Messages

1

Star Reloaders / Re: New member with a new to me Star press

« on: November 14, 2024, 08:16:18 pm »

Greetings,

Good news!!! Yours is the Universal model and can be converted to other calibers. Note the three little "straps" at the sizing, powder dispensing, and seating stations.

The Aluminum powder hopper was original until they switched to the clear plastic material.

Yes, it does have a baffle at the bottom of the hopper. This helps to maintain an equal powder drop regardless of the amount in the hopper.

Enjoy your "new" press.

Questions? This is the right place. Lot's of us Grey Beards have used them for many years.

Last bit of Good News. Star is still in business. Moved to New Jersey.

Cheers,

Dave

2

Star Reloaders / Re: Need Help Identifying Star Parts

« on: November 03, 2024, 08:38:41 pm »

Greetings,

Star did not use Stainless Steel for the drop through bushing.

I would double check the fit of the bushing.

Should be 0.750" diameter and, I forget, 1.000" long.

The Brass bushing could be used as a guide for the case tubes entering the feeder housing.

Cheers,

Dave

3

Star Reloaders / Re: Need Help Identifying Star Parts

« on: November 02, 2024, 08:34:31 pm »

Greetings,

Top photo, item on top right. This is a HyCar washer for the Star Greaser.

Sleeve at bottom is the tapered drop bushing that goes into the base of the Star at the last station. It was used to allow 38 Special rounds to fall through the base into a collection bucket under the bench.

Seating and crimping was all done in one operation at the previous station.

The other sleeve is a bit of a mystery...

Cheers,

Dave

4

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Glass powder measure

« on: October 13, 2024, 08:03:06 pm »

Greetings,

I bought one of the eBay specials.

Very nice machining.

However, when you close the slide to stop the powder and then unscrew the hopper the slide bumps against the tool head and opens. Thus, dumping powder all over.

Now my glass hopper sits on the bench until I get bored enough to machine a fix for it.

Also, the threads were incorrect. The Star hopper is a 9/16-27 TAPERED thread. The eBay vendor chose to use a 9/16-27 STRAIGHT thread.

Yes, it sort of screws on; but, over time it will damage the thread on the powder housing cover.

Cheers,

Dave

5

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB - Star Universal Reloader

« on: September 24, 2024, 05:18:59 pm »

Greetings,

You will want the Universal, not the Progressive model.

The Universal has the little straps at the sizing, charging, and seating stations.

A machine that has the "0" (1/4" thick) powder bar will also be helpful.

Cheers,

Dave

6

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: FOR SALE --- Star Universal Loader --- Sale Pending

« on: August 18, 2024, 07:05:18 pm »

Greeting,

Yes, sold.

Sorry for not updating advertisement.

Cheers,

Dave

7

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9MM SHELL PLATE

« on: August 15, 2024, 12:30:00 pm »

Greetings,

Again, not a Star plate.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/335509955881?itmmeta=01J5BDSXE4D1Z6Z803WSX8N8E5&hash=item4e1df3a529:g:gEAAAOSwk3pmqYaW&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKk6x4E6fW9Wm10qxX5KMA4LRbddMnpF5gOItpiwduxVZY2DGKKOZt1Ilqafp9JX9BDMKPQTxtaURTFAELoASvA13KqTriDJFQqBSe3fJ3GlHEUOkAxt28XMTRbODcXIpnejAB5V8iGF1ibOFCiS3Czq1FUSiTZNiPanxzqaOj%2BSQr3irqmcFev29v8WGR4yTgwtGB4fOCMVgcIHsnYNwvAcuAiIlXmgfRvu4a7rgMpAMQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5jX5-2qZA

It "might" be a Phelps plate; but, looks rather rough.

Caveat Emptor....

Cheers,

Dave

8

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9MM SHELL PLATE

« on: August 06, 2024, 04:05:43 pm »

Greetings,

Yours are not necessarily junk.

Just check the critical dimensions prior to use.

I have not seen any finished Berdon plates and they may be case hardened.

Cheers,

Dave

9

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9MM SHELL PLATE

« on: August 05, 2024, 11:15:35 am »

Greetings,

I have a plastic tub full of Berdon roughed out shell plates.

Yes, they appear to be mild steel, as analyzed via XRF scanner.

The center holes (1 1/4") are much larger than the Star.

Also, double check the hole indexing of the plates. The Star plates are not indexed 30 degrees to the shell slots.

Berdon made some interesting stuff. He was local and I saw him at the Goon Shows.

Cheers,

Dave

10

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9MM SHELL PLATE

« on: August 01, 2024, 12:12:32 pm »

Greetings,

Look closely at the shell plate,

It was manufactured by Bubba Engineering.

Not an original Star.

Cheers,

Dave

11

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Bullet Feeder Question...

« on: July 22, 2024, 03:53:25 pm »

Grrreetings Humbo,

Many thanks!!!

Now to take inventory of the parts in the bag.

Cheers,

Dave

12

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Bullet Feeder Question...

« on: July 22, 2024, 11:19:30 am »

Greetings,

I have a Bullet Feeder for the Star greaser.

Might be manufactured by Magma.

Does anyone have a Magma Owner's Manual so I can verify if all the pieces are present?

I have no use for it and need more room in the Mann Kave.

Cheers,

Dave

13

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Primer Choice in Star Progressive

« on: May 01, 2024, 08:35:04 pm »

Greetings,

On rare occasion, a lot of primers will be slightly larger in diameter and not flow through the feed tube without sticking.

I have had this happen with all the major brands.

Might soak a Q-Tip in 99% Isopropyl alcohol and push it through the feed tube to clean up any possible dirt/fouling.

You can use the Primer Follower Rod to push the Q-Tip through.

Be sure to send a dry Q-Tip through at the end of the cleaning.

Cheers,

Dave

14

Star History / Re: No more Star Greasers....

« on: March 02, 2024, 08:15:37 pm »

What about dies, is there someone who makes dies for the Star sizers?

Greetings,

Original Star dies are made of Tool Steel, hardened, outside ground, inside honed, and the leade polished.

Not to mention the holes on the side to grease the bullet....

Also note the profile of the entry hole of the die. It is a slightly larger diameter followed by a taper.

They look simple; but, are a precision tool.

Lots of folks are making dies made on a lathe with no heat treat.

Only a small piece of grit will scratch/score the inside of the die and your bullets will now have a scratch on the outside.

If you mistakenly press a slightly oversize die (the 0.7500" diameter) into your press, all your original Star dies may start to leak lube at the top and bottom because the hole in the Greaser was swaged larger in diameter.

Machining a die properly is not difficult; yet, it is time consuming to do right. Especially one die at a time. Doing ten identical dies would make it less tedious.

I do not envy your quest for aftermarket dies.

Cheers,

Dave

15

Star History / No more Star Greasers....

« on: February 09, 2024, 08:34:15 pm »

Greetings,

When Star of San Diego closed, Magma Engineering purchased the Greaser tooling and parts.

I have now learned that two weeks from today, 09FEB2024, the assets of Magma Engineering will be auctioned off.

Mr. Clausing said that sourcing of castings and other material along with not being able to find skilled conventional Machinists led to his decision to close shop.

No one has come forward to purchase the company.

So, if you want a Star Greaser, now is the time to buy.

Hopefully, we will not see Star Greasers of Communist China on the horizon.

Good news, taken care of, the Greasers will outlast the owner.

Cheers,

Dave