Brake cleaner to clean reloading dies?

[Teletiger7]

How do you clean your dies? How about brake cleaner? Will it clean standard reloading dies without damaging anything?

[m98]

Yes, brake cleaner is fine for loading dies. I use the same method to clean/degrease my dies.

[anyracoon]

I use brake cleaner on my dies and casting molds, just don't let it get on anything else. I use the cheap house brand from Auto-Zone.

[powaybob]

Be careful with the O-rings. Avoid contact if possible.

[cleanguy46]

Brake cleaner is good to go and with the dies I use O rings are not a factor. Be careful to dry them off after because the cleaner really cools them down and condensation can form.

[xrMike]

Do you guys ALWAYS clean brand new dies by disassembling them and spraying the parts with brake cleaner?

I just got brand new sizing and competition seating dies from Redding. I looked them over and they seem to be VERY clean, with zero metal particles and just a slight trace of oil on them.

Should I clean that oil off before using them for the first time?

[BlackRifleFan]

I have never cleaned my dies ever, but then again I am fairly new reloader and my most used die has probably only seen about 4000 shells through it.

[swerv512]

i ALWAYS clean brand new dies and i always use brake cleaner- i've had some come sloppy wet with oil and i've had others come almost dry. point is that i'd never be truly satisfied until i've cleaned/degreased the dies and then lighty oil the outside...
you wouldnt shoot a new gun without cleaning it first--- right??? so do the same with everything else.
good luck!

[Brasspolisher]

Do you guys ALWAYS clean brand new dies by disassembling them and spraying the parts with brake cleaner?

Yep.

I like to know what the insides look like, make sure the seating stem is perfectly centered, etc. And it only takes one particle a little harder than the thing it's rubbing against to make a scratch that will remind you it's there on every single case you run through that die forever after...

Besides, how often does the average white-collar suburban male get to stand around the water cooler on Monday saying (Barney Fife sniff and belt tug optional) "Yep, I spent the weekend spraying down tha machine tools in the shop with brake cleaner" while his neutered colleagues stare at the floor and mumble "I just went to Target and the grocery store..."

[Nodda Duma]

Keep in mind that the brake cleaner is very good at removing grease and oils...which is, of course, why you use it. If you live in more humid climates, you'll want to respray with protective oil to keep the steel dies from rusting. You can also wrap the dies in rust-inhibiting wrapping paper for longer-term storage.

-Jason

[bootcamp]

CLP