An open offer

[stephenj]

Ok so more then a few members have treated me very very well when i have needed something .
So i am going to try to repay that right here

I dont have much money or extra stuff but what i do have is a brand new hobby lathe ..

So here is my offer .. if you happen to have something you want or need made and it is within my abilities to make it .. i will do it free of charge

Dont be bashfull about asking if you need something done that isnt shooting /casting /reloading related

One of the reasons i bought the lathe is the inability to get simple machine work done at any price

Just ask away .. if i have material and think i can do it ill give it a shot

[Trelan]

would you be able to do a push through (Lee style) sizer in a .460?

[sparky45]

How about a push through sizer (Lee style) in .430"?

[stephenj]

Push threw sizers seem to be pretty popular .

I am going to start to make one up for brstevens after dinner .
Let me get his perfected and we can move forward from there .
I think i have enough drill rod to make a few push threw sizers provided i dont have many screw ups :)

[StratsMan]

Wow StephenJ... with an offer like that, I'll FIND something I'd like done...

[Garyshome]

Great way to hone your skills!

[Handloader109]

I would love to have a gas check maker for my .22 caliber if you wanted to give it a whirl.

Plans that Idz posted --- http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?200965-Easy-to-build-gas-checkmaker
would work well. I'd locate and provide the threaded rod for a few in turn for you turning me one.
John

[texaswoodworker]

I'd like a lee style push through sizer in .426". I wouldn't feel right just taking it for free though.

[stephenj]

Well i had an idea i was opening a large can of worms :)
No worries though .. i have enough drill rod to do two more push threw sizers .
So after i get brstevens sizer made ill throw all the requests in a hat and draw two names .

Now as to the gas check maker ... here is my only issue with this ... we have another member or two making these .
And well id realy hate to step on another members livelyhood .
Feel free to give me an opinion on the subject .

Anyhoo ... i got a start on brstevens sizer .
The hole is drilled chamfered and ready for a polish .. the die body is relief cut and ready to be threaded and parted off .
I managed to get the gears changed and a new threading tool ground before i lost energy and came in for the night .
Another hour or so tomarow and ill have it done .http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/20/9b9780190d2cc122fcf06bb7e0d09490.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/20/cdbefcb4f1c723ce3555b00605f72147.jpg

[petroid]

Not trying to put anyone down, but it is easy to hone a push through sizer out several thousandths if necessary. .430 is only .001 more than .429 and .460 is only .003" more than .457". and Lee makes a .430 by the way. Just wrap some fine grit sandpaper around a dowel and roll the die around it. Much easier than trying to turn a new one on a lathe. The .426 may be made from a .410 sizer but that's a lot of elbow grease.

And to the OP, Good on ya! This is what makes this site the best!

[C. Latch]

Can you do a .352" push-through?


eta: I would happily pay for one after you get tired of working for free.

[stephenj]

Sure i can do a .352 .. ill throw your name in the hat

I dont look at it as working for free ... i like to think of it as earning experiance .

Once i get some extra cash to buy materials ill make a few more as well .. it will just be a few weeks .

[Old Scribe]

I recently bought a Lee sizing die in .243. If I sent it to you could you ream it out to .269? I've heard that the Lee sizing dies are carbide and a friend of mine doesn't have carbide tools to use.

[stephenj]

Old scribe

I cant answer that .. i havent ever used any of the lee push threw dies myself so i dont know what they are made from either .
And unfortunatly at the moment i dont have or use any carbide tools either .

But that is going to change in the very near future i have plans on upgrading to carbide insert tools once i have the jingle

One thing you could try to determine if i could cut it with hss tools is to take a hss drill bit and see if it will start to cut somewhere on the outside of the die body if so i can open it up

[kopperl]

Just something to consider--unless you have a lathe that will turn high (3-4 thousand) rpm carbide will not give you much return for your money.

[petroid]

I've heard that the Lee sizing dies are carbide and a friend of mine doesn't have carbide tools to use.


If you are talking about lee push through bullet sizers then, no, they are not carbide and can be easily lapped larger

[Bullshop]

Great! Thanks for the offer! If its not too much trouble I would like a Mini Sharps in 25 Hornet please. 24"barrel with a 1/14" twist. Straight grip will be OK. Not to be too pushy but can you give an idea of when I can expect delivery? :mrgreen:

[M-Tecs]

Great! Thanks for the offer! If its not too much trouble I would like a Mini Sharps in 25 Hornet please. 24"barrel with a 1/14" twist. Straight grip will be OK. Not to be too pushy but can you give an idea of when I can expect delivery? :mrgreen:

Make that two but I want mine in 22 K-Hornet :bigsmyl2: :bigsmyl2: :bigsmyl2:


P.S. That is a very nice offer.

[DeanWinchester]

Why bother making it out of drill rod? Get on ebay and buy a 7/8-14 grade 8 bolt and be ahead by a long shot.

[country gent]

Carbide wont cut carbide either. It takes diamond to cut carbide and it is tricky. We machined carbide with an edm machine and then ground with diamond for final finish if needed. Carbide will cut hardened steels and it may