Press & Dies rusting?
- Thread starter Euro
- Start date
Or Fluid Film.
These Quest dehumidifiers are top of the line best of the best. About $3000 for this Dual 155 model. But 1 or 2 guns maybe less can be worth that alone.
My basement gets a bit gross in summer time and I had issues with surface rust in the house we moved into 18 monghs ago. Hot rainy days would be 70-80% humid down there.
That Quest Dual 155 keeps the humidity down to 40% all summer long. It's a beast.
If you have major $ invested in firearms and have humidity issues I highly recommend. Your sh*t ain't going to rust with that thing in your space trust me.
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No snake oil fix for this. Dehumidifier and hydrometer that's monitored. I have 36% in and around gunsafes and reloading room. Two high end(Daikin) mini-splits with the correct settings do it! The powder storage is dryer again BIG MF do not eat bags lol there and in the safes. RUST NEVER SLEEPS
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Fluid film isn't exactly snake oil. Any oil will prevent rust quite effectively, most gun oils do this well. All you are doing is denying the conversion 2 critical conditions for the conversion to take place. Water and oxygen. You can certainly use dehumidifiers but if rusting steel is the only concern then an application of oil is a far less expensive option and every bit as effective. And for people in an apartment, a less expensive option may fit the bill a bit better. I keep an old can of Outers gun oil in the reloading room to oil my dies and bare steel equipment after cleaning to keep them rust free.
Hornady makes a One Shot gun cleaner that leaves a dry film on the metal.
https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-99901-Cleaner-Aerosol-DynaGlide/dp/B007TNXGMK
"Hornady One Shot with DynaGlide Plus is a revolutionary formula developed to rid firearms of malfunctions caused by a buildup of lubricants and grime. The unique DynaGlide Plus formula cleans the actions of firearms and leaves a micro-thin layer of dry lubricant."
My reloading bench is in my humid basement and last year I started spraying my dies and press with One Shot case lube. The dry film keeps the moisture and air off the metal and helps prevent rust.
In the past I would dissemble my dies and place the die body in my vibratory tumbler with treated walnut media. I would then let the tumbler run all night and the die body would come out looking better than new.
NOTE, in a museum a conservator cleans the firearms metal parts and applies a neutral PH wax to the metal. This keeps the moisture and air off the metal so it can not rust.
And in the pre-petrolium age firearms were rubbed down with the triple mix of 1/3 linseed oil, 1/3 beeswax and 1/3 turpentine. And during our American Civil War this same mixture was used as cosmoline for weapons in storage. (pre-petrolium and dehumidifier age)
https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-99901-Cleaner-Aerosol-DynaGlide/dp/B007TNXGMK
"Hornady One Shot with DynaGlide Plus is a revolutionary formula developed to rid firearms of malfunctions caused by a buildup of lubricants and grime. The unique DynaGlide Plus formula cleans the actions of firearms and leaves a micro-thin layer of dry lubricant."
My reloading bench is in my humid basement and last year I started spraying my dies and press with One Shot case lube. The dry film keeps the moisture and air off the metal and helps prevent rust.
In the past I would dissemble my dies and place the die body in my vibratory tumbler with treated walnut media. I would then let the tumbler run all night and the die body would come out looking better than new.
NOTE, in a museum a conservator cleans the firearms metal parts and applies a neutral PH wax to the metal. This keeps the moisture and air off the metal so it can not rust.
And in the pre-petrolium age firearms were rubbed down with the triple mix of 1/3 linseed oil, 1/3 beeswax and 1/3 turpentine. And during our American Civil War this same mixture was used as cosmoline for weapons in storage. (pre-petrolium and dehumidifier age)
I'm quite aware of that! I'd just rather tackle the CAUSE than fight the result. My Dad taught me that a long time ago. I don't think he was wrong. I use the mini-splits for my comfort. No rust is just a valuable side effect.Rusted steel is far from my only concern. I don't want moist air hovering around my powder or brass. I don't think Fluid film will cut it! I have lots of it on the bottom side of my truck!
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this^^^^^
Not sure if you're quite aware or not, you seem to indicate both. Regardless, the op is simply looking to keep rust off his dies. A wipe of oil does that without spending thousands on equipment he probably doesn't have room for.
It's not just the dies. It's the powder, primers, loaded ammo, guns, and other equipment etc. But definitely not for everyone no. Have the space and $ go for it. No worrying about anything. No heat rods and silica gel no rust no moisture damage to anything. If his dies are rusting that's too humid for any of that stuff. Oil will only do so much.
