Applying Oil to Dies

[tgwillard]

The instructions that came with my Lee dies tell me to keep a light coat of oil on the dies to prevent rusting. What about the inside of the die? I was using the water soluble Lee case lube rubbed into a wet folded paper towel I used to roll the cases on prior to depriming and full length resizing. Do I need to worry about the moisture left inside the die?

 

[OKFC05]

I prefer a very light coat of wax on the outside, and use CRC "Dry" Silicone to clean out the inside and leave a little corrosion protection on rifle dies used with the same Lee case lube.

I really don't like oil getting on my hands where I might have to handle primers.

 

[rimfired]

Die lube

Find some "Imperial Sizing Die Wax" made by Redding. Stuff is not cheap but the small tin will last a long time.
Best I've ever used, even on carbide dies!

 

[Amici]

Butchers Wax is carnauba. A very thin coat lasts a long time.

I find it a very useful coating for long-term storage; good for the wood and protects metal.

 

[n4zov]

Buy a few Rust-Blox Vapor Tabs from Brownells and drop one in each die box. They protect against rust inside and out and there is no oil to remove when you use the dies. They last about two years and are very inexpensive. I have about 35 die boxes and this is the easiest way I have found to protect them.

BROWNELLS : Brownells Search : Search Results for "vapor inhibiting" - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

 

[Dale53]

If your reloading "shop" is in a climate controlled house, rust should not be a problem unless you have "poison" hands. When I was first married, we had a small house with no basement. An attached one car garage was what I had. I built my shop and darkroom in that garage. I ran a heat duct to the garage and condensation was a problem with all of my tools in the winter time. Summer humidity was worse. I had to keep after anything that would rust with a coat of oil. When we bought our next house, we had a nice, dry, climate controlled basement. I thought that I was in seventh heaven. I am, still...

Dale53

 

[Rule3]

All my dies are out in the garage in hot humid weather (Florida) I clean them with Ballistoil Sportsmans oil (mainly mineral oil) It's light, non toxic and very good at rust prevention. I apply it with a cleaning brush and than wipe with a clean rag. It is excellent for a final cleaning of guns as it works on metal, wood, plastic, leather without hurting anything.