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Thread: Original Star ? ..

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    Original Star ? ..

    Attachment 187291Attachment 187292
    Came across this Star at a friends shop ...
    Would like to get an idea of worth if possible , think all six sizers are pistol cal.
    thanks
    digger
    Last edited by Digger; 02-08-2017 at 11:21 AM.
    It is much easier to fool people ,
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  2. #2
    Boolit Master VHoward's Avatar
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    They bring full retail on ebay often.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Slightly less than new to maybe a lot over depending on bidders if you put it up for auction. You can get close to new price here. Personally I'd rather buy a new one. Paying that much for an old used one makes no sense to me.

  4. #4
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    That's a very early Star Sizer, so take that into consideration. Price depends on whether you're buying or selling.......

    The sizing dies usually go for between $30 and $40 each, depending on which ones they are, and whether someone goes crazy on an auction site.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  5. #5
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    THey work as good as newer models. The bottom collar on the main tube often comes loose requiring it to be braised to the tube. No big deal, it just happens. They are pre-WWII, after the patent was granted the base shape was changed to what we see today. I have never tried to use mine, but I did strip it down and boil it out, clean and polish the parts.

    Ken

  6. #6
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    thank you gentlemen for the input so far , did not realize it was an earlier version ....
    It is much easier to fool people ,
    than to convince them they have been fooled !

    If you can read this , thank a teacher ...
    If you can read this in English , .. thank a Vet !

  7. #7
    Boolit Bub
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    I have the same press and the bottom collar is loose. Previous owner installed a set screw but it does not hold. Would silver solder work? I've used it on steel parts for firearms but was wondering if you had any details on this particular repair.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pressman View Post
    THey work as good as newer models. The bottom collar on the main tube often comes loose requiring it to be braised to the tube. No big deal, it just happens. They are pre-WWII, after the patent was granted the base shape was changed to what we see today. I have never tried to use mine, but I did strip it down and boil it out, clean and polish the parts.

    Ken

  8. #8
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    circumstances being ...
    the star is mine now .. to get to know , as pressman stated , it has been brazed on the bottom collar .
    since I seem to like the older equipment it falls into place .
    Will ask a question here to all the knowledgeable folks ...
    How different is the original from the current model ?
    will be getting acquainted with it as time allows .. and will be contacting Lathsmith for a couple of sizing dies .
    It is much easier to fool people ,
    than to convince them they have been fooled !

    If you can read this , thank a teacher ...
    If you can read this in English , .. thank a Vet !

  9. #9
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    They work the same as the newer models. It's a pretty straightforward operation. The top punch pushes the bullet to the proper location in the die, aligning the lube grooves with the open holes in the die, and then the final push of the handle opens the lube valve and the the lube flows into the lube grooves. The pressure on the screw/spring determines the flow of the lube, and if you use a soft lube, no heat will be required. If you use a hard lube, then a heated base will make things easier.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ReloaderFred View Post
    They work the same as the newer models. It's a pretty straightforward operation. The top punch pushes the bullet to the proper location in the die, aligning the lube grooves with the open holes in the die, and then the final push of the handle opens the lube valve and the the lube flows into the lube grooves. The pressure on the screw/spring determines the flow of the lube, and if you use a soft lube, no heat will be required. If you use a hard lube, then a heated base will make things easier.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    Thank you much there Reloader Fred !
    Along with that , mechanically .... are they still the same after all theses years ?
    parts interchange ... ?
    It is much easier to fool people ,
    than to convince them they have been fooled !

    If you can read this , thank a teacher ...
    If you can read this in English , .. thank a Vet !

  11. #11
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    Some parts do interchange. Magma will work on the older Star Sizers for "time and materials", plus shipping. I've got two there now for repairs. There really isn't that much to them, and what usually needs repairing is a worn lube pump, fulcrum, pivot pins or a broken aluminum mount. They heli-arced a broken mount on one of mine, and if I remember correctly the cost was about $60.00, and they did a good job, and I'm still using it. I've got 10 Stars now, with two loaned out to very good friends that will become their own when I leave this planet.

    If you do happen to need repairs, it's best to call Eric at Magma and talk to him about it. You can also download the operator's manual from their website, if you haven't already done so. Here's the link: http://www.magmaengineering.com/PDF/Star_Sizer.pdf

    They also have some videos on the Star on their website which may help you learn this machine.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    Thank you much for all the info here ReloaderFred ...
    will take advantage of it all.
    digger
    It is much easier to fool people ,
    than to convince them they have been fooled !

    If you can read this , thank a teacher ...
    If you can read this in English , .. thank a Vet !

  13. #13
    Boolit Master

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    Lets see a updated photo when you get it cleaned up and operational.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Plate plinker View Post
    Lets see a updated photo when you get it cleaned up and operational.
    10-4 , will do
    It is much easier to fool people ,
    than to convince them they have been fooled !

    If you can read this , thank a teacher ...
    If you can read this in English , .. thank a Vet !

  15. #15
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    Another Star question ...
    getting this operational , check everything out and poured Ben's Red in ..
    making adjustments here and there , getting lube in the groove but have 'lube trails" going down the side of the boolit .
    They line up with the holes in the die ... the machine is on a heater base and with that said , is there too much pressure ?
    Is my lube too warm ? .
    apparently the lube is still pushing thru the holes as the boolit slides thru .
    probably something simple that i have missed .
    It is much easier to fool people ,
    than to convince them they have been fooled !

    If you can read this , thank a teacher ...
    If you can read this in English , .. thank a Vet !

  16. #16
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    A little too warm, and possibly too much pressure. I like to think of it as cooler temperature and more pressure when I'm sizing and lubing.

    It doesn't take much adjustment on the thermostat to adjust the temperature. Turn it down just enough that you feel the knob move slightly and then wait about 20 minutes for the temperature to stabilize. The lube needs to be slightly fluid enough to flow, but not so fluid it runs.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master Digger's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ReloaderFred View Post
    A little too warm, and possibly too much pressure. I like to think of it as cooler temperature and more pressure when I'm sizing and lubing.

    It doesn't take much adjustment on the thermostat to adjust the temperature. Turn it down just enough that you feel the knob move slightly and then wait about 20 minutes for the temperature to stabilize. The lube needs to be slightly fluid enough to flow, but not so fluid it runs.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    thanks for the info ....
    confirmed my suspicions .
    It is much easier to fool people ,
    than to convince them they have been fooled !

    If you can read this , thank a teacher ...
    If you can read this in English , .. thank a Vet !

  18. #18
    Boolit Mold
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    pm sent

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check