StarReloaders.com Discussion Forum

Star Reloaders Discussion Forums => Star History => Topic started by: luober2 on March 23, 2007, 03:50:08 pm

Title: star tooling
Post by: luober2 on March 23, 2007, 03:50:08 pm
does anyone know what happened to tooling, jigs, and fixtures that were used to build the star reloaders? are there any copies of any of the blueprints that they must have had? who did the metal casting of some of the parts for the reloading machines before they were finish machined (aluminum base plates, brass primer slide housings, powder slide housings)? what happened to all of the spare parts that must have been in stock when they closed the doors?
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: steven d. ogden on March 23, 2007, 03:58:02 pm
The lubricator-sizer dies, parts, ect. went to Magma Engineering.  Mr. Cunningham  of Pioneer, CA., bought everything else; he has apparently decided to go incognito although at one time he would answer emails.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: luober2 on March 24, 2007, 07:55:56 am
does anyone know if mr.cunningham of pioneer california is still in business? has anyone been to his shop? what is the quality of the work that he does? has anyone bought anything from him lately?
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on March 24, 2007, 02:21:12 pm
My guestimate is that he purchased the spare parts inventory from Star, but not the tooling.   I know that he used C-H to manufacture quite a few die sets at one time, but has not been back in contact with them for several years (according to C-H).

Bill Cunnignham has not answered any of my phone calls, or emails in about a year.   Others I have talked to have said pretty much the same thing.   Is he still in business?  Who knows.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: CDRT on March 24, 2007, 10:33:24 pm
I bought some parts from him a couple years ago.  The quality was top notch.  I tried contacting him last July; left messages, sent emails and a fax and never heard from him.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Lifetyme on April 20, 2007, 12:36:54 am
I was at the shop in San Diego talking to George and met Bill the day he was there packing up the shop.  My recollection is that Magma got all of the luber parts and jigs and Bill took all of the reloader parts and jigs.  I haven't talked to Bill in a few years and don't know if he is still in the Star business or not.  I believe that I was told that the old belt driven equipment was going to some historical venue or local museum.

Regards,

Bob

P.S.  I am looking for a 9MM shellplate.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on April 20, 2007, 04:09:24 pm
The lubricator-sizer dies, parts, ect. went to Magma Engineering.  Mr. Cunningham  of Pioneer, CA., bought everything else; he has apparently decided to go incognito although at one time he would answer emails.

I laid into Cunningham here once about letting Star die.  That got a couple e-mails from him.  But my sense of this is that he was no machinest.  Even if he had the necessary equipment he just didn't have the skill (nor interest).  Star deserved a better fate than to fall into the hands of this guy!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: jasta on October 07, 2007, 06:33:40 pm
sounds like the same thing that midway did after they got fajen gun stocks just pissed all away about stars tooling a lot of the tooling just got scraped luckey turner of otay metal mart had a big scrap bin there and every day i would go there and dig in it it was a hell of a lot of fun and i got lots of goodys they had a big gridly lathe that had a bar stock holder on it and in moving it it fell and snaped one of the forks that the bar tube sat on well i got the two of them and cut the forks off the top i used one for my barrel vise and the other for my wire wheel buffer but in short i know you  don't want to here this but if you did not know what you were looking at a lot of there tooling would just look like a lot of junk but not to me it was some of the best spent time digging in that bin a lot of my pals would call me junk yard and all i tell them is yup i am a junk yard all the way to the bank i still have all the brass stock they made the primer tubes out of but i sracped the rest of the brass when the price went sky high only in america can one get rich by digging in anothers scrap heres one more thing i have some casting for a reloading press that was made here in san diego called [boss] one thing the folks at star ask me if i wanted was the casting mould that they cast the reloader base in i had to pass as it was just to dam big so in the bin it went
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on October 08, 2007, 08:07:23 am
Jasta,   I sent you a private message a while ago.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Ross Chesley on October 08, 2007, 09:14:41 pm
Here's what I know...

1. Bill Cunningham does not have a good track record for replying quickly or being easy to reach.
2. The domain "starmachineworks.com" was set to expire in August, but was renewed so this means someone decided to keep it going.

I heard various rumors... :-X 

It would be great if Bill would join the forum and support it -- the offer has been extended several times in the past but he has not accepted.

Please visit the Star Reloaders forum and see the topic "Whatever Happened". There are reports indicating someone is taking care of business at SMW these days. I say that is great.

Please also know that the owner of this website will start offering parts for sale and will do anything possible to encourage people who have the ability to make parts to have a venue to reach members and sell their parts.

If you know people who are making parts or could make parts, please e-mail me. I am going to put together a list and contact them so we can make some arrangements and get them posted in a storefront order system. This website is a great place to advertise and sell parts to Star owners. It is the only website you will find on the internet with information and a commitment to keep iStars going.

All the contributing forum members represent Star Reloaders to the world and I am very grateful to everyone who posts and shares their experience and knowledge.

