Old Ideal lube sizer

[abunaitoo]

I won an Ideal lube sizer on evilbay.
I think it was a good price at $54.00
Don't really need another lube sizer, but never had an Ideal.
It's different from the old lyman I have.
Just waiting for it to get here.
Attachment 270279

[Eddie Southgate]

Good price , did you get the bracket ?

[Green Frog]

I was looking at that and was seriously thinking of bidding on it, but I had just gotten a New Haven (yours was made earlier at Middlefield) and this one that you got didn't seem to have the clamp that Eddie asked about. The good news is that you have the wrench... that's the other piece that is frequently lost. It is a desirable tool that can do good work for you, but remember it's about 100 years old... so don't try to use it for swaging. If you just lube the bullets as you size them down a thousandth or two it works fine... at least mine does. I've even used it for lubing my .514' bullets as I size them just enough to knock off the high spots to load in my 50 cal Maynard.

Congratulations, and if it really doesn't have the clamp (and you don't already know what to look for) send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll send you a picture of mine so you can see what they look like. Not to be discouraging, but I've only seen one or two for sale separately, so you may have to fabricate something for it. All in all I think you got a pretty good deal, and I'm glad it went to someone who will enjoy it.

Froggie

[Bazoo]

Since you don't need it, can we expect to see it in the PIF later? Nice score. What type of sizer dies does it take?

[Green Frog]

Since you don't need it, can we expect to see it in the PIF later? Nice score. What type of sizer dies does it take?

You can use the current Lyman dies in it... they are just slight upgrades of the originals and for once, “new and improved”... REALLY IS!

Froggie

[abunaitoo]

It got here today.
Looks great for something this old.
Looks to have not been used for a long time.
Old lube needs to be removed, but other than that, and the missing clamp, it's in great condition.
Is the shiny lube tube original????
It looks to be.
The spring looks to be an add on.
Pat date on handle is May-31-92
1892?????
I'm happy,happy, happy
Attachment 270396Attachment 270397Attachment 270398

[abunaitoo]

Just looked up the base for this lube sizer.
It looks like it's going to be hard finding one.
I'm sure most of them got thrown away.

[Green Frog]

Rather than wait for the address I asked for, I decided to go ahead and post pics of the clamp here. Also, just to answer your other question, yes that nickel plated tube is the correct original part for your luber. My offer to send a digital set of instructions still is open... if I can find them!

Froggie

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I've had a few Ideal #1 sizers. I still have one of them. It's my prefered tool to lube-size 22 cal boolits, because of the large amount of finger space to insert a boolit.

I believe the Saeco-Redding clamp will work.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010366853?pid=708950
Now, I've never ordered one to try, it's just too much money for me to spend on a clamp, I made a DIY mount using sheet metal, there is a thread about that in the casting equipment section.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

The #1 came with a nickel plated brass Reservoir tube, but there was a time when they came with a plain Brass tube also. I've never seen one with a blued steel tube, like the 45 comes with.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

They never came with a Spring. FYI, I did add a spring to the one I use...because I hate it when the Top punch falls onto my fingers.

[Pressman]

The Saeco clamp is too wide to even touch the ears on the No1.

[abunaitoo]

So I got it almost all apart.
Using a heat gun to melt all the old lube.
Strange stuff. Not sure what it is.
Might be different types of lube in it.
Mostly black and blue.
The die is stuck.
I did take out the thumb screw.
While heating, lube did trickle out of it.
It doesn't look like there is a screw in holder like the 45, but I'm not sure.
Suggestions/directions???????

[Bent Ramrod]

Take the set screw and top punch completely out, make sure there is nothing in the screw hole, and put a small nut (large enough to cover the bottom of the die, but small enough not to hang up on the bottom of the lubrisizer) on the top of the return plunger. Warm the metal around the die with a hair dryer, and raise the lever gently but firmly. When everything is sufficiently warm, the die should rise out of the lubrisizer like Dracula from his coffin.

Some of those examples of 100-year-old lube in lubrisizers could be used to glue exploded locomotives back together, all right.

I also need one of those clamps, and was planning on asking Rodney Storie if he could cast some replacements. Along with his casting kits for single shot rifle actions, he also offers the covers that are frequently missing from Ideal #5 powder measures.

If there’s a market for those things, missing clamp castings and wrench bodies for Ideal #1s ought to be needed as well. Some machining for the clamp screw and wood for the handle would have to be done by the customer, of course. Unfortunately, all the major gun shows have been closed this year, and there’s where I run into him.

[NoZombies]

make sure there is nothing in the screw hole

I'm quoting this for emphasis. I had one of these once that came to me with a small set screw UNDER the thumb screw, It took me a little while, and some slightly off color language before I realized that was why the die was stuck...

[abunaitoo]

When I took the thumb screw out, and heated it up, lube would trickle out of the hole.
I have it all apart except for the stuck die.
Tried the nut trick, but it didn't budge.
Didn't want to put to much force on the handle.
I'll try heating it up and try again.
If not, I'll have to look for a plan "B"

[abunaitoo]

Tried again today.
Started with the heat gun, then went to a propane torch.
Little more lube came out with the torch.
Put it in my vise and nothing.
There is a hole, in the wood, for the die to pop out in.
Still stuck.
Didn't want to force it, so it's soaking in PB Blaster now.
If it still won't come out, next step might be the oxy/acc torch.
Got a picture of the lube that came out of it.
Still able to dig into it with my finger nail.
Lube looks like a damacrat..............don't you think????
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[Bazoo]

Looks like axle grease from the old days. Might be a good reference for how long lube will last.

[abunaitoo]

Have it soaking in mineral spirits now.
What liquid would melt lube????
Should I try boiling it????
This thing, the damacrats and the chinese virus are getting on my nerves.

[Pressman]

If you want it absolutely clean then boiling is the way to go. Mineral Spirits will sort of soften part of the old lube, but not remove it. Boiling gets into all the nooks and crannies and really gets the old gunk out, better than heat guns and chemicals.
With the sort of old lube you have in that sizer it's likely the best process to clean it. It is the process I use exclusively to clean the sizers in my collection as it is faster and less labor intensive and I know they are clean when I an done. Don't forget to put the die in the pot as well.