Messages

1

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Swapping in a new sizing die

« on: January 09, 2006, 03:32:11 pm »

Two Alpha.  I have recently acquired a Star Lubrisizer but do not have the tool.  I have borrowed on, at least I think that I have such an item.  It is in three pieces.  A handle with a threaded rod coming out of it; total length is 4 inches with threaded portion 3/8th inch long.  Second is a short rod with threads 3/4 of an inch of its total 2 inch length.  Same thread as item 1.  Third is a larger diameter item 3/4 inch long; top (??) portion is 1/4 inch and 11/16ths diameter; with remaining 1/2 inch length threaded on the outside 7/16ths diameter.  Item is threaded inside and both first two items can thread into it. 

Cannot figure out how this set of parts works and I can find no pictures of info in any of the Star literature that I have.  Any help will be appreciated.

2

Star Reloaders / Re: The Perfect Progressive

« on: January 05, 2006, 12:28:41 pm »

Nice picture Ray.  The Brewster indexer mounts to the bench in front of the press at an angle.  It has a part mounted to the front of the press (see your copy of the mfgrs brochure).  While I have not actually used my press yet, the indexer does seem to cycle OK.  However, the part that actually swivels inward and contacts the case is made out of aluminum (at least on mine) and the inner toe (??) has rubbed against the Shell Plate Thrust Nut (#14) which has gouged/worn away the toe.

To me it seems that this is a part that just gets in the way and is not really necessary.

How do you index your shellplate? 

Dave Daniels

3

Star Reloaders / Star Add-ons

« on: January 05, 2006, 12:20:40 pm »

OK, OK, OK!  Here I am with more questions about the Star.

In my quest for knowledge, I need to know who made or makes add-ons for the Star press.  I do know the names of Hulme (but have no real info), Brewster (for the Indexer; ditto no info), and Freeloader (have only the address in Janesville, Wisconsin). Who are other add-on mfgrs and what did/do they make?

It seems to me that the Star needs an add-on to shut-off for the powder measure so that you will not dump powder when no case is present.  In looking at my PM (which John Paul Jones has dated for me as pre-WWII) it has a nice brass or bronze threaded bottom that screws into the Powder Slide Housing Cover Plate (#70).  Seems to me that a brass or bronze part to go between that has a slide or rotating shutoff would be ideal.  Am thinking of a water shutoff on the zones of a hot water heating system.  Did anyone make something like this??

Thanks in advance for any additional information.

Dave Daniels

4

Star Reloaders / Re: The Perfect Progressive

« on: January 04, 2006, 11:18:22 am »

rb, if you go to the site that has the Brewster Indexer on it  for sale by Ray, (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7208957578)

Look at the drawing.  The part that I am discussing is the one to the left of the vertical, withits tip to the right of the vertical.  On mine, it is aluminum and is significantly gouged.

5

Star Reloaders / Re: The Perfect Progressive

« on: January 02, 2006, 04:44:44 pm »

Having just acquired a Star Universal, with what I think is a Brewster indexer, I have a question to Jet22:  Can you post a picture of the indexer somewhere?  mine screws to the bench in front of the press.  In operation an aluminum plate rides from left to right and in toward the press, catching a case and moving the shellplate to the next station.  This alum plate is heavily gouged, apparently from hitting the large ring that holds the shellplate (sorry, I do not have the parts list handy).

My next question is whether this alum plate is original or replaced.  With all of the other parts being of higher quality metal, this one leaves me wondering.

I have yet to work on the press as I am in the midst of a major cleanup to relocate several presses so that I can mount the Star.  Too many interruptions.  :-)

6

Star Reloaders / Re: Powder Bar Chart

« on: December 29, 2005, 07:27:00 am »

Thank you very much for the information.  This will save much time getting my <new> star up and running.

7

Star Reloaders / Powder Bar Chart

« on: December 28, 2005, 06:57:19 pm »

I have six 00 powder bars with measurements on them of:

.272; .291; .302; .315; .320; and .328

Does anyone have a conversion chart for these?