Stay tuned for a new topic that will survey the parts people want.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Star73 on October 11, 2007, 08:58:43 pm
I sent Bill C an email 10 days or so ago requesting prices on specific parts & rec'd an immediate reply.  Last week I mailed an order w/ MO attached. Hope to reiceve shipment soon as he was accomodating. In the past I have exp'd the same as reported by others here. Will advise further. Also it looks as if the prices on the site need revised!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NMBob on October 12, 2007, 03:52:07 pm
I have also placed a recent order (for a .45 ACP carbide die) and will report.

NMBob
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Star73 on October 12, 2007, 07:22:03 pm
As promised here is a followup to my order w/ Bill C. Rec'd the order today...no more than 10 days since initiated....4 sprgs. Refreshing!
Ron H
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on October 12, 2007, 07:38:30 pm
Maybe he can supply springs but he clearly can not build new tools.  This was a sad end for a company and product that deserved better!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NMBob on October 13, 2007, 03:25:31 pm
Got my .45 sizing die the day I posted the above.  Well-made die, and it works fine.  My check was not cashed until the die was on its way.

NMBob
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: MOOSEJAW52 on February 19, 2008, 10:33:59 pm
WHATS HAPPEN WITH THE STARS  FROM CHINA, THAT BETTER THAN USA STARS,AND RETAILS FOR 200.00 DOLLARS
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on February 20, 2008, 11:19:02 am
Moosejaw52

Have never heard or seen any reference to "Chinese" Star reloaders. No info I can locate on internet searches. Based upon experience with Chinese goods, I would speculate about quality. Where did you find or what do you have for information?
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 333OKH on February 20, 2008, 12:59:50 pm
Thats all we need, a Chinese Star, George.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on February 20, 2008, 01:51:43 pm
I don't think you have to worry.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on February 20, 2008, 03:40:40 pm
Agreed.
I would think it there was a Chinese variation, there would have been numerous discussions, comments and posts galore on this site!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 333OKH on February 20, 2008, 03:43:46 pm
I think somebody has to much time on their hands, George.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Star73 on February 20, 2008, 09:20:30 pm
It would be nice to hear that he can supply shellplates also...dies + shellplates would give us the option of adding calibers!!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on February 20, 2008, 10:55:59 pm
I talked to CH Tool and Die the other day.  They are in the process of finishing up about 50 sets of dies of various calibers.  That is to say a few sets of each of many different calbers.   No Shell Plates, but they mentioned something about someone in Conneticut was going to make some shell plates.   I have no idea who that might be.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 333OKH on February 21, 2008, 01:00:28 am
Might be Richard Daniels, George.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on March 07, 2008, 09:40:06 am
So has anyone been in recent contact with Bill Cunningham.  I sent him and email about a month ago looking for a taper crimp die and never got a response.   I ended up buying one from CH tool and Die.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on March 07, 2008, 09:42:57 am
Is Bill the gentleman from Star Machine Works?
If so, I emailed him about three weeks ago. Received a response after about two weeks. He apologized about being tied up and sent info on items and prices that I requested.
I placed a small order one week ago, and am awaiting receipt of items.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 333OKH on March 07, 2008, 10:24:08 am
I emailed  Bill, and had a response in 48 hrs, George.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on March 07, 2008, 10:58:57 am
I expect a short wait on parts since I sent a check. I do not know his policies, but I would imagine he will hold the order while the check clears before shipping.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on March 07, 2008, 11:11:14 am
OK, I will give it another shot, I need some primer magazines.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on March 07, 2008, 09:12:45 pm
He had some available.
I ordered one small and large to replace two old plastic ones, I will keep for spares.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on March 08, 2008, 09:29:41 pm
I asked Magma in the last couple of days why they didn't buy the Star reloader when they bought the lubricator/sizer.  Essentially they said that they wish that they had but that they have trouble finding skilled labor so that even if that had bought it it might not have worked out well.

They also seemed to suggest that they might be open to this idea in the future.  So if anyone know the gun who has the company now you might encourgage him to approach Magma and see if they would buy him out.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on March 10, 2008, 09:30:27 am
Having new production with the same quality as before would be great for all of us that still use and prefer stars. I certainly would be open to adding additional toolhead, and calibers.
As I understand it, the patent has expired, so could not they begin to manufacture them on their own anyway?
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 45 ACP on March 10, 2008, 10:33:42 am
So what's it going to take to let a manufacturer know what we as Star owners/users want? What kind of notification or inquiries and to whom? Isn't Star in Pioneer, CA (IE:Bill Cummings?) doing something along those lines already? I know Rich Daniels here in CT is very involved with making various details as per request. So far he's got good reviews on quality and workmanship. Pete
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on March 10, 2008, 10:47:50 am
I've obviously tried to convince Magma that they should make the Star.  I think that they have some interest but...  My sense of it is that they already are swamped and that they have trouble finding skilled labor.  But you could always e-mail or call them and ask.

Maybe the thing to do would be to suggest that they start making parts.  If that turned out well enough, i.e. if there really was business and hence profit, that they might consider slowly inching up from parts to complete machines.

