Star sizer air kit

[Alvarez Kelly]

No longer available.

I just bought an air piston kit for my Star lubrisizer. I haven't even gotten it yet, but I thought I'd pass on what I think is a great deal. As background, I have bought other items from this same maker, and his items are well machined and finished. Unless you have your own machining tools, I don't think you could put it together this well for this cheap. He even includes a piston removal tool. I don't think you will be disappointed.

The whole kit is $55, including the new regulator and gauge AND shipping. The maker has 3 more available right now. He wants some folks to test 'em out and see how we like them. He is asking for our feedback.

A photo will be added soon, as apparently I'm not smart enough to figure out how to load one.

PM me for the makers contact info.

The only problem for some of you may be that he only takes PayPal, as he lives quite a long drive from the Post Office or a bank.

[Roundnoser]

Photo below is posted for Alvarez Kelly.

39699

[Daddyfixit]

PM sent

[engineer401]

PM sent

[Oreo]

Sending pm now.

[Alvarez Kelly]

I hear you guys bought all he had and he is making more!

[firewalkerd1]

PM Sent

[Oreo]

I received this kit in the mail today. Here's some pics:

As it came packaged in a small FRB.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l109/jdecar1/guns/2012-01-20_15-27-27_633.jpg

Test fitting the bits together. Where the pressure screw gets removed this kit replaces it with a clever machined aluminum fitting. I wish it were brass instead of aluminum but for $55 I bet it'll do the job just fine. Probably never have to touch it again once installed anyway.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l109/jdecar1/guns/2012-01-20_15-40-09_706.jpg

The other thing that concerns me is the use of an O-ring here instead of a flat rubber washer like in a garden hose. I would think the thin edge of the steel tube would just push this O-ring aside instead of making a good seal. I'll give it a try though and see.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l109/jdecar1/guns/2012-01-20_15-43-35_627.jpg

If the O-ring don't work I got these rubber gasket sheets from lowes / home depot for cheap. I can just cut my own washer.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l109/jdecar1/guns/2012-01-20_15-44-42_671.jpg

Only thing I can't figure out is what the hose clamp is for. Any ideas?

[376Steyr]

Hose clamp: Maybe to cover up the lube relief hole in the Star's reservoir?

[bpratl]

The air pressure should prevent the o-ring from being forced in side the lube tube providing you do not over tighten the cap before applying the air pressurer.
It looks like a nice complete and well made package. Good luck.

[Alvarez Kelly]

Man that was FAST. I just got mine yesterday!

[Alvarez Kelly]

edited...

The other thing that concerns me is the use of an O-ring here instead of a flat rubber washer like in a garden hose. I would think the thin edge of the steel tube would just push this O-ring aside instead of making a good seal. I'll give it a try though and see.

If the O-ring don't work I got these rubber gasket sheets from lowes / home depot for cheap. I can just cut my own washer.


Only thing I can't figure out is what the hose clamp is for. Any ideas?

FYI only. The following is a quote from an email Bill (the maker of this kit) sent me in response to the previous post:

"I have done a lot of testing with the O ring in the cap and I have torqued it down extremely tight and have not had a failure. I started out with a flat rubber washer... it just wrinkled and was pushed down inside. I found that this supplied O ring with the 1/8 in cross section was the only one that would take the load and pressure. I pressured mine up to 125 psi and let it set over night with good results. The flat gasket would not take it, the tube is just to thin at the top. This is what I was hoping for is feedback and more testing by others. The hose clamp and strip of rubber is to close off the vent hole in the lube cylinder."

[Oreo]

Thanks for the reply. I do believe this kit is well thought out. I see things that I would have done differently but not necessarily any better.

I already have friends asking about this kit. I do believe your friend is in at the right price point to attract a lot of buyers.

What about replacement gaskets? The O-rings ought to be easy to find but that upper gasket on the plunger isn't something I've seen anywhere. Can spares be purchased? Are they even necessary in the long run?

[Alvarez Kelly]

Thanks for the reply. I do believe this kit is well thought out. I see things that I would have done differently but not necessarily any better.

I already have friends asking about this kit. I do believe your friend is in at the right price point to attract a lot of buyers.

What about replacement gaskets? The O-rings ought to be easy to find but that upper gasket on the plunger isn't something I've seen anywhere. Can spares be purchased? Are they even necessary in the long run?

