Dipping dies in paraffin

M

MEATSAW

New member
Have any of you dipped your dies in liquid paraffin wax in order to inhibit rust and keep your settings? Thought just occurred to me that it would be a pretty nifty technique to take care of dies and keep your settings for long term stuff. I don't ever plan on changing some of my dies...
 
It could backfire. You make a nifty wax shell around the die, but moisture gets underneath the wax and rusts away unseen until you crack the shell off.

Use oil or if you want to get real serious you could use 'poor man's cosmoline' aka Lee liquid alox. It's a liquid lube that coats metal and dries. It prevents rust very well until you remove it with mineral spirits.
 
Really doesn't sound like a good idea. I've never considered rust to be a problem with dies but if I did there are certainly easier ways to do it. Like others said, a quick shot of oil or maybe Kroil or CLP. None of those would require a messy cleanup before using. Really, really bad idea.
 
Not a good idea, you would be better off just vacuum sealing them with one of those home machines used for food and storage bags.

Jim
 
I don't see any advantage over things like VPI chips, storing in a sealed ammo can or the like with some dessicant, or even storing in a tightly closed container with a couple of mothballs.
 
One method that I use to clean my dies, and help keep them rust free is a soak of mineral spirits, ATF and Kroil (about 80-10-10, my guess). In my thinking the mineral spirits will remove any grease or lube and the ATF and Kroil act as penetrants and preservatives. I soak the dies (I have mine all set up in Lee turrets) for a few hours (mostly overnight) and just drain them and mebbe a light wipe down. Film left on the dies isn't thick enough to interfere with die operation, but enough is left on to prevent rust.
 
I use the dies and put them away. Clean the inside from time to time. If you want to inhibit rust, just get an old GI ammo can of sufficient size and keep the dies in there, along with a well oiled rag. You'll have lightly oiled air as the oil evaporates slowly, but won't need to apply anything to the dies.
 
I think all my dies are chromed. All my RCBS and I think my Lyman dies have set screws, though I don't use them. Locking your settings would be great if you used the same bullet every time, and didn't deviate from spl to mag brass. I rarely do.
 
I don't ever plan on changing some of my dies...
Click to expand...

I clean my dies with a towel on a dowel. I prefer white towels, I could finish with white, it helps to know when finished.
If in my possession there is a lock ring secured to the die, it is not my die. I adjust my dies every time I use them. I secure the die to the press with the lock ring.

I have two dies, one for seating bullets and the other for sizing the case. When sizing the case there are times I have to increase the presses ability to overcome the cases ability to resist sizing.

F. Guffey
 
Cool...

Glad I asked! A great resource for friendly discourse and I didn't get flamed -- sometimes oddball questions beyond the "which load is best?" can help better understand this hobby we love.
 
"I didn't get flamed"

You might get flamed if you're not careful and you spill the paraffin.

I keep most of my dies in a small parts organizer not unlike this one

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stack-On-39-Compartment-Storage-Cabinet-DS-39-12/100023878

I keep it on top of the electric water heater, which is next to the air handler for the heating system. I also have a large (60 pt., I think) dehumidifier in the basement.

Between all of that I've not had a problem with rusty dies or shell holders.
 
Have any of you dipped your dies in liquid paraffin wax in order to inhibit rust and keep your settings
Click to expand...

Paraffin wax is an excellent rust inhibitor. A thick layer of the stuff blocks oxygen migration to the surface and wax is a very stable molecule. However, it would be very difficult to remove from the inside of a die.

If you are really concerned, try RIG grease. You can at least remove RIG with solvents or patches.
 
"However, it would be very difficult to remove from the inside of a die."

Nope.

Melting point is right around 100% F.

Simple boiling water bath, and then letting the pan cool until the wax solidifies.
 
Parafin wax or any other wax won't do anything about how the die is set. That's what locking rings and set screws are for.
 
"I think all my dies are chromed."

Who makes chromed dies?
Click to expand...


I take that back. Most are just plated, and some have near chrome color plating.

Some of my dies were packaged with a square piece of oiled paper inside. So many ways to protect them from rust that are easier to return them to service than dipping in wax.
 
Die protection

Birchwood/ Casey makes a spray"Sheath" good for storing precision stuff. Comes off easy with bore cleaner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top