Help With Press and Die Rusting

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Chewy64

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Hello all,

Obligatory "I've already searched the forum."

I'm having major issues with my presses and dies rusting lately. They develope a serious amount of rust after a few short period of time (a few days). I've tried dry lubes, oils, all sort of stuff. They are all in my home which is heated/air conditioned. Nothing I seem to do lately is helping prevent this. The area in which I currently am is in northern Alberta and has been very humid lately and has significant temperature swings from day to night.

The worst areas seem to be the powder measures and linkage. Any area I touch regularly is even worse. Handles, die adjustments, etc.

Is anyone able to lend some ideas? My storage options are limited but there must be some sort of coating I can apply in the outside and inside the powder measure.

Here is a picture after sitting for three days:
http://imgur.com/BugufaV
 
Wear gloves your body oils might be a bit acidic.


Plus

bj7dsQO.jpg


Or


DD1NUrs.jpg
 
Clean the rust off with steel wool and oil, then wipe it clean, and apply a light film of oil to all exposed metal. That should take care of it. My equipment is all stored in the basement and humidity has never been a problem.
 
I've tried oil and some other things. Will those corrosion preventatives screw with the powder if they are put inside the powder measure? How would they affect a die if put on the inside?
I'll be using gloves for sure to help with areas I touch. Seems like it is all exposed surfaces though.
 
Chewy64 said:
I've tried oil and some other things. Will those corrosion preventatives screw with the powder if they are put inside the powder measure? How would they affect a die if put on the inside?
I'll be using gloves for sure to help with areas I touch. Seems like it is all exposed surfaces though.
Click to expand...

do you live?
 
Hornady makes a dry film lube for firearms similar to One Shot, try it, many of the new dies are coated with this type protection from the factory.

For your dies take them apart and put the die body in a dry vibratory tumbler with treated walnut media.

I did this to a rusted 1976 RCBS 30-06 full length die that had not been used in over 30 years.

After letting it tumble overnight it came out looking like a brand new die.

I bought my RCBS Rockchucker in 1973 and its half green and half brown with rust. It has been in my basement all this time and every year it get hosed down with BreakFree CLP and wiped off.

With the new dry film lubes like below I think they would keep your press dry and protected from the humidity.

Hornady® One Shot™ Gun Cleaner and Lube with Dyna Glide Plus® (Dry, Non-Tacky two types)

https://www.hornady.com/reloading/case-care/lubes-and-cleaners/one-shot-cleaners

If you want to go old school the triple mix of linseed oil, bees wax and turpentine was used during the Civil War as pre-petroleum age cosmoline on firearms. And you can also lightly rub it on your firearms to protect them from the elements like our forefathers did.

And in a Museum the curators put a neutral PH wax on firearms to protect the metal parts. Oil will collect dirt and dust that attracts moisture and rust.

So why wax when you can spray it on. ;)

Hornady One Shot® HD-Extreme
Formulated for extreme shooting and weather conditions, this all-purpose cleaner/conditioner/dry lube contains 4X Metal Protector™ additive which helps to prevent tarnishing, reduces friction, and helps eliminate function issues in semi-automatics.
 
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Zuke: I am alive. Yes.

I have been using the Hornady One Shot stuff for awile and it has done wonders until now. Both the extreme and regular versions.
My RCBS powder measure is the worse of all of them right now. I'll throw it in a tumbler and try some of the other rust preventatives.
The A/C unit I have is also a dehumidifier. I'll consider picking up another as it may not be cutting it in this climate.

Has anyone seen the rust prevention "bags" for long term firearms storage? I am also considering using those to store some items I use less frequently. Wondering if anyone has has success with them.

Thanks all.
 
Buy an hygrometer to actually know how much humidity there is in that room. Cheap ones will cost about 20$ and will work fine for your need. Normal humidity level to be comfortable is 40-60%, and stuff will rust increasingly more quickly over 80%. Humidity is probably your problem, but no need to buy a 100-200$ dehumidifier if it isn't.

Oiling stuff is mostly usefull for storage. When you use your reloading equipment, oil will rub off of it, and all the "moving" parts and everywhere your touch will be unprotected. You'd have to reapply oil in every crack after every reloading session. If there's too much humidity in your reloading room, there won't be much that will help other than taking away that humidity.
 
VinnyQC said:
Buy an hygrometer to actually know how much humidity there is in that room. Cheap ones will cost about 20$ and will work fine for your need. Normal humidity level to be comfortable is 40-60%, and stuff will rust increasingly more quickly over 80%. Humidity is probably your problem, but no need to buy a 100-200$ dehumidifier if it isn't.

Oiling stuff is mostly usefull for storage. When you use your reloading equipment, oil will rub off of it, and all the "moving" parts and everywhere your touch will be unprotected. You'd have to reapply oil in every crack after every reloading session. If there's too much humidity in your reloading room, there won't be much that will help other than taking away that humidity.
Click to expand...

His home is air conditioned....mine drops below 50 when the ac is on.
 
I'm out on Highway 881. I wouldn't be too far as a crow flies from Nexen.
I'll look into sourcing a hydrometer locally.
 
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