Gas check installation tool for Lyman 45

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BoolitGCnotonHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zps8897 a0d7.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BrallthewayoutHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zpse55 5e89d.jpg

The above photos are of my first Prototype, there are more photos starting on Post #21.

The photos below are what I believe is a Lyman factory made unit
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^^^ edited the above was added 3-13-2013 ^^^
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Thanks to alrighty for sending me this some time back, what I figured was a gas check installation tool for Lyman 45 the first time I seen it. I finally got around to installing it and trying it out with some 30 cal boolits where the GC's were a little stubborn to install. It only alligns the GC as good as your eyeball...But it does work better than the method I used previously...a Penny set on top of the die. This easily swings in and swings out.

It'd probably be an easy machining project if there was enough interest...although since I am not a machinist, that is just a guess.

And as I promised alrighty, I'd post photos once I got it setup.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/Lyman45GCinstallerattachmentI_zpsbb57a879.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/Lyman45GCinstallerattachmentII_zps97d61af1.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/Lyman45GCinstallerattachmentIII_zps66f006e6.jpg

[trying2learn]

That's nice. I like that idea of a swing out of the way tool. Too bad I have a 450 but that is nice.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Lyman sells a gas check seater for the 4500 and the 450
see item #15
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/pdf/LyC_BC_LS_4500.pdf

[trying2learn]

Yea I like the idea on yours. It helps to ensure it seats square and doesn't require the thumb pain. My understanding on the new style is it just crimps them. Might be wrong.

[alrighty]

Thanks Jon for the detailed pics , I am glad it works for you.

[462]

My understanding on the new style is it just crimps them. Might be wrong.

The Lyman gas check seater only seats -- crimping is done in the normal manner, while lubing.

[trying2learn]

The Lyman gas check seater only seats -- crimping is done in the normal manner, while lubing.[/QUOTE]

So does that mean it will seat them square?? I am curious as I have issues woth those tiny little 22 checks. If so it might be worth me looking into. Thanks.

[VHoward]

Yes, it seats them square. At least it did when I had a Lyman 4500.

[trying2learn]

Thank you. By no means did I mean to hijack the thread. Thank you all for the info.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Not a hijack at all :)
just a conversation about seating GC in a Lyman press.

Looking at the drawings, the Lyman seater for the 450 and 4500, since it uses the Die for seating, the GC should be seated as square as the Press is alligned...much better (squarewise) than the Lyman 45 GC installation tool...it's just not as easy.
Jon

[oldtoolsniper]

Thanks!!! Now I need one! Or five since another 45 and an Ideal number 1 followed me home today.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Well, Good luck, I never even seen one til this one.

I'd love to figure out a cheapo way to make these...basically finding the right size tubing and weld a plate onto it.

I love the Lyman/ideal #1 for tiny boolits like 22 cal.
it's a very weak press to size larger boolits if you need to reduce the size more than .002...and alloy hardness is another issue.

[trying2learn]

I'd love to figure out a cheapo way to make these...basically finding the right size tubing and weld a plate onto it.


I was going to suggest just that. The trick I would think is finding aluminum tube strong enough and the correct I.D. wonder if using a steel pipe cut short enough to do the same thing would be easier to find. Then hust weld a thin steel plate to it. Granted it would be much heavier then the aluminum setup. But I can't think of somewhere I have seen aluminum tubing and I personally can't weld aluminum but could do the steel or iron. All though I couldnt use that setup. I was just tossing a idea to try and help out.

[oldtoolsniper]

Aluminum rod with the correct size hole bored into it and the plate welded on? Is the part over the guide rod round?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Is the part over the guide rod round?
Yes, it's round, but it wouldn't have to be...and it wouldn't have to be so thick. I was thinking steel as opposed to the original alum. The plate just rests on the die, so no real amount of strength is needed. But the plate needs to be square, a jig to hold the parts square for the welding would probably be the way to go. Tomorrow, I am going to the jobsite were I can get scrap steel for personal projects...I'll see what I can find. I'm starting a new "work" project and will probably be there for 2 to 4 weeks.

[oldtoolsniper]

63613
I am going to see what I can come up with. I have access to welders as well as a friend who casts boolits and welds for his food.

The two on the right followed me home from the Wells gun show.
I have one off on another bench in service. Had to make that shelf today to store them when not in use.

I bet the reason those number ones are so delicate is the lack of wheel weights on horse drawn vehicles!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Dang it, you went to the wells show too. We shoulda met up !
I was there early sat morning...I didn't see the 45 or the #1 ?
were they in the Kitchen/lunchroom area, at the far end of that room,
next to the guy who had the table full of cast boolits ? he had a 450 and was priced kinda high for me...and a bunch of high priced mold handles.

well anyway, you are lucky you seen that #1 before I did :)
Jon

[oldtoolsniper]

They were in the gym. It was the two guys with the shelving, really old guy and a guy about 40. They had random gun parts and a Winchester hand plane. They let me in back to dig in their boxes.