There is no doubt that they could do a good job.  The question is could they make money at it.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 45 ACP on March 10, 2008, 11:40:00 am
Profit is a BIG motivator! From what I've read these machines were in the $1000.00 plus range in the last days of production. With modern manufacturing techniques I would think it could still be possible to keep it there or close anyway (machine work and production tooling done here, castings from China)...I'm sure it wouldn't have go out of sight but still affordable to those that want and need the best! The shooting sports aren't as popular as they used to be so that might become an issue.
For right now, the folks on this board already have there machines...I would think spare parts are more in order for all of US. Built to original part print tolerances!

The USA still has a highly skilled work force (IE: first class machinist/toolmakers) and the facilities to out produce any where else on earth.

Buy American made! Nothing but the best! Pete
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Star73 on March 10, 2008, 10:43:35 pm
There had to have been many components which were outsourced. Castings & dies probably the most important. Changes would have to be made in some areas to take advantage of new materials & processes. Hopefully dimensions would remain the same so as to allow us the interchangability. An obvious area w/b toolheads/dies, making 7/8-14 std. A loaded round ejector should be factory incorporated along with a simple pdr drain system.

It has been stated here that Star increased price just to slow demand. If that is true there may be room for a profit, but in all reality the cost is likely to be very high. Bill Detloff, when he copied star & made the CPM, told us stars were overpriced, but his loaders were priced only a few bucks less. Bill didn't advertise. I'm not sure what Star did but I recall a small ad in the American Rifleman. A new co would, at least initially, have to advertise.

At the range where I shoot I'm regarded as an old fogie or behind the times because of being outspoken about stars. Everybody raves and I do mean RAVE about those blue plastic parted things. That is something else which have to be overcome. The star gives one a lifetime of reloading w/ a large cushion. I paid $360 & there were 2 of us [no e-mail]@ $180. If it would have been possible to have purchased another machine, widely used by my peers for 1/2, I would have been forced finacially to take that route. Competition!!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 45 ACP on March 12, 2008, 08:25:31 am
Does anybody know or remember where the steel and aluminum castings for the presses were produce? Foundry name and location? Or die casting plant name and location? It might be worth an inquiry as far as the old molds and dies are concerned? Did Star in Pioneer get these in the deal too? Pete
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on June 26, 2008, 10:18:06 am
Is Bill the gentleman from Star Machine Works?
If so, I emailed him about three weeks ago. Received a response after about two weeks. He apologized about being tied up and sent info on items and prices that I requested.
I placed a small order one week ago, and am awaiting receipt of items.


At the present time am still waiting.
Sent e-mails without response as of yet. Also, check has yet to be cashed.
Patience is a virtue, but also a necessity!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on June 26, 2008, 01:51:55 pm
It sounds as though his brief period of responsiveness has ended and he is back to his old ways.  Sorry, but I just don't have the patience to deal with someone like that.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Star73 on June 26, 2008, 08:42:19 pm
Unfortunately this intermittent communication seems to be the "modus operendi".  Fom some of the information on parts he must have a decent supply on hand.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on December 02, 2008, 10:05:39 pm
Update on parts from Bill Cunningham.

I had no response from my check that I sent in March.
Finnally sent another e-mail that was answered early November.  Had to exchange e-mails and explanations. Bill indicated he had misplaced the check and apologized.
I sent a new check, and more for some additional items. He responded he had received and would be shipping shortly and returning my original check.
Will advise as soon as I get order.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: 45 ACP on December 03, 2008, 07:56:30 am
Good morning...What's Bills "new" compamy email addrees and phone number that he responds to? I can use some parts myself. Lets see if he's back in business! Thanks, Pete
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: rbwillnj on December 03, 2008, 07:59:38 am
You guys have way more patience than I do.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on December 03, 2008, 11:12:37 am
I had to have Patience by default.

Hopefully the second time around is the charm.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on December 03, 2008, 11:16:54 am
45acp (Pete)

I did not communicate via phone. With coastal time issues and work, my effort is better spent dealing via e-mail than playing repeated phone tag.
The e-mail is still the same as listed on the websight.
www.Starmachineworks.com

Good luck!
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on December 24, 2008, 02:07:43 pm
Update on parts from Bill Cunningham.

I had no response from my check that I sent in March.
Finnally sent another e-mail that was answered early November.  Had to exchange e-mails and explanations. Bill indicated he had misplaced the check and apologized.
I sent a new check, and more for some additional items. He responded he had received and would be shipping shortly and returning my original check.
Will advise as soon as I get order.


Sent me an e-mail he had shipped to wrong address and it was returned. Gave him correct address. reshipped and again said returned. Confirmed address was correct on 12/22 and am still waiting.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on December 24, 2008, 02:48:27 pm
I'm absolutely NO fan of this fellow.  Star deserved a better end than to die by inches in the hands of a idiot.  He has killed the company off and done so in a way that leave a bad taste.  Star probably couldn't have competed against Dillon and RCBS but the company deserved to die without doing it has this fellow has done.
Title: Re: star tooling
Post by: NYKenn on January 05, 2009, 11:17:10 am
Received all items ordered in March, in mail on Saturday January 03. Also refund check.

Took a while for service, but a positive outcome. There were problems with losing my check, and misplacing my order etc. I would think, or at least my impression is, that had those not occurred, it would not have taken the time it did.

Patience is not only a virtue, but sometimes a necessity.