Messages

226

Star Reloaders / Re: Tool head die holes Question??

« on: February 17, 2016, 10:26:15 pm »

bkbc38,   I am aware that Star made some 7/8" tool heads, and also, that in later years the recesses in the top of some of their shell plates could accommodate a 7/8" die.  However, the vast majority of shell plates that are out there, and those that I sell now are not compatible with a 7/8" die unless the die is modified. 

Bruce Star sold tool heads modified for 7/8 14 dies they also recess the shell plates for the dies. I have several machines that are that way.

227

Star Reloaders / Re: Tool head die holes Question??

« on: February 16, 2016, 11:20:47 am »

It can be done, but is not recommended.   You will probably have to modify the Powder Slide Housing to make room for a 7/8-14 die.  Also many 7/8-14 seating dies are too tall and will conflict with the Tool Head Anchor Screw and Spring..   You will probably also have to modify some dies.  The sizing die in particular is too big to fit into the recess in the shell plate so you will have to reduce the diameter of the nose in order to do full length sizing.

Bruce Williams

228

Star Reloaders / Re: Auto cartridge eject

« on: February 12, 2016, 07:59:20 am »

Ray-Vin has taken the Moon indexer and Case Kicker back from SB Sales Distributing.   They say the moon indexer is shipping now and the Case Kicker will be back in the spring.

http://www.ray-vin.com/

If you are looking for a less expensive alternative, I have quite a few of the Brewster indexers in stock.

229

Star Reloaders / Re: Auto cartridge eject

« on: February 11, 2016, 06:47:43 pm »

Lindy...  And you probably have the forearms to prove it..  Those babies are HEAVY.

I like the mold guide you have constructed on your Lyman furnace.

Bruce

230

Star Reloaders / Re: Automatic cartridge ejector

« on: February 08, 2016, 10:39:51 pm »

Wow, never saw anything like that.

231

Star Reloaders / Re: Automatic cartridge ejector

« on: February 08, 2016, 10:00:46 am »

The attached picture shows an Eject-Ease installed.   The Eject-Ease is nice because it can be used with any taper crimp die.  It doesn't require clearance between the taper crimp die and shell plate.  Unfortunately it is no longer manufactured.

Bruce Williams

232

Star Reloaders / Re: Primer Follower Rod steel , no fiber end tip . Update Picture

« on: January 27, 2016, 02:52:02 pm »

No offense taken.

I wanted to make it clear that while I STRONGLY recommend an OEM Primer Follower Rod with NO added weight, that alone does not eliminate the possibility of primer explosions.    Star reloaders have many safety features designed in, but the ultimate safety feature is careful use by the operator.

Bruce Williams

233

Star Reloaders / Re: Tool Head Questions

« on: January 26, 2016, 07:45:35 pm »

I don't have any information on how Star installed the key, but I have quite a bit of original key stock and it measures 0.2504" square.  The keyway in the tool head was cut with a shaper.  The cutting bit for the shaper measures 0.2485".   Therefore I would speculate that the key was press fit into the keyway.   I don't think there would be a problem using some Loctite as long as you get the key firmly seated in the tool head.

234

Star Reloaders / Re: Primer Follower Rod steel , no fiber end tip . Update Picture

« on: January 26, 2016, 01:10:11 pm »

From a resourceful ham handed operator.

http://www.starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?topic=959.msg3613#msg3613

It only takes a moment of inattention or a minor distraction.....or just being in too much of a hurry.

Bruce Williams

235

Star Reloaders / Re: Tool Head Questions

« on: January 26, 2016, 01:01:25 pm »

I would be careful about knocking out the key.   Although your tool head has the 3/8" hole at the taper crimp station, it is actually what I consider to be a newer style tool head.   Tool heads like yours have a pin through the side of the tool head that goes into the key.  If you attempt to remove the key, you will really bugger it up.  Even on the Old style tool heads that do not have the pin, you are likely to bugger up the key trying to remove it.

I have never seen a Star tool head where the key sticks out too far, although it often seems that might be the problem. 

The most frequent problem is at the taper pin hole.  If the pin is inserted with too much force, the it can deform the hole a bit and cause a raised area around the hole.   Role a very fine file over the hole in the column, front and back, and see if you see a raised area. If you do see a raised area keep rolling the file over the area until the raised area is flush with the rest.

If the problem is not there, then there could be a burr in the keyway, or on the bottom of the key.   Run a fine file along the inside edges of the keyway to see if you can find a burr.    If you don't find anything there, try to file the corners of the key while it is still in the tool head.

Of course if none of that works, you can send it to me,

Bruce Williams

 

236

Star Reloaders / Re: Primer Follower Rod steel , no fiber end tip . Update Picture

« on: January 24, 2016, 11:35:14 pm »

Dropping even an OEM follower rod down the primer magazine can set off primers, but the longer the drop and the heavier the rod, the more likely you will have an incident.   i.e. if there is only a few primers left in the primer magazine and you let the follower rod free fall, you are likely to experience some ringing ears or worse.

As I mentioned earlier, the principal reason for the nylon or fiber end is not to prevent primer explosions, but to prevent damage to the primer slide.

There really is no reason to add extra weight to a follower rod.  The OEM rod works fine, and if you are having problems there is something else wrong.  It might be a bent primer follower, a dirty primer magazine, a small burr on the end of the primer magazine, or something with the primer system that is out of adjustment.  Better to fix the problem than compensate for it with a heavier follower rod.

New primer follower rods are only $15.

237

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTS 1/2" Powder Slide Kits

« on: January 22, 2016, 09:25:56 pm »

Bump

238

Star Reloaders / Re: Primer Follower Rod steel , no fiber end tip .

« on: January 20, 2016, 11:34:56 am »

I'm pretty darn sure your solid steel rod primer follower was not a factory option.   All that I have seen, have a soft end, either a fibrous material as you described on early models, or a nylon rod on later machines.   The parts that I obtained when I purchased Star included parts and fixtures for making the follower rods with a nylon end piece.

I don't know if your follower is safe or unsafe.  Whenever you deal with primers, there are inherent risks involved, and proper care must be taken.   I don't know the weight of your follower rod compared to the original, but I would not recommend using a follower that is heavier than the original, and I definitely would not recommend adding weights to a primer follower as I have seen on many machines on eBay.

An important function of the Primer Follower Rod is to drop down into the primer slide when the last primer has been used.  This prevents advancing the shell plate and loading a round without a primer.   I think the primary reason for the soft end on the follower rod is to prevent damage to the primer slide.    At one time or another we have all pulled down on the handle when the machine has no primers, and the follower rod is all he way down causing the primer slide to jam into the follower rod. 

Bruce Williams

239

Star Reloaders / Re: Parted out Star Reloaders on eBay

« on: December 27, 2015, 09:16:58 pm »

The tool head is the same except the Angle Lever Cam.  The Progressive uses #49, the Universal #49U.   The difference is because a Universal Steel Floor Base is larger than a Progressive Steel Floor Base.

Bruce Williams

240

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB Chevron Case Feeder

« on: December 18, 2015, 10:41:49 pm »

I have a number of them.   You can contact me directly.

Bruce Williams