A Nightmare Before Easter

[Slowhand Bob, 24229]

After a long layoff, bout three years plus some, I decided to find the reloading gear and set it up again.  It was packed away before I made a move two years ago.  Most of the last two days has been spent unpacking presses and related equipment.  Much to my horror I found that the equipment was not properly stored and is showing  some rust on the bare metal parts, which is a lot of territory on reloading gear.  I do not see much in the way of pitting but think there might be some shallow erosion of the metal, due to darkening of the previously shiny steel.  I do not want to use any abrasive means to try and fix the problems nor any harsh chemicals that can eat into the metal.  The dies are my greatest concern right now as they should be the most sensitive to abuse.

 

Anyone here ever run into this problem and can make recommendations.  I do have at my disposal an ultrasonic cleaner and plan to run the parts through it first.  Though not specifically aimed at reloading equipment, I see a lot of You Tube posts recommending a homemade electrolysis bat as being the safest way to remove rust without damage to the base metal?  Has anyone tried this before?    

[Marauder SASS #13056]

For most areas rust is not an issue, so just oil it up good.

 

Look at critical areas of friction for the press itself such as the ram, etc.  You may be able to use a good oil or rust resolver and steel wool and get it fine.

 

As you mention you don't want rust inside the dies, so take a goo look.  Most times I've seen older dies and that wasn't a problem, just the outside is coated in rust.  I oiled them up and used them just fine.  If the inside is rusted, probably best to merely replace them.

[War Grizzly]

I had the same issue after storing all my reloading equipment in a shed for a winter. I used the electrolysis method for some stuff and other non critical stuff I just stopped with oil and let it be. If the rust is on the outside of the dies then no harm is done obviously. Stuff that is pitted ain't coming back. After electrolysis steel must be oiled well immediately. I just threw the parts in a bowl of Kroll oil and wiped of the excess. Carbide sizing dies survived wonderfully. I did scrap some steel sizing dies that were rusted in critical areas. Good luck and keep your powder dry. 

 

[Jonah Hex SASS Life #127]

I've had good luck dropping rusted items like tools into a bucket of CLR & letting them sit for a day. The metal comes out a little darkened, but a quick polish & oiling usually gets them good as new. CLR is biodegradable, so it doesn't harm the metal, at least that I know of...

[John Boy]

Large parts: 50-50 mix of ATF and Acetone - Rub with brass wool

Small parts: Rotary tumbler with Strat-O-Sheen burnishing solution, Dawn and plastic polishing media:

[Eyesa Horg]

That's impressive results John Boy

[Fast Tracker]

As strange as it sounds, molasses is a great rust remover. A Model T restorer told me about it. Mix 15-20 parts of water to 1 part agricultural molasses. Soak the parts in the mixture for two weeks or until the rust is gone. The metal may be a little darkened.

[Slowhand Bob, 24229]

The molasses was mentioned in several you tube videos.  Any metallurgists here that can talk about the dark discoloration left on steel after polishing away rust, in particular with steel wool?  There seems to be no source in these parts for brass wool.  I know some of you are using sonic tanks, will any of the gun cleaning fluids sold for these remove rust and stains?  Though I have not used it yet I purchased a new Hornady 9L Ultrasonic cleaner a couple of months back. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

ATF, and 0000 steel wool is your friend.

OLG

[Pat Riot]

I found the same issue a few months back, Slowhand Bob. I was more than a little perturbed at myself for letting some of my dies and other accessories get a thin layer of rust on some parts. I did some searching on line and ran across a recommendation to throw  the parts in my vibrating brass tumbler with some corn media and a healthy does of Automatic Transmission Fluid. (ATF). I figured, what can it hurt. If they didn't come out I would have to replace them anyway. So I tried it and they all came out in very nice shape. Some of the rusty areas came out with a patina to them but they were all back in usable condition. Luckily the insides of the dies were unharmed.

 

Afterwards I took the media with the ATF in it and bagged it up and labeled really well for future use and cleaned up my tumbler.

[Sedalia Dave]

30 minutes ago, Slowhand Bob, 24229 said:

The molasses was mentioned in several you tube videos.  Any metallurgists here that can talk about the dark discoloration left on steel after polishing away rust, in particular with steel wool?  There seems to be no source in these parts for brass wool.  I know some of you are using sonic tanks, will any of the gun cleaning fluids sold for these remove rust and stains?  Though I have not used it yet I purchased a new Hornady 9L Ultrasonic cleaner a couple of months back. 

 

You can get brass or copper wool at a grocery store. Look where they have the Brillo and SOS pads. Be sure the package says that it is 100% copper or brass.