No, no...as I said, no payment required.

 

[cas6969]

Heck, all my presses and about 60 set of dies look just like that and I didn't even move!

 

[John?]

i had a similar experience after a PCS move. Stuff in Uncle Sugar’s storage had light surface rust.

For exterior rust I used fine scotchbrite stolen from my lovely bride’s kitchen (blue), with some diesel fuel. For the dies I disassembled and tossed the bodies in vibratory tumbler with corn cob media and McGuire’s liquid car wax. Worked fine for me. A light coat of paste wax on handles will mitigate recurrence of rust.

 

[Hunt]

Evapo Rust is pretty amazing stuff and it's re-useable.

 

[kthomas]

Magic Eraser may work with oil as well - it's an abrasive pad, but its very mild.

 

[Mike Casselton]

For the knurling on the dies, a fine tooth brush sized stainless steel brush will clean them right up.

Think golf club groove brush.
Copper will also be just fine.

Like the others said, check the inside of your dies.
The press arm will clean up with your favorite bore cleaner and 0000 steel wool.

 

[gopherslayer]

Soak them in CLP and take a toothbrush to them for the outside. I have taken a bore brush wrapped in 0000 chucked up in a drill for the inside of dies after soaking in CLP. A little trigger goes a long way so don’t over do it. By soaking I mean a couple of days. No hurry to get them clean.