enfieldphile
02-20-2014, 10:36 PM
I found lubing a boolit with a single, wide lube groove to be easy with the Star.
Then I switched to the Lee RN 452-228-1R. This is a design with 2 very narrow lube grooves. I have found in the past, only the bottom groove really requires lube. Getting this boolit to be properly lubed in the Star was a challenge!
Yes, I read the Star instructions carefully. I have come up with a method, which I feel is a good way to get within a 1/4 turn of the punches proper position when lubing boolits with a critical positioning owing to a narrow lube groove.
First, I pondered how I was going to push the boolit in the die and align that tiny hole and narrow groove. Then I realized, I don't have to! :)
The outside of the die had lube on it, so I simply scrapped away lube to expose one lube hole. Then I pressed the boolit firmly against the outside of the die; while making sure that bottom lube groove of the boolit was aligned with the lube hole in the die. The lube held the boolit firmly in place. Hold the top of the die firmly against the edge of the bench. Measure with a caliper from the bench to the bottom of the boolit. This is measurement "A".
Install the die in the Star. Lower the Star press handle all the way down. With a caliper measure the distance from the top of the die to bottom of the threaded boss where punch threads into. This is measurement "B".
C = Total of A + B in inches. Applied where distance is set from the bottom of Lathesmith punch (where it touches a boolit which is in the die) to the top of Lathesmith nut with Allen screw.
Boolit: Lee RN 452-228-1R
A = .780
B = .475
C = 1.250
After adjusting the nut on the punch and lightly tightening the Allen screw, I threaded the punch into the Star. I put a line on the side of the punch facing me with a Sharpe pen. I tried lubing the boolit. The adjustment was just a hair off. I loosened the Allen screw and turned the punch down 1/4 of a turn. I lightly tightened the Allen screw. Bingo! The bottom groove was now perfectly lubed.
Kudos to Chris (Lathesmith) for giving us the punch nuts with the Allen screw! 8-) Without this nifty item, this process could be a real test of ones patience! :wink:
Then I switched to the Lee RN 452-228-1R. This is a design with 2 very narrow lube grooves. I have found in the past, only the bottom groove really requires lube. Getting this boolit to be properly lubed in the Star was a challenge!
Yes, I read the Star instructions carefully. I have come up with a method, which I feel is a good way to get within a 1/4 turn of the punches proper position when lubing boolits with a critical positioning owing to a narrow lube groove.
First, I pondered how I was going to push the boolit in the die and align that tiny hole and narrow groove. Then I realized, I don't have to! :)
The outside of the die had lube on it, so I simply scrapped away lube to expose one lube hole. Then I pressed the boolit firmly against the outside of the die; while making sure that bottom lube groove of the boolit was aligned with the lube hole in the die. The lube held the boolit firmly in place. Hold the top of the die firmly against the edge of the bench. Measure with a caliper from the bench to the bottom of the boolit. This is measurement "A".
Install the die in the Star. Lower the Star press handle all the way down. With a caliper measure the distance from the top of the die to bottom of the threaded boss where punch threads into. This is measurement "B".
C = Total of A + B in inches. Applied where distance is set from the bottom of Lathesmith punch (where it touches a boolit which is in the die) to the top of Lathesmith nut with Allen screw.
Boolit: Lee RN 452-228-1R
A = .780
B = .475
C = 1.250
After adjusting the nut on the punch and lightly tightening the Allen screw, I threaded the punch into the Star. I put a line on the side of the punch facing me with a Sharpe pen. I tried lubing the boolit. The adjustment was just a hair off. I loosened the Allen screw and turned the punch down 1/4 of a turn. I lightly tightened the Allen screw. Bingo! The bottom groove was now perfectly lubed.
Kudos to Chris (Lathesmith) for giving us the punch nuts with the Allen screw! 8-) Without this nifty item, this process could be a real test of ones patience! :wink: