Almost Did Some Lube-Sizing Today, . . So Close, But No Cigar

[Jeff R]

Today, I had my fourth casting session. I used my Lyman 429 215 pistol bullet mold and the Lyman 311 291 EV .30 cal. rifle mold. I used 2/3 WW and 1/3 pure lead, plus a little tin, and water dropped them. I found that casting fat, chunky pistol boolits is way easier than casting long, skinny rifle boolits.

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I was going to fire up my used Star lube sizer for the first time. It came with a .429 die installed and a free boolit in the die. I pushed out that boolit with one that I had cast. All but one row of holes were plugged, which is perfect for the one lube groove on the 429 215.

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The free boolit that came in the die is on the left. I ran a couple more of my new boolits through the machine and there was a big streak of lube on one side, on the base and on the tip. I figured I’d remove the die and see if I could diagnose the problem. The die came about 85% of the way out and then got stuck. After about a half hour I got it out. The top die o-ring had rotted and a chunk of it was jamming above the lower shoulder of the sizing die,as it tried to slide out of the die socket.

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Here is a close up of the o-rings

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I got the Star part number from the manual, but it didn’t give the dimensions of the o-ring. I am hoping that these are standard, hardware store o-rings, and not some proprietary one that I need to order.

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Do any of you Star users know if these can be had at the local hardware store, and do you know the measurements of them? If I could get them tomorrow on my lunch hour, I can be sizing tomorrow night.

If you can help me out, I’ll owe you big time.

Regards,
Jeff

[Bullshop]

Take a good one to NAPA and they will match it. I buy them by the box full. Its just a common size O ring nothing more.

[454PB]

Try the die without the O-ring. I make my own Star dies, and I don't use an O-ring.

[runfiverun]

they are just standard 0-rings.
3/4" airc.

[Jeff R]

I make my own Star dies, and I don't use an O-ring.

454PB,
I am trying to visualize how the lube would not ooze out all over, around each end of the die, if you don't have o-rings in place. How do you prevent that from happening, without using o-rings?
Jeff

[Springfield]

I have 3 stars that I use everyday and none have O-rings. The die itself seals the bore pretty well.

[landers]

Hi Jeff,
I use a #116 o-ring from a local Ace Hardware. The first few times of removing the die with a new o-ring is a pain but after a few times the die will shave the o-ring a little making it easier to remove. I have never had one leak even with very used o-rings. I have never tried the star without the o-rings but from others with more experience than I its worth a try.

[ReloaderFred]

I've got 5 Star lube/sizers here in my shop and none of them have O-rings in them. My 6th machine is at my casting partner's house and it doesn't have any O-rings in it, either. I've never found the need for them myself.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[454PB]

I don't use O-rings in my home made Lyman/RCBS dies either. If the die fits well in the lubrisizer, it won't leak.

[runfiverun]

i have three stars and only one takes the o-rings.
i trashed the top 0-ring in it the first time i took the size die out, then went and bought a dozen or so 0-rings and haven't trashed one since.
i see the little package of 0-rings every now and then and it takes a minute to remember what i bought them for.

[VHoward]

I damaged the top o-ring in mine when I removed the die. When I re-installed the die, I didn't use an o-ring and got a little oozing around the top. It wasn't bad though. I went and got new o-rings and installed one. No more oozing and haven't damaged the replacement either.

[HATCH]

It will leak depending on pressure and temperature.
If your star has a o-ring then the correct way to change the die is to heat the machine up to operating temperature and then push it out.
When you are installing a die it works best if you lube up the o ring first. I use bullplate lube cause its handy.
My machine leaks without a o-ring.
I got a oversized oring and cut a piece out to make it the correct size.
I can change the die with just my fingers once the machine is warm