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Are these ruined?
- Thread starter bigalf
- Start date
Toss em and replace as needed, if they're not exotic calibers.
Mystery oil or coke syrup (if thats still available) and a small wire brush.
Mystery oil or coke syrup (if thats still available) and a small wire brush.
Wickedcoolname
NES Member
White vinegar and salt. Soak overnight and then rinse in water with baking soda. Best rust remover I've ever used.
Limiting my response to dies: scrap and replace.
The concept of "rust removal" is a misnomer. When steel rusts, some of the constituent iron is converted into ferric oxide. Even if, either mechanically or chemically, you can remove all of the ferric oxide, the underlying substrate will be pitted where steel has gone away. The only way to restore the smooth surface important for dies would be by grinding and polishing, which.necessarily changes the critical dimensions of the die.
The concept of "rust removal" is a misnomer. When steel rusts, some of the constituent iron is converted into ferric oxide. Even if, either mechanically or chemically, you can remove all of the ferric oxide, the underlying substrate will be pitted where steel has gone away. The only way to restore the smooth surface important for dies would be by grinding and polishing, which.necessarily changes the critical dimensions of the die.
Save the shell holders and buy new ones.
If the insides are good (good chance they are) you can use just about any rust removal option.
Personally with the time and effort I think I would just buy replacements being Lee dies are not expensive.
I would hit them with a wire wheel and spray them with some sort if rust converter. Then give them a good coat of rust preventive.
My front sight adjuster tool for my sks rusted up. I used OSPHO ? Spl? Rust converter , almost parkerizes the metal . Then I use rust inhibator sprays on all my
Stuff.
Years ago I had a rust over event. Since then I use VCI products , emitters, bags, paper. I even save the VCI papers from parts at work and toss them in a box for future use or other projects
Personally with the time and effort I think I would just buy replacements being Lee dies are not expensive.
I would hit them with a wire wheel and spray them with some sort if rust converter. Then give them a good coat of rust preventive.
My front sight adjuster tool for my sks rusted up. I used OSPHO ? Spl? Rust converter , almost parkerizes the metal . Then I use rust inhibator sprays on all my
Stuff.
Years ago I had a rust over event. Since then I use VCI products , emitters, bags, paper. I even save the VCI papers from parts at work and toss them in a box for future use or other projects
The dies are only part of the problem, despite being wrapped up, my Lock and Load progressive press also has some rust, so, hopefully I can buy those piece's individually.
The inside of the dies appears ok. Ill try to clean them before I replace them. Hate buying things twice.
The inside of the dies appears ok. Ill try to clean them before I replace them. Hate buying things twice.
Do you have a wet tumbler with stainless pins? If so, disassemble the dies and tumble them in there as you would brass cases.
greencobra
NES Member
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what's the rest of the equipment look like?
beaker
NES Member
I would get them clean and look inside to see if there is any surface pitting. If they are still nice and smooth, probably OK. If not, replace if you need to. I've cleaned up a rusty machine tool ways that looked worse than that and there was nothing but surface rust. Once cleaned up they worked fine.
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I've stored dies in way less than ideal conditions for 40 years and never seen anything like this. That said it made me think what should you do to avoid this problem?
Nobody has actually mentioned it, but there aren't many critical dimensions in straight wall handgun caliber dies. It's already been established that the carbide resizing rings and titanium-coated resizing rings shouldn't be rusted in the first place. We'd be looking at the expanding and crimping surfaces, and I have to wonder how much pitting would be required that these wouldn't function properly after they're cleaned up. I would think it'd have to be a helluva lot.
It looks like the dies that rusted at some point where cleaned heavily and never oiled again.
Also lee is not known for using steel with high anti corrosive properties.
My guess lee used some of the cheapest easiest to machine steel they can get.
Also remember for steel to rust (oxidize) it needs the air around it changed out. If you seal the item it wont rust as bad do to lack of O2, O2 from moister or air itself.
My rcbs dies rust where I touch them.
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I would start with Lee's warranty: Satisfaction Guaranteed - Lee Precision
Says right in their statement, Any Lee product regardless of age or condition...
