Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - rbwillnj

241
Star Reloaders / Re: Parted out Star Reloaders on eBay
« on: December 09, 2015, 10:15:05 pm »
Aluminum bases are interchangeable....except that there is a dowel pin through the aluminum base into the steel floor base.   This pin is installed during final assembly and the location is different on each machine.   When you purchase an aluminum base from another machine the hole for the dowel pin will not line up, and it will interfere with installation of the aluminum base.   However, you can remove the dowel pin in the steel base and then you can install the aluminum base.   For good measure, you should drill and ream an new hole for a dowel pin in a different location....but you don't have to.  Phelps machines do not have dowel pins.

When installing the new aluminum base you should do so with the tool head on the machine in the down position so you can line up the powder slide cam in the center of the slot in the powder slide housing. 

If you can't come up with a used aluminum base, I have new ones.  I can also do the installation on your machine.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works.

PS   I have never noticed a difference in case feeder cams for a Universal vs a Progressive.  Primer slide cams for Universals and Progressives are NOT the same.

242
Star Reloaders / Parted out Star Reloaders on eBay
« on: December 08, 2015, 04:17:04 pm »
You may have noticed that someone, (not me) has parted out a number of reloaders on eBay.   This is a good time to remind members that bronze primer casting is not interchangeable on different Star reloaders.   They were fitted at the factory and both bronze casting and the steel floor base were stamped with matching numbers.   A primer casting will NOT fit any other steel floor base.

Likewise, the crank shaft bearing was fitted to the column during final assembly.   The taper pin hole location is slightly different on every machine.   The chance of purchasing a separate Column and a crank shaft bearing and having them fit properly is extremely low.   Unfortunately they are not marked in any way to aid in matching them up.    When I rebuild Star reloaders I stamp both the column and the crank shaft bearing to ensure I reassemble matching parts.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

243
Star Reloaders / Re: STAR BASE OR NOT?
« on: November 26, 2015, 07:35:29 am »
I tend to think it is a Star which as Dave says has been "vandalized" to mount a homemade case feeder.   I would not count on being able to mount a Hulme case feeder on that machine.   The thrust nut is not a Star,  and that fact that the sizing die is in the seating station and the seating die in the sizing station makes me think the machine was put together for the auction, and not one that had been in use in its current configuration.

That said, Ricketts is generally a pretty good seller....but doesn't answer questions, not mine anyway.

Bruce

244
Star Reloaders / Re: .38 Spl Wadcutter seater plug
« on: November 17, 2015, 06:24:56 pm »
I have them in stock.

Bruce

245
Star Reloaders / Re: .38 Spl Wadcutter seater plug
« on: November 16, 2015, 08:45:00 pm »
Star would make a seating stem for any bullet.  They recommended that you send in the bullet and they would make the seating stem to match.    I do the same......though if it's just a plan wadcutter, you don't need to send me the bullet.

Bruce Williams

246
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Moon / Ray Vin case kicker
« on: November 11, 2015, 11:49:16 pm »
I talked to Ray Brandes.   The Moon Indexer and Case Kicker are coming back to Ray-Vin.  It will take a little while but they will be available again.   SB Sales Distributing is no longer stocking these products.

247
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Parts on eBay
« on: November 07, 2015, 08:12:52 am »
You've been watching too much TV Dave, back to the man kave!


248
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Adapting the Lee Case Feeder
« on: November 04, 2015, 09:36:09 pm »
I think you guys might be talking about two different things, the Lee Case Feeder and the Lee Bullet Feeder????

I make an adapter to add Lee Case Feeder Tubes to a Star reloader.  Here is a Link to my listing in the WTS/WTB area;

http://www.starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?topic=1735.0

I currently have the aluminum version in stock.   I also have a couple Lee Case Feeders and Collators in stock so you can do one stop shopping.   If interested please contact me directly.

Bruce Williams


249
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Parts on eBay
« on: November 04, 2015, 09:19:45 pm »
Gerry,  No need to worry, Star Machine Works LLC is a real business and all of my revenues regardless of the source are reported on both my Federal and State taxes.  You do the same right?

250
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Star Parts on eBay
« on: November 03, 2015, 02:14:45 pm »
Recently I have been listing some Star reloader parts on eBay under the user ID starmachineworksllc.   I am listing parts on eBay primarily as advertising in order to let folks who don't frequent this forum know that Star parts are available.   My prices on eBay are higher than my standard prices because they include the eBay and PayPal fees.

If you are interested in something I have listed on eBay, you can save if you contact me directly.   I have most Star reloader parts in stock.  I am only listing a small sampling of commonly used parts on eBay.   Although I have a long history with eBay under my personal user ID rbwillnj, I'm starting as a new user with the StarMachineWorksLLC user ID and eBay will only let me list five (5) items per month.

Best Regards,
Bruce Williams

251
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Powder cutoff for star reloaders
« on: October 25, 2015, 09:32:13 am »
Personally, I would recommend the powder drain sold by maurilew a forum member.   It replaces the lid of your powder slide housing.  Well made and reasonably priced.

You can reach him by PM or at mlewis at sti dot net

Bruce Williams

252
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: September 18, 2015, 04:05:49 pm »
I don't know if I would go that far Kenn, but thanks.

I think I have mentioned before that I do have the carbon copies for the last five years of Star's operations, ending in 1997.   But that's it.  Beyond that we have to rely on personal antidotes and conjecture.

253
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: September 16, 2015, 10:09:37 pm »
Kenn, I have no idea.

254
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: September 13, 2015, 08:35:12 pm »
Actually, to be able to account for at least 50% of anything made 80 years ago is pretty amazing.    Keep in mind, when these things were made, they weren't antiques, and really are not particularly remarkable in their function.  The fact that they are a rare and relatively unknown part of Star's history is what makes them interesting.....especially to me:) 

Those who collect antique reloading machines seem to mostly pass over Star progressives (small p), but go GaGa over reloaders made in the 50's and  60's.   I think that's actually a testament to the success of the Star progressives.  They were so well designed that a machine built in the 1930's is little different than one built in the 1990's.   I have been trying to catalog the design changes in Star progressives during the 60+ years of production, and they are few in number and minor in scope.

Bruce Williams

255
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: September 12, 2015, 01:30:04 pm »
Kenn,

I believe this is the same press described in a post by eaglemike a while back.  He describes it as a multi-station press designed to be less expensive than the Progressive and indicates that only a dozen or so were made.   I know of six including mine.     Some believe the Inline predates the "Progressive".  I'm told that the 1937 Phil Sharps book "Complete guide to Handloading" has a picture of the Inline but makes no mention of the Progressive. Of course we know the patent for the "Progressive was filed in 1933 and granted in 1936.   

The powder magazine is nickel plated brass, the same as used on the Pat. Pending Progressives.  The powder magazine has a wider opening at the bottom and no built in baffle.

Here is a link to eaglemike's post.  http://www.starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?topic=238.msg583#msg583

Among the Star items I acquired  was a box of parts for the Inline.  (Actually, I had a feeling they were Inline parts, but wasn't sure till I acquired the two Inlines.)  Among the parts were a number of dies and expanders.  None have a manufactures name and many are unmarked as to caliber.  I assume they were made by Star.  Among those that are marked are .270/35 WCF, 22 Hornet, 45 (ACP?), 38 Special and 44 WCF.   

If you look at the side of the Powder Magazine "Housing"  you will notice two layers.   You can remove one layer and install a powder slide that is half the thickness, one of which was among the parts.   And yes, both powder slides are adjustable.