I was given a few sets of dies from an old guy the other day and they look a little rusty, inside and out.
They are RCBS dies and I hate to buy new if I can recondition these.
Is there any way I can remove the rust so I can use them?

The rust is hit and miss all around the outside and in vertical streaks on the inside.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

oct71

I have had good luck with putting them in the tumbler, take them apart first of course.

Zero

If they don't clean up, send them back to RCBS. They
will probably just replace them. The size die is the
only one that is critical. Just send it back.
They have replaced a number of size dies for me
thar had been abused before I got them.
Lyle

A little Flitz on a snug fitting rag. Wrap it around a wooden dowel and put it in a drill. If it is only surface rust and no pitting they will clean up sweet. I do this to new dies. It slicks them up great. I have used an old chamber mops on a piece of cleaning rod. 0000 steel wool will also work. Make sure you clean them out really good afterwards.

Simply bath disassembled die(s) in an heating Ultrasonic Cleaner with Brownell's Steel White Rust Remover (to 120 degrees F). Guaranteed 100% rust removal.

Next soak components in water displacing oil in accordance to requirements.

Inspect inside of the die(s). If pits remain, die is unusable.

Good luck.

BR, Alex

who is Rusty, and how did he die?

How do you guys keep your dies from rusting,,,real humid here,,,,,

the question is....how do you keep rusty from dying?

You can coat the dies lightly with RIG preservative grease and wrap in rust inhibiting paper.

After you clean up the dies, if there is any "stain" left on the outside blue them. Looks cool

Fairly new product called Evaporust, and it works great. Got some at the Tulsa Gunshow and it will remove rust without harming the steel. Check locally or search online maaybe....

I have a set of 7x57's that got wet and rusted badly, they even pitted some. I continued to use them and it didn't make a bit of difference, the seating die is still brown at the base. I've probably shot up 2000 rounds since they rusted up. It seems like one of those things you don't like the looks of, but really doesn't affect the function.

I have been putting a little gun oil on a small rag and lightly oiling the inside between uses then wiping them out real well before use. Is the imperial wax a rust imhibitor? Thats what I'm using for lube.

I have been putting a little gun oil on a small rag and lightly oiling the inside between uses then wiping them out real well before use. Is the imperial wax a rust inhibitor? Thats what I'm using for lube.