Just a heads up/PSA... if using a mandrel with a Ti-N (gold) coating that's advertised as "not needing lube", disregard that advertisement.
Lube IS required.
This past weekend I expanded the necks on maybe 150 pieces of 6.5CM brass that had been wet tumbled and annealed. I didn't lube the necks during expansion just to see if it mattered. Yep. Expanding force was increased, and most importantly, at the end, it looked like there were streaks of galled brass running up the mandrel and it was very rough. I wrapped it in a cotton patch and hosed it down with Patchout & Accellerator and left it in the sink overnight. Patch was blue and purple the next morning, but was clean as a whistle and smooth again. Lesson learned.
No experience with the carbide versions or the "black" one from 21st Century, feel free to chime in.
Chime in with your experiences...
-ZA
Lube IS required.
This past weekend I expanded the necks on maybe 150 pieces of 6.5CM brass that had been wet tumbled and annealed. I didn't lube the necks during expansion just to see if it mattered. Yep. Expanding force was increased, and most importantly, at the end, it looked like there were streaks of galled brass running up the mandrel and it was very rough. I wrapped it in a cotton patch and hosed it down with Patchout & Accellerator and left it in the sink overnight. Patch was blue and purple the next morning, but was clean as a whistle and smooth again. Lesson learned.
No experience with the carbide versions or the "black" one from 21st Century, feel free to chime in.
Chime in with your experiences...
-ZA