I saw the 450 and the handles. I call those hands on museums. You can pick it up and look at it but the price is to high. The threads on that 450 were crossed.

Deep down you are glad I beat you to them. I saved you $85.00. They both have .452 dies and a top punch to boot.

What's the next one you go to up there, I'll see if we can meet up.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I was going to the St. Paul Coliseum show next weekend, but two things...three things stopping me. I got called back to work starting today. (I have only worked one day thiis year so far), My pistol purchase permit expired last thursday :( and I spent most of my gunstuff allowance at Wells :)
I'll be in touch next time there is a gunshow south of me.
Jon

PS...Oh the guy with the shelves...dang, he had boxes o stuff in back...I gotta remember that trick ;)

[oldtoolsniper]

Glad to hear you have work!

Those 45's are going up in value.... $179.49 plus shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151006567739?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Guess I should turn one out to Ebay in the morning.

I should start using the stars I have but I really like those 45's.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Working on a prototype....recent scrap acquisition.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BwscrappiecesHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zps16ef 5d12.jpg

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Prototype I
Lasor cut 1/4" plate with a 3/8" slug welded to it.

I think the small size will be desirable. I also like how it drops down when turned out of the way...I do have some larger chunks to make it sit up a little higher, but won't be as high as the factory one unless somehting like a rubber o-ring or two are put underneath it.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BoolitGCnotonHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zps8897 a0d7.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BoolitGCseatedHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zps737 aca8a.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BpallinHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zps81f51c88.j pg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BqhalfwayoutHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zps06f29 827.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BrallthewayoutHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zpse55 5e89d.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BsoffslidelooseHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_zpsa5 9cc141.jpg

below is a photo comparison to the factory Machined aluminum GC seater.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BtfactorycomparisonIHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller_ zps8ffa8bf9.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BufactorycomparisonIIHomemadeplatesteelGCinstaller _zpsdc07c47d.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/BvfactorycomparisonIIIHomemadeplatesteelGCinstalle r_zpsb040d03f.jpg

[trying2learn]

Nice. Good to see what came from the other thread.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

T2L,
Thanks, it turned up much better than I expected.
Jon

[oldtoolsniper]

I like the fact that it drops below as well. When just sizing boolits it can't swing under the top punch unless it's lifted.

That's pretty slick.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I like the fact that it drops below as well. When just sizing boolits it can't swing under the top punch unless it's lifted.

That's pretty slick.

My original thought for dropping it down was the added finger space, that may or may not be needed...I don't have extemely large fingers like some of my friends who are Minnesota Farmers, but there never seems to be enough room when handling boolits in and out of any lubesizer.

[sparkz]

Jon,, I MUST Have one of those GC seaters,, Got to give a shout when done
thats cool and handy




Patrick

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

OK, a few of you know, I had some issues with this design.

The first and only prototype worked fine, I then made a batch of them and discovered the weight of this unbalanced plate tends to "grab" the upright slide and basically locks up the press during downward movement, especially if not well lubed and the roughness of the drilled hole seems to add to the problem. The prototype was well lubed during the initial test and to be honest, the initial test wasn't that thorough.

The first thing I tried was to hone and polish the hole (as I was told by many, "a drill press and a standard drill bit does NOT make a very smooth or round hole). Well that helped a lot. Also a plastic spacer below the seater plater, so when the plate is swung out of the way it wouldn't drop down, because when it did drop down against the lower cast piece, it seemed to grab more, probably because that lower cast piece is not machined flat...anyway that plastic spacer helped too.

So, I figured I'd have to polish the drilled hole, include a spacer, and provide instructions to keep the upright slide well lubed. I really wasn't that happy with that solution. That was about a month ago and I just put this whole project on the back burner til a better solution would pop into my head...and it did yesterday.

I ordered a few bronze sleeve bushings. I am gonna drill an over sized hole, hopefully the correct size to "press fit" the bushing into the seater plate or I'll just epoxy it in there.

Hopefully that will solve the "grabbing" issue.
What do you think?
Jon

[dabsond]

I just pop the check on the bottom and size it. Check seats itself in the die. I guess if you want to seat checks and not lube this would be useful.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I just pop the check on the bottom and size it. Check seats itself in the die. I guess if you want to seat checks and not lube this would be useful.

You Bet !
that's how I do it 95% of the time, But as I stated in the OP, sometimes the GC is too stubborn to install easily with just my fingers. This plate allows a nice square seating of a stubborn GC, then the press will crimp the GC on when the boolit is pushed into the die. Oh, and when dealing with those tiny 22 boolits, it's moreso important to have them perfectly square, but it's more difficult to do that with fingers alone.
Jon