Messages

226

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: difficult functioning with 9mm tool head

« on: November 06, 2012, 12:42:33 pm »

Greetings,

Ditto on the sizing die adjustment. Items #60 and #63 will be in line at maximum down travel.

Star used to put a note about 9mm cases. They suggested "wetting your finger" with a bit of Lanolin and stirring the cases.

Cheers,

Dave

227

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: 45 long Colt expander and bullet seater

« on: October 27, 2012, 11:21:43 am »

Greetings,

Personal email sent regarding parts.

Cheers,

Dave

228

Star Reloaders / Re: Powder tube thread pitch

« on: October 25, 2012, 02:35:05 pm »

Greetings All,

While machining some Powder Hoppers, I decided to post an image of what is involved in cutting the 9/16-27 Dryseal SPL-PTF, OD 0.563 thread

http://home.comcast.net/~fc60net/TaperThread.JPG

In the photo, you can see the part is shifted off axis, by moving the tail stock away from center,  to the correct angle for the thread. (3/4" per foot, the standard pipe thread taper.)

At the very right is the brass nose piece that is inserted and clamped in the aluminum arbor.

The indicator is to control the threading operation so that I do not nick the main body of the part as the cutting tool feeds to the left.

"Maschinenvergnügen" (The joy of machining)

Cheers,

Dave

229

Star Reloaders / Re: Modify for Auto Eject???

« on: October 24, 2012, 12:23:35 pm »

Greetings Lindy,

Just finished disassembly and cleaning. I have not loaded with it, as yet. I will try the feature one day and report back. Normally, I do not use any auto eject devices. I prefer to remove the finished round and place it directly into an MTM storage box.

The purpose of my post was to find out if this is the modification offered by Bill Cunningham.

Cheers,

Dave

230

Star Reloaders / Modify for Auto Eject???

« on: October 19, 2012, 05:01:15 pm »

Greetings All,

I have a Star with a "modification" to the base as shown in the two attached images. The wire in one image was there as received.

Bill Cunningham offers a modification for "Auto Eject". Is this modification the same?

Cheers,

Dave

http://home.comcast.net/~fc60net/IMG_0011.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~fc60net/IMG_0012.JPG

231

Star Reloaders / Odd Powder Magazine

« on: October 15, 2012, 11:57:42 am »

Greetings,

Purchased a powder magazine for the Star at the local gun show. It is 23" long! It appears factory as the brass nose looks correct along with the aluminum baffle. The tube is also marked with the Excelon trade mark.

True, someone could have bought some tubing and transferred the parts; but, is it possible Star made this item as a custom request?

Does anyone else have such a long tube knowing it was supplied from Star?

Cheers,

Dave

232

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: OLD Star Lube/sizer , PAT PEND BASE , Cast Iron & BRONZE Parts

« on: October 11, 2012, 05:23:37 pm »

Greetings,

I would be great if the person you spoke with, that was a former employee, would join the Forum so we could quiz them about other subjects.

My interest is how they heat treated their dies.

Cheers,

Dave

233

Star Reloaders / Re: D. NO. 6 Powder Bars

« on: October 10, 2012, 11:47:52 am »

Greetings,

In the old days, DuPont made a 5066 powder for pistol. There was also a DuPont #6 powder. I have read about it in old Lyman reloading books.

Cheers,

Dave

234

Star Reloaders / Re: star die threads

« on: October 07, 2012, 06:44:01 pm »

Greetings,

Opening up the 3/8" hole is a routine job. There are some things you need to watch for. Below is a method I use.

• 1) Remove all parts from the tool head.
  2) Mount the tool head on a milling machine and carefully dial in the 3/8" hole true. (The top and bottom flange are ground perpendicular to the tool head axis and can be used as a reference surface.)
  3) Drill the hole undersize and with a boring bar finish the diameter to 0.650" - 0.653". (Only using a drill may not guarantee accurate location.)
  4) Chamfer the hole 0.700" x 45 degrees.
  5) Thread the hole with an 11/16-24 UNEF GH3 tap.
  6) Chamfer the opposite side of the hole to finish the job.

Cheers,

Dave

235

Star Reloaders / Re: Powder tube thread pitch

« on: October 03, 2012, 12:08:16 pm »

Greetings,

I took the tap I made and was able to thread it into the hole for the ball detent. Without access to the original drawings, reverse engineering is all I have. I did not try the ball detent plug in the powder housing. Perhaps I will out of curiosity.

I calculated the density of the powder slide housing and it "appears" to be a Zinc alloy, similar to Zamak-3.

You might get lucky trying to clean up the threads of the powder slide top with the ball detent plug; but, you could end up with two damaged parts. If your powder housing top is damaged contact me about repair.

If you have access to a good Machinist, give him/her the thread specification and have a male thread machined. You might be able to iron out the damaged thread with the steel part.

Cheers,

Dave

236

Star Reloaders / Re: Powder tube thread pitch

« on: October 02, 2012, 11:24:40 am »

Greetings,

The thread calculates out to  a 9/16-27 Dryseal SPL-PTF, OD 0.563

Again, taps are not available at the local supply houses.

I also found that the #54 Steel Ball Plug is the same thread size.

Cheers,

Dave

237

Star Reloaders / Re: Powder tube thread pitch

« on: August 25, 2012, 12:21:33 pm »

Greetings,

I finished my special tap for the #70 Powder Slide Housing Cover.

If you have a Housing Cover with a buggered thread, contact me via email and I will see what arrangements can be made to remedy the fault.

Cheers,

Dave

238

Star Reloaders / Re: Springs

« on: August 20, 2012, 06:45:03 pm »

Greetings,

I agree, Bill Cunningham is the source. Especially for the #56 Tool Head Spring. I searched all over without any success finding an exact copy or one that was close.

Regarding the #28 Powder Slide Spring and the #23 Primer Slide Spring, I made a few and if Bill is out of stock I can help out here.

Cheers,

Dave

239

Star Reloaders / Re: Powder tube thread pitch

« on: August 13, 2012, 06:38:20 pm »

Greetings,

This thread has been most challenging and educational.

Based on SAE Document J476A (1961), (link below) on page 15.22 is a section that deals with non standard threads, such as the powder hopper cover.

So, my latest calculation indicates the thread is a 9/16-27 Dryseal SPL-PTF, OD 0.563.

So far, I have machined and heat treated my "special tap". All that remains is to get it sharpened and test it out. I have screwed it into several powder slide tops and I think I have a keeper.

Another note. There is someone selling powder shutoff devices on eBay. While looking at the photos of his/her parts, the thread did not seem tapered. I wrote and asked...

"Is the threaded portion a tapered or straight thread? My existing powder
hopper has a tapered thread."

The answer I received was...

"The threads in the special fitting ,and the threads in the valve are 9/16 -
24...
streaght....it works with my press ,and have sold alot of valves
with no complants...."

I suspect that the part starts into the Powder Slide Cover; but, with continued use will damage the original threads. Buyer beware...

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=sae.j476a.1961.pdf&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEMQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.resource.org%2Fpub%2Fus%2Fcfr%2Fibr%2F005%2Fsae.j476a.1961.pdf&ei=qH4pULjyOePqiwLYr4GQCw&usg=AFQjCNHWOzTtImODBbPwqCiWMW1fQLptTA&cad=rja

Cheers,

Dave

240

Star Reloaders / Good To Have The Forum Back!!!

« on: August 09, 2012, 01:54:34 pm »

Greetings All,

When the site went down, I felt as if I had lost a lot of friends.

Goes to show I take too much for granted.

Cheers,

Dave