8

Star Reloaders / Pictures -- where?

« on: December 28, 2005, 12:34:40 pm »

Am wondering where I can access detailed pictures of the Star Lubrisizer, the lubrisizer tool, the Star Universal, Hulme case feeder, and the Brewster indexer.  Also any other after-market parts that may have been supplied to Star owners.

Thanks

9

Star Reloaders / Star Universal Turns Hard

« on: December 28, 2005, 12:13:47 pm »

I just acquired a Universal in .45 acp.  The shellplate turns as if it is being held back.  I loosened the locknut and adjusted it several times and got a minute better performance.  Took the plate out  and do NOT see any indication of a problem -- no wear marks.

Any thoughts?

10

Survey Says... / Member Page

« on: December 23, 2005, 12:30:50 pm »

I have seen that a Member has a link via starreloaders.com to a page containing much great info.  Question is "How do we access these sites?"

11

Survey Says... / Msg Posts Abbreviated

« on: December 23, 2005, 12:29:17 pm »

Some posts just run off the right side of the page while others have a scroll bar on the right so you can scroll down and read the whole, of a long, message.

When the msg runs off the right side of the page I find it difficult to find the whole msg (you CAN click on <QUOTE> at the top right and it will appear).

What is the fix?  Or, how does the poster get the scroll bar inserted?

dd

12

Star Reloaders / Re: Two Stage Sizing Dies

« on: December 23, 2005, 12:09:16 pm »

Star literature does reference the two stage carbide sizing dies.  The purpose of the upper ring is to ensure a proper neck dimension and the lower a proper base dimension.  Probably contributes to more uniform pull/release of bullets, hence greater accuracy.

Dave

13

Star Reloaders / Re: Observations and Questions

« on: December 20, 2005, 07:17:07 am »

Thanks for the candid comments, Steve.  You make excellent points, along the lines that I have deduced the qualities and advantages of the Star would likely be.  Hope to hear from more Star owners.

dd in MA

14

Star Reloaders / Observations and Questions

« on: December 19, 2005, 10:45:39 pm »

Kenneth L. Walters wrote some interesting things about the Star Machine Works in his posts to the forum.  One thing that comes to mind was about the business practices at Star or lack thereof of SMC.

As I posted the other day, I have just seen a Star Reloading Tool for the first time.  The owner has quite a number of paper items from Star which I obtained today and made copies for reading and research.  Some are duplicates, just with differing dates, like price lists.  One price list, dated March 1, 1978, ends with the following:

AT THE PRESENT TIME OUR SHIPPING SCHEDULE IS APPROX:

Reloaders:           22 - 24 Months
Extra Tool Head          12 - 14     ?
Lubricators          8 - 10      ?
Parts                   2 - 5        ?

With a production schedule like this, it is no wonder the company went out of business.  I know, there are undoubtedly many factors contributing toward such a situation such as the health of the principals, other aerospace industry business, etc., but still....

My friend who owns the machines that I mentioned will be taking them apart for a thorough cleaning and reassembly before any attempt at reloading.  I will get more information as I can.  Meanwhile, a question or two:  First, Quality.  You can see that this machine is very well built with materials of the highest order and dimensions held to very close tolerances.  Do you know just what areas of this press assembly contribute most to the production of quality ammunition on this machine?

I cannot look at the diagrams or at the press itself without comparing it to Dillon products, which may be heresey to some of you who have owned and used the Star for decades.  Yet, both are progressive machines; both use a rotating shell plate, a primer feed system, and a powder drop system.  One wonders just where one machine may be better than the other.  Even which Dillon machine most fairly compares directly to the Star?  What do you think??

dd in MA
Still learning.

15

Star Reloaders / Re: New Member Intro and Questions

« on: December 18, 2005, 09:28:34 pm »

Forgot to mention that you are correct in naming the case feeder, a Freeloader.  dd