Ever herd of brass too clean?

[SHARPPOINT]

I use SS wet tumble method to clean brass. I use a Dillon 550b, and the re-sizing die started leaving a faint scratch vertically down the case (9mm). Then after 2000-3000 more run thru it, it started leaving 2 faint scratches. I first cleaned the die and the scratches where still there. I called Dillon, after going thru what was happening the man that was helping me asked "how do you clean your brass". I told him and he said "that's it, you have scratched the die" he said "your getting it too d*m# clean". I told him I've never herd of that... So he says send it in and we will replace, I said no, if it's my clean brass fault i will buy another one. Well it came in, I replaced it and it is leaving a scratch??? 

Give me thoughts.

[gregintenn]

Yep. I've heard this story several times. All with Starline brass, and usually with Dillon dies.

 

      

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/88524-reloading-new-brass/

 

Read through this thread, as well as the link I gave in there to learn more.

[Wiljo05]

I'm running Lee dies on my Dillon, and while I don't SS wet tumble, I do media tumble, then soak with Lemishine and dawn. Brass comes out better than new looking and have not had any issues.

 

if I read correctly, you have a new resizing die and it still is scratching the brass? If so, sounds like the issue is somewhere else. Not sure where but makes me think its not the die. 

 

Do you lube the brass by chance?

[Jonnin]

something sounds fishy when brass, which is very, very soft, is scratching steel, which in the case of dies is usually hardened steel.

I have nothing to add, but that don't sound right.   Squeaky clean might get it stuck but I cant see that being a source of a scratch either.  

Somewhere, somehow, there is a little piece of something that is hard enough to scratch.  Where it came from, I cannot say...  could be a piece off their manufacturing process got stuck in a case, or once in a while they produce bronze or something hard instead of brass.... ???  

[chances R]

gonna have to call BS on that one.......too clean?......no way.  Now it is possible a grain of sand, etc may have found its way to the die and caused a scratch, especially if you are picking up range brass from gravel.  But I do SS/wet clean and never had an issue.

[SHARPPOINT]

Wiljo05, no lube. Not sticking at all, as I said just a faint scratch. Next will be a Lee die...

 

Jonnin, Agreed, Tim at Dillon said "it's like dragging a steel beam across a concrete floor??

 

chances R, I threw the BS flag as I was talking to him, but just thought I would put this out there and see if any of you have ever run into this or herd of it...

 

Thanks

[netmindr]

I can't see too clean ever being an issue. Brass cannot hope to scratch steel or carbine without the help of some foreign material.

I wet SS tumble and the only concern I have is possibly shortening the life of the brass since the media is harder than the brass and I know it's taking material off to get it that shiny.

I would disassemble the die and clean it. Run a cotton swab thru it and see if it drags on anything. Clean it with non-chlorinated brake cleaner and then VERY lightly lube it with a dry lube and see if that helps.

[DaveTN]

http://www.redding-reloading.com/tech-line-a-tips-faqs/149-scratched-cases-causes-and-cures

[Grunt67]

I've read about it, but have had no issues. I use SS tumbling & Lee carbide dies, on 9mm & 40 S&W. No problems.

Also loaded .308 Win. w/Lee dies, no issues.

 

 Edited to add: .308 was neck sizing w/ graphite lube.

Edited July 4, 2015 by Grunt67

[SHARPPOINT]

DaveTN, Thanks for the link. The first thing was of course cleaning the die... I have been reloading for many years but only SS cleaning the brass for 3 years or so. Only started scratching the cases a few weeks ago. So foreign matter was what I thought. Cleaning didn't help but for some reason I didn't think of running it thru my ultrasonic cleaner?? After reading the link I think I will give it a try. Thanks

[Grunt67]

Finally remembered the supposed reason for the clean brass issue. Supposedly, the dirt(?), works as a lube for the die, where the super clean brass tends to

gall a bit. Can't remember where I read that, but wasn't the long ago.

Wonderful thing, that memory.........when it works.