Better pose the spares questions directly to Bill. Hopefully you kept his email address. I think the O-ring is a common part, as long as we know the size. Also, I think a "parts list" of the common components and a basic instruction sheet would make the kit more "retail ready."

Better tell your friends to buy 'em now, as I believe they will show up on Ebay as soon as Bill catches up with the Cast Boolits orders! I bet that will push the price point up. :-)

[Alvarez Kelly]

Where the pressure screw gets removed this kit replaces it with a clever machined aluminum fitting. I wish it were brass instead of aluminum but for $55 I bet it'll do the job just fine. Probably never have to touch it again once installed anyway.

Bill emailed me:

"The reason I chose to use aluminum for the air adaptor is the cost of yellow brass is so high that I can't keep the price of the kit down for all of us reloaders, I use 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum, it will take more than 2500 psi."

[hermans]

PM sent

[6bg6ga]

After reading this thread and looking at the pictures of the kit being offered I have a few comments.

1.) The handmade adapter between the screw on reservoir cap and the regulator can be replace with a readily available adapter.

2.) The piston could be made out of teflon and machined for the two o-rings.

Making these two changes would in my opinion result in a kit that would do the same function and cost less to the person considering purchasing the kit.

Its a lot easier to use an existing adapter that is available than it is to tool up and machine one. I have provided a picture and a PN in a thread on making your own air setup for the star sizer. The same is true with regard to the piston that is machined form t 6061 aircraft aluminum. Its a lot faster to machine a piece of teflon than 6061 t6. A teflon piston with o-ring seals will do the same function.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=99330&page=2

check out post #37 and #50 Russell PN 640980

[Alvarez Kelly]

I asked for it, so Bill sent it. A basic instruction sheet:

Air kit for Star* lube sizer.

# 1 clean your lube tube of any old lube 3/4 way down the inside of the tube
if you are using hard lube so the piston slides with little force.

# 2 install hose clamp and rubber strip around lube tube to cover vent hole.

# 3 remove cylinder cap from spring pressure screw by removing the washer
that is pressed on the end of screw, and screw cap off of pressure
screw.

# 4 screw regulator assembly on to cylinder cap and tighten,put large O ring in
cylinder cap.

# 5 fill tube with your lube to within 1 3/4 inch from top of tube, slide in the
piston (O ring end first) push the piston down so the top air seal is just in the tube.

# 6 screw on the cylinder cap-regulator assembly NOT to tight as to damage the O ring
in the cylinder cap but tight enough to prevent air loss.

# 7 to remove piston use the T tool supplied in kit when more lube is needed it screws
onto the stud in the top of the piston" it can be used to push the piston down to.

Add your air chuck fitting to the regulator. The regulator is 1/4 inch pipe thread. To operate the regulator pull out on the knob and turn clock wise to increase,you should not need more than 40 to 60 pounds of air to run the lube sizer. Its pressure not volume so a small air compressor is plenty to run the system.

[Alvarez Kelly]

Its a lot faster to machine a piece of teflon than 6061 t6. A teflon piston with o-ring seals will do the same function.


I saw your thread before I bought my kit from Bill. If I had access to a lathe, I probably would have tried that.

[beanflip]

I think I would use UHMW at $2.82 per foot over teflon at $20 per foot. Or maybe use a peice of scrap round aluminum rod close the size you need.

[Springfield]

Why make a new piston at all? Anything wrong with using the one that came with the sizer?

[engineer401]

I just received mine yesterday. The machining is high quality. The aluminum piston with gaskets works fine.

[VHoward]

I don't think he has anymore. I emailed him and never got any response. I did notice an auction on ebay for one of these kits and when I saw it the current bid was $65.
Air kit on ebay (http://bit.ly/yj3Cll).

[rodsvet]

Not to step on the guy who makes this kit---But you can duplicate the Star air cylinder set up for about the same money if you don't mind making your own aluminum piston. The piston that Star sells is made from ordinary 1 inch round aluminum bar stock. If you can cut straight and square and drill and thread one hole you are there. Or you can buy the piston from Magma for about $12.00. This kit does look very well made and may work every bit as well as a cylinder powered set up. But when I and many others were experimenting last year trying to do the system without using an air cylinder, we had trouble with air getting past the piston and causing air pockets in the lube and pump. With the air cylinder you are not forcing air into the lube tube. All the air is contained in the cylinder. The 1 inch piston on the end of the cylinder push rod compresses the lube exactly as the spring set up does. If simply making a piston and adding a few connectors and a gauge worked so well, I think Magma [and Ballisti-cast] would have gone that route also. Again, this kit may work as advertised, but for the same money, I went with duplicating the Star design. Just my.02. Good luck on which ever system you try!! Rod

[VHoward]

Since Bill did not respond to my email and I don't have any lathe or machine work experience, I just went ahead and ordered the Air cylinder kit from Magma. At least I know I will have something that works and have customer service from Magma if something goes wrong.

[Alvarez Kelly]

I emailed him and never got any response.

The statement above concerned me. That's not the kind of guy he is or how he does business. I was concerned enough to email him and ask him about it. He told me he has responded to everyone he has gotten an email from.

If anyone else has not gotten an answer from Bill, please confirm his contact info with me again. I did fat finger a couple of PMs, but I thought I sent out corrections on the ones I messed up.

Stuff happens, who knows.

[lbaize3]

I had emailed him right after I read your first post. He responded quickly and let me know he was waiting for supplies. Then I got another email letting me know he had the supplies and had made more air kits, if I still wanted one. I did and sent the money. He had the thing in the mail and to me withing 3 days. I am more than happy with the finished product. Thanks Alvarez. I do appreciate your letting me and other members know about the air kit.

[Alvarez Kelly]

One of these kits on Evil Bay right now and is over $100... Oops, it sold for $133.50 PLUS $6.85 for shipping!

I think $55 is a real deal.

[VHoward]

That is stupid since you can buy the Magma air feed kit for $100.

[Alvarez Kelly]

Yep. I thought the same thing. That just goes to show you what happens on Ebay.

[RydForLyf]

I just got one of these yesterday - http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/SPEEDAIRE-Air-Cylinder-3ARU3

The nose threads into the cap and it's the perfect length.

It took only about an hour total to get it installed and running. It's very nice and makes the tool just that much better.

Chuck

[rbertalotto]

That Grainger cylinder looks EXACTLY like the one I just got yesterday from STAR.

[mktacop]

Are there any more of these available? I'm looking to add Air feed to my new (used) Star

[VHoward]

<snip>

[RydForLyf]

..oops.

[NPBullets]

got mine running...

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j19/bnitsche/705fbfaf.jpg

[Alan in Vermont]

Is anybody using the kit with 50/50 Alox lube? I made one up and everything seems fine, holds air pressure, etc. but I'm not getting any lube to the boolits. It works fine with the factory plunger but not with the air system. I am not running any heater. I figured that 50/50 was soft enough to not need heat, it certainly flows well enough with the manual crank-down piston. Can anyone verify that I will need heat with 50/50 lube?

[6bg6ga]

Yes, I use heat with my 50/50 mixture and it flows fine with the air cylinder. Using a 300 watt heater ( heats in about 5 minutes) with PID control with 11.5X12'' home made base. The air cylinder pressure feed, heater with control are not purchased from Magma. Heat is necessary with the 50/50 mixture in my opinion.

[Alvarez Kelly]

I believe Bill is making these kits again. I'll pass on his contact info if you PM me.

[cabezaverde]

Alvarez,

Could you PM me the info also?

[John J]

I to have recived a unit from Mr Powell and it was very easy to asemble and get running...very nive workmanship on all the parts.

If i tryed to get all the parts together and do it my self like some of the outhers are doing to save a few buck...it would have cost me more in the long run.

Thanks Bill

John J

[boltons75]

Any chance these are still available? Sent a pm to you.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[Alvarez Kelly]

FYI, these kits are available again. The price is the same. The following is an (edited for clarification) email I received from Bill, the guys who makes these:

...I still make the air kits and I have replacement seals that go on top of the piston. The only change I have made is I machine the air adaptor with 1/4" male pipe threads instead of using a brass nipple. I have sold 9 kits in the last 2 weeks... 4 on eBay and 5 on cast boolits web site members. I am out of regulators at the present time, got em on order. The kits sold on eBay are going for $75.00 to $80.00 but I will sell to cast boolits members at the same price as before, $55.00. Some of the guys have been thinking that it would be cheaper to make the pistons out of Teflon, but Teflon is more expensive than aluminum, and it won't hold threads as well for retracting the piston from the lube tube. The top seal on the piston should last a life time unless it is damaged, but I have replacements if anyone needs 'em.

PM me for his contact info.

[Alvarez Kelly]

I have not been able to contact Bill for quite a while. I can only guess why, but I don't believe we will be able to buy these kits from him any longer.

I will post here if I get any new info.