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Thread: Lets make a Swage press

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Lets make a Swage press

    Ok folks, Time to make one of these lead mashers

    I know many of us discussed the details in another thread


    Edit to add, thanks to MattM for providing plans.... http://mattmorgan.org/cb_press_v2.pdf

    Ill try to give as many details as I can, I got one close to being finished. Swaged a few lead bullets today to verify everything works as it should.

    Im happy to say that it works real well

    Once a few more details are finished up Ill break it down and give everything a proper paint job





    Edit to add pic of the finished press, along with a Lee Classic cast





    Here is the basic material list so folks dont have to search thru the thread.

    Material used was cold rolled 1018, (from Speedy Metals) as I mentioned earlier, this is a larger version so depending on what youre doing the sizes can be juggled around a bit. (larger or smaller)

    I used 1" polished/case hardened linear guide rods from Mcmaster (2 reqd, 12" long). and 1.5" for the ram. (1 reqd, 18" long) I would probably try the stressproof polished rods from Speedy Metals if I do another.

    2 reqd-- 1/2 x 1-1/2 1018 CF flat- 24" Toggle links

    1 reqd-- 3/4 x 2 1018 CF flat-24" A piece I cut up to make the small parts for the toggle

    1 reqd -- 1-1/4 x 1-1/2 1018 CF flat-12" The main part of the toggle

    1 reqd -- 1 x 3 1018 CF 6" Guide plate

    1 reqd -- 1 x 4 1018 CF 9" Top Plate

    1 reqd -- 1 x 5-1/2 1018 CF 6" Base plate ( a litte bigger wouldnt hurt depending on how you mount it)

    1 reqd --- 1" rd 1018 cold finished-24" The handle


    A couple more updated pics.

    First the two presses I made. The one on the left was built to the specs in this thread. The one on the right was the first "prototype"



    Second is the press compared to a Walnut Hill (on the left)

    Last edited by ANeat; 01-01-2011 at 11:51 PM. Reason: Added pics

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Of course we start with a big pile of steel. I used 1" thick cold rolled 1018 for the major parts.




    For the top plate its pretty straight forward. 1 1/2 -12 tapped hole in the center, 2 1/2 inch holes drilled on 4" centers and 2 slots milled for the linkage rods.

    I drilled 1/2 holes in the sides for the linkage pivots


  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    For the guide plate, 1 1/2 bored hole on center with 2 holes bored on 4" center to accept bronze bushings for the 1" guide rods.


  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Here is the base with the guide rods installed.

    Hole bored on center to accept the 1 1/2 bore bronze bushing and the holes drilled on 4" centers to bolt on the guide rods.


  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    For the toggle I kicked around several ideas, probably went a little overkill in the end but it turned out good.

    I figured it would have to be a welded up piece. There was going to be some welding in tight areas so I settled on arc welding as the process as it would allow me to get the rod into the tighter areas.

    The main part of the toggle is 1 1/2 X 1 1/4 12" long
    The pivot pieces are 3/4 x 1 1/2

    I was worried about placement and alignment of all the pieces so I milled some slots in both pieces so everything would be keyed in place.
    Really time consuming but as welded it turned out great.




    Pieces fit into place real well



    Each piece clamped in place and welded


  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    After welding the linkage pieces fit into place with little to no warping of the welded toggle




    A piece of 1 1/2 stock in place to simulate the 1 1/2 ram, again everything stayed lined up real well.




    A couple of the semi finished Toggle



    Last edited by ANeat; 02-21-2010 at 11:18 PM.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    I have a set of Richard Corbin dies and plan on making some of my own of a similar style so I pretty much stuck with the specs that Buckshot got off of his Walnut Hill for the Slot and threads in the ram (listed here) http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...6&postcount=81

  8. #8
    Boolit Master


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    Looks great, can you draw a set of plans?

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

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    ANeat,
    Nice going, I am glad you got this thing built. Now you just need to make a bunch for a decent price and youare going to be in very high demand.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master wistlepig1's Avatar
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    Now ,that's what I call a great looking bullit smasher, nice work! When you can, take pic of the finshed bullit, everyone will be jealous.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Awsome!!!!
    NRA LIFER .. "THE CAST BULLET HANDLOADER IS THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY MAKES ANY OF HIS AMMUNITION. OTHERS MEARLY ASSEMBLE IT". -E.H. HARRISON

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    "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
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    "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."
    -- Ronald Reagan

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Manley and Delta, Im not sure if I would want to mess with plans or trying to streamline it to where they could made "reasonable"

    A lot of guys here could probably crank out a reasonable copy from the pics

    The first bits went real quick but all the little things after that took a lot of time.

    I think a guy with a mill and lathe (and some spare time) could crank one out without a lot of issues.
    If I built more some things would be done different. The case hardened rods were very difficult to work with and I would probably try the stressproof ground/polished if I built some others

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Ok; all I have right now is a .452 lead bullet die. I made another nose punch to suit me.

    Dont have a core mold yet for the 45 so I swaged some other SWC I had cast up for cores.

    Original on the left and swaged bullet on the right




    The same with a already cast/lubed bullet, original right, swaged left.



    And re-shaping a Lyman 225rn into a SWC


  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    All I can say is WOW!

  15. #15
    Boolit Man Rat-Man's Avatar
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    Thumbs up Nice Looking Press!

    ANeat,

    Great looking swaging press. It looks like you got all of your material at one time.
    Might I ask, what was your approximate material cost was delivered to your door?

    Rat-Man

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy uncleskippy's Avatar
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    ANeat,

    You're the Man!!!

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rat-Man View Post
    ANeat,

    Great looking swaging press. It looks like you got all of your material at one time.
    Might I ask, what was your approximate material cost was delivered to your door?

    Rat-Man


    Rat-Man I orderd the 1018 from Speedy Metals, total shipped was 225

    I ordered the hardened shafting and bushings from Mcmaster 150

    I ordered enough material for 2 presses.



    Also if I built another I would probably try the Stressproof shafting from speedy metals. That would save a few bucks.
    If a guy was close to a reasonable metal outlet that would save another 50 from the shipping.

    Certainly less than $200.00 total in material for one press.

    Ill try to put together a more detailed materials list later

  18. #18
    Boolit Master dnepr's Avatar
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    As a hobby machinist I have to say very nice work , well thought out and executed!! being 300 miles from my lathe sucks right know.

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy
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    Have you considered a hydraulic or air over hydraulic cylinder to actuate the press? Very nice work.
    I'm shufflin' thru the Texas sand..... but my head's in Mississippi

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jumptrap View Post
    Have you considered a hydraulic or air over hydraulic cylinder to actuate the press? Very nice work.
    Thanks everyone,

    Jumptrap If I had a setup I would sure use it, or figure out a way to use it.

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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