Depth & diameter of heater hole in Lyman 4500?

[Walter Laich]

I had my 450's rebuilt at Lyman about 5 years ago.

They exchanged the bodies for 4500 ones but without the cartridge heater hole.

Was going to see if I could drill my own, just need the depth and diameter

thanks
walt

[Alley Cat]

My 4500's hole is 2 1/8" deep to the center, and I'm guessing 2" straight wall depth. I don't have all of my drill bits handy but a 3/8" spade bit would not quite fit in the hole. I would drill the hole 1/16" less than 3/8".

[fryboy]

if using the lyman cartridge heater , i drilled a 3/8" hole in a aluminum block and it fits nice and snug , no set screw required , drilling the cast housing of the 4500 should be a lil harder than the aluminum so go slow and use lots of cutting lube , if you're not using the lyman cartridge heater just mic the heater and use an appropriate sized bit ( cartridge heaters come in many sizes and wattages )

[lmcollins]

Be aware: I had a late 450, and them bought a 4500 and the cartridge heater for it: there is a difference in the sole plate in the castings. They made the 4500's sole plate thicker in order for it to hold the cartridge heater.

Measure your casting before you drill in it and ruin your sizer. You might need to get a piece of plate to put under it, and just mill a slot in the plate for your heater. It is held in it's recess by an 8x32 or 6x32 set screw.

Hope this helps you not screw yourself.

[1hole]

How about ordering a heater element and then boring the holes to match what it needs?

[Frozone]

How about ordering a heater element and then boring the holes to match what it needs?

Because the heater is longer than the hole by a good amount ~ 1/2". Bore a hole that long and you bore into the center hole where the rod comes through.

OP: > 3/8" dia. (measures @ .337") x 2" Deep. GO SLOW and use LOTS of oil - the cast body can crack pretty easily. Oh yeah and I never use the set screw.

[Budmen]

I would think IMCOLLINS has a very valid point there is a reason they dont have the hole. Cast is brittle and wouldn't it suck to get it all drilled and setup just to have it break while lubing and sizing bullets? Look into the universal plate heater lyman sells not much more then the tube type. Or go real cheap with the iron-plate technique

[Walter Laich]

thanks to all--decided the plate heater is what I'm going to stay with

walt