Rusty reloading dies?

[RichardH]

Have acquired a selection of old dies all of which are covered with surface rust, before I either blast them with plastic media or immerse them in acid is there a better way of dealing with it?

I can't be the first in this situation?

[blue]

I had a set of 243AI ones that I ran through my stainless media tumbler. Did nothing when set for an hour, but after a 4 hour tumble with some dishwasher soap, they came out great. All threads held up to the activity and as good as new.

[zx10mike]

how bad are we talking?any pitting at all i'd bin them but i had a set of redding comp ones once that i just polised with oil and wire wool and they came up great.

[Randy Bohannon]

Have acquired a selection of old dies all of which are covered with surface rust, before I either blast them with plastic media or immerse them in acid is there a better way of dealing with it?

I can't be the first in this situation?

Dilute phosphoric acid to eat the rust even where you can't see it, thorough rinse and then into that water displacing oil stuff you have.

Then see how the surface roughness on the inside of the die affects the cases you run through it.

[Simon_S]

Would not put acid on them mate. just spray some wd40 on give them a wipe over
with paper towel

[pbranthwaite]

What I've done in the past is set up a wire brush attachment in a pillar drill and cleaned all the rust off, soak overnight in WD40 and repeat if needed, don't forget to fully degrease before use. If you decide not to go ahead don't bin them as I can always use them for spares

[angrybear]

What Mr B said above, you can get the acid powder from classic car mags & the like, you will not believe the results until you see them.

[loiner1965]

bung em in some mollasses / water for a few weeks