How to remove sizing wax

[LHSmith]

70 % alcohol on an old cotton shirt. I do not like microfiber anything- it doesn't absorb moisture. For cleaning dies or chamber I prefer naptha on a cotton patch.

 

[JLT]

I’m probably one of the few fans of the Hornady wax in the little tin tub. I just wipe it off with a towel, I feel like it gives the case a little protection also.

I use this as well. Wipes off easily, and a few minutes in corn cob media will do the trick for larger batches.

 

[AlNyhus]

I use imperial wax when full length resizing. I normally just wipe them down with a rag. Anything you guys do or use?

That's all I ever do. -Al

 

[Dgd6mm]

That's all I ever do. -Al

Easy Peasy......nothing special, and works just fine.

 

[jds holler]

Frankly, I've just about become a "One Shot" convert on everything except the toughest sizing jobs. With One Shot and bottle neck rifle cases, I put the cases in loading blocks and spray on and in the necks to begin with, then dump them in a flat pan and hit them again while giving them the shake rattle and roll. Let them dry very well, and then size, and everything else. I don't worry about removing the One Shot that is on them, or in the necks. jd

 

[Rsadams]

I simply running back through the tumbler unless it a small test batch in which case I just wipe them down with 90 percent alcohol , not rubbing alcohol there's a difference...

 

[topclass2017]

Frankly, I've just about become a "One Shot" convert on everything except the toughest sizing jobs. With One Shot and bottle neck rifle cases, I put the cases in loading blocks and spray on and in the necks to begin with, then dump them in a flat pan and hit them again while giving them the shake rattle and roll. Let them dry very well, and then size, and everything else. I don't worry about removing the One Shot that is on them, or in the necks. jd

Same here (One Shot). After I size, I drop cases onto a terry towel, and roll them around a little just to knock off any "excess", then continue.

 

[Webster]

I've been using a paper towel.

I also have been using a paper towel for many years. No solvents to handle. No tumbling. Acetone is considered very hazardous. If you insist on using a solvent Isopropyl alcohol is probably the safest solvent. I have been using a light vis synthetic oil for at least 20 years. It takes about 5 seconds to wipe each case. I probably reload about 75 cases a month.

 

[AWCMKEN]

I use imperial wax when full length resizing. I normally just wipe them down with a rag. Anything you guys do or use?

Paper towels with 91% alcohol.

 

[Dolomite]

you guys are doing it all wrong. i tell my wife to wipe the cases down and make sure there is no wax left.....

so now I get to sleep on the sofa next to my rifle.

 

[jxb]

Cheap nappy auto microfiber cloth works really well, then I simply hand wash the towels in a bucket with dawn before tossing them in the wash pile (keeps the boss happy). That said if I was doing a batch in the hundreds I'd likely use the tumbler same as others suggest.

Neck stuff with dry lube those blue shop paper towels work great.

 

[PhilC]

10 - 15mins in tumbler with fine corncob unless I'm only doing a handful.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I use alcohol. it's quicker than wet tumbling/ultrasonic cleaning and drying. Also, wet tumbling can damage the case mouths.

If you mandrel, do the mandrel, trim, and chamfer after wet tumbling. Use a coated mandrel that doesn't require lube and or graphite.

 

[kd4avp]

Hmmm??? Am sure glad I use medium sized rice instead of corn cob meal as I don't like having to remove anything from the flash holes. With the rice, there's only a few primer pockets where a grain of rice gets stuck in and is easily removed.

Never thought of using rice. May try that. Still polishes up good too?

 

[Old Navy]

I rinse the cases in pure acetone after the last sizing operation. I wipe them off using a clean paper towel and a Q-tip inside the neck. Then place them in the loading block upside down to let them dry.

PopCharlie

Be careful with that stuff Charlie. Alcohol will do the same job without all the health hazards.

 

[mic2377]

The easiest way to remove in bulk involves chemicals unfortunately. Pick the solvent of your choice and shake the cases in a closed container with it, then dump out to dry.

The absolute fastest and most thorough is brake cleaner, but it takes EVERYTHING off even if you want a film left behind.

The thought of manually wiping each case to remove lube is ridiculously tedious. I tried that in the beginning but that alone will give you arthritis in your fingers!

 

[Straightshooter1]

Never thought of using rice. May try that. Still polishes up good too?

Yes, it polishes up just fine. Just use medium grain rice, not long grain rice or you're wind up with a big job of removing rice from flash holes.

Here a pic of my brass after rice tumbling:

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The thought of manually wiping each case to remove lube is ridiculously tedious. I tried that in the beginning but that alone will give you arthritis in your fingers!

Nothing to it with a good heavy microfibre towel laid in you lap. Couple three twists and put in the box.

 

[kd4avp]

Yes, it polishes up just fine. Just use medium grain rice, not long grain rice or you're wind up with a big job or removing rice from flash holes.

Here a pic of my brass after rice tumbling:
View attachment 1601875

Looks great! My son says I am a brass snob. Yes I like it to look clean. Will give that a go. Using crushed walnut media now. Its pretty small and will clog the flash holes from time to time.

 

[Tangent]

For the volume of cases I use a microfiber cloth and isopropyl alcohol makes quick work of it. If I had hundreds to do I'd find another way!