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How often do you clean your FL dies? I resized a few cases and I noticed the cases were being scratched. The die hadn't been scratching the brass until today. I had tumbled the brass and it was clean. I use Imperial wax to lube the cases. I just finished cleaning my FL dies.
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
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I try to wipe them down or spritz them with carb cleaner before and after each use. I don't tumble cases usually and the reloading bench is in a dusty environment. Only takes a little grit to scratch a case. If I use the carb cleaner then a light lube with whatever is around the bench, Kroil, One Shot, Corrosion X Eesox, etc. Ed's Red takes care of both cleaning and light lube so that is handy.
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Up to now (about 35 years) never. Except when I get a new set. Those I clean very thoroughly and oil all the threads, then use a q-tip to wipe a very thin coat of Imperial inside the body of the FL die. Should I be adding a routine cleaning to my process?
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TRexF16, I can't say you should or shouldn't. I decap my brass with a universal die. Right now I think that's where my problem was initiated from the grit from my primers. I'm going to clean my FL dies after I use them. I'm also going to clean my press after decapping my brass.
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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+1 on the universal decapping die, lotsa grit from primers that's not finding its way into your sizing die.
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I usually clean them when new.
If i have a problem by me not putting enough lube on the case and it gets stuck,then it gets cleaned again.
I also have dies that have not been used for years and before use they get scrubbed.
I use a de-priming die than tumble them for a short while just to get the crud off.
Scratched up dies before by not paying attention.
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Campfire Regular
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I clean once when first purchased. If I’m going to set aside dies for an expended period then I’ll wipe them down with a light coat of Ballistol To stop any surface rust. Then, when I take them out again I’ll hit them with brake cleaner and then a quick shot of Hornady One Shot.
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About once a year, unless I notice scratches. Clean when new as well. Carb/brake cleaner and a Q tip.
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I just polished the die that was scratching brass with a chamber mop coated with Flitz. I chucked the mop on my drill. Cleaned it up and it looks new.
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I use brake clean, when they feel like there are getting sticky and gunky....
works just fine, and dries almost instantly...
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I use brake clean, when they feel like there are getting sticky and gunky....
works just fine, and dries almost instantly... Just bought a can of non-chlorinated Brake clean today/
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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Hoppes #9 and a Q-tip!
This is all you really need to clean you dies and it has worked perfectly for me for over 35 years now.
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