[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

I bought some second hand dies from someone on the INGO forum.


Clicky the thumbnail

There's a bit of rust - much worse under magnification of course - but it leads me to believe that lube may not have been used as it would have gotten on the shaft and kept the rust away..?

Does this look carbide lined folks? There's no paperwork, it's a Lee die, but doesn't say "carbide" on it anywhere. I bought them expecting it not to be carbide, but might get a pleasant surprise.

Thanks,

Josh <><

[jimkim]

It looks like you have a carbide ring to me. Take them apart and clean them. I use a bore brush and bore cleaner(Ed's Red) to clean mine. You can chuck the pin up in a drill and remove the rust with 000 steel wool.

[Blackrock]

Yep looks like a carbide insert, the rust will buff right out.

[sourdough44]

What are they for? If handgun most likely carbide. I'd take it apart & clean & lube things up. The wall of the die is the most important. Try to smooth up the stem & you could get a new one. I know you bought it used but leave some oil inside & out when you plan to store them.

[KW Gary M]

I have Lee Carbide dies in 5 different calibers. I just compaired your photo to my dies and they look alike.

[TGF]

I clean and lube my dies with WD 40 for storage. I think it is probably the best rust preventative ever made.

[deadzero]

[quote=TargetGunFan;767284]I clean and lube my dies with WD 40 for storage. I think it is probably the best rust preventative ever made.[/quote]



i did a test once, probably not real scientific, but took 3 razor blades and sprayed them down with 3 different solvents then set them on top an old car battery outside in the weather. WD40 was the last one to show rust after 4 days.

[gandog56]

Looks like you got a nice bonus.

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hi Folks,

I mounted it in the press last night and put the press on the kitchen table with a couple c-clamps.

Snapped in the shell holder, screwed in the depriming/resizing die, and used it on a case, dry.

The thing worked slicker 'n snot.

It's carbide, though it doesn't say so!

I'm happy. I can now deprime about a thousand cases I've collected, while waiting on manuals and saving up for components.

Thanks again,

Josh <><

[sourdough44]

Just a comment. I know carbide dies don't really call for lube but I put a little on every 5th case or so, just a touch. I read about it a while back from some reloading guru's tip article. I'll skip the joke.

[gandog56]

Never bothered lubing with carbide dies. Might help a bit with 9mm, though, as they are actually slightly tapered and not a true straight wall.