Cleaning New Lee Dies

[Crush]

I bought a set of four new Lee dies for 6.5cm. The machining looks ok but they didn't clean them off of the mill - covered in oil mixed with black crap and tiny metal chips.

What's the best way to clean them? Soap, water and ultrasonic cleaner and then dry and oil them?

 

[Snuby642]

Maybe some carb or brake cleaner then the ultrasonic? No ammonia in it.

 

[Crush]

Maybe some carb or brake cleaner then the ultrasonic? No ammonia in it.

Great idea! That stuff will make the oil and gunk disappear instantly.

 

[alamo5000]

+1 on the disk brake cleaner.

One caveat to that is to ONLY use the non chlorinated kind. It comes in the green can at the auto parts store.

It's also excellent for cleaning up old guns with lots of old oil and grime on them.

 

[Highbrass]

I'm pretty sure the chlorinated stuff went away 20 years ago. Unless someone has a stash?
I think all the new dies are sprayed with something like cosmolene as a preservative. Any solvent type cleaner will work.
I keep a jug of kerosene around for stuff like that.

 

[Missalot]

Hornady one shot.

 

[Averageman]

After reloading more than 70 cartridges I clean my dies with brake cleaner, work quite well. i lightly oil them with rem oil after they are cleaned no lube is required for neck sizing with collet die, but is necessary for full length case sizing.

 

[alamo5000]

I'm pretty sure the chlorinated stuff went away 20 years ago.

There is a ton of it out there. Pretty much on every auto parts store shelf.

Chlorinated Brake Cleaner - Champion Brands

www.championbrands.com

That said the one below is the one I use. I keep a couple of cans on hand but they can be purchased at any Autozone. It also will not hurt polymers (such as in handguns etc).

CRC® Brakleen® Brake Parts Cleaner, 19 Wt Oz

The original brake parts cleaner. Formulated to quickly & effectively remove grease, brake dust, brake fluids, oils, & other contaminants from brake parts, lining, pads.

www.crcindustries.com

 

[spife7980]

I just run a paper towel through it, clean.

 

[lightman]

I'm another that uses brake cleaner followed up with a coat of oil.

 

[Crush]

I got them clean with brake cleaner. They now look like they should have from the factory. Lol. Thanks for the replies!

 

[El Viejo]

I got them clean with brake cleaner. They now look like they should have from the factory. Lol. Thanks for the replies!

After the brake cleaner, did you run them thru the ultrasonic as well?