How I Pin Lee Commercial mold handles

[Conditor22]

How I Pin Lee Commercial mold handles

1) Build a jig that snugly holds the handles
2) center the jig on a 1/8 " drill bit in my drill press
3)drill the hole (s) 99% of the way through




4) drive in 1/8" x 3/4" roll pins and set flush with a punch


touch up any rough edges with a fine file, sandpaper or?

1/8" x 3/4" roll pins $4 per hundred at local fastener store (or Fastenal) [online, small quantity prices will scare you!!!!!)


Some people have success epoxying them in

[onelight]

Nice job I need to do a few.
Thanks

[mozeppa]

same way i did it 18 times 4 years ago.

got tired of the handles coming off.

[quasi]

I have found some of the handles hardness eats my Chinese drill bits. Then I have to switch to my merican drill bits.

[Mal Paso]

That Lee sintered steel is Hard! Use good high speed steel or cobalt drill bits.

[wv109323]

I file notches on the corners of the metal handles and then use jb weld to hold them on. Your method would be quicker and less expensive.

[lightman]

Thats a nice looking job. I like the fixture you made to position the handles.

[Walter Laich]

I scuff the metal cross from the long axis then epoxy handles on. On over 2 hr sessions might get a bit soft but holds on fine.
repeated heating/cooling cycles haven't degraded bond

[FLINTNFIRE]

I am pinning mine with stainless 1/8 rod I have , drill tap in pin no more slipping roll pins were my first choice but had the stainless rod already

[Muddydogs]

I have yet to have a lee handle come loose but I suspect my time is coming. I do wish Lee would make there handles an inch or two longer so they fit my hand a little better and I didn't have to worry about over heating my left index finger when it touches the metal handle end.

[Walks]

Wear gloves and you won't have to worry about HOT metal handle parts.

[Taterhead]

Looks like good work Conditor! Great pics too.

Lee should do something like this. Couldn't add too much cost to production. Handles falling off is a known and widespread problem. Unacceptable, in my opinion. But the marketplace continues to reward Lee for their cheap prices.

Two for two sets of my Lee handles slide off. I don't own a drill press, and I don't care for fixing manufacturing defects. So I appreciate the better quality of the NOE clones. The lifetime amortized difference in cost is negligible.

[Valley-Shooter]

Elmers white glue and a hammer.
Thats how I fix Lee's 6 cavity handles.
Just add glue to the hole and tap them on.

[gwpercle]

I don't have any fancy drilling tools but I do have JB Weld ... if it will repair a cracked engine blockit will hold them handles on .
Gary

[FLINTNFIRE]

I bought my ridgid drill press for drilling cabinet doors , I really needed it for repairing things when I was younger , but it gets used for lots of jobs ,mainly for repairing fixing or tinkering on reloading stuff or firearms , well worth the money to have a drill press and grinders in this hobby , I have been pinning my lee handles for over a year now as the frustration of having them come loose was annoying , I now pin any handles just for the added insurance of them staying the same cast to cast .

[MT Chambers]

Anything you do to these handles can weaken them and they can/will break as they are made of pot metal, I've broken a few because of shaving them to fit and later on they break. Steel handles on Lyman, Rcbs, Saeco, can be altered and not break.

[WRideout]

The handles on my older Lyman molds have seen a lot of heat and use, so typically have enlarged holes in the wood. I experimented with Gorilla Glue in the hole, and after about six months of use, the handle is still tight.

Wayne

[FLINTNFIRE]

Funny the size of hole that is drilled and then filled with a roll pin or pinning material has not caused any of mine to break , anyone here who has pinned one have one break? how big of hole or holes ? I really do not see them breaking as I do not use molds or handles as a hammer .
If you do not like the lee handles buy others thats your choice , I like the price and a set of handles for each mold myself , so a few minutes at the drill press and done.

[huntnman]

Gorilla Glue works for me. If they do come lose its a quick fix. I have a set of handles for most of my regular use molds. the ones I have glued on have held up well.

[Newtire]

I started using hi-temp automotive silicone sealer squirted into the wooden handles. Nothing short of the second coming can get them loose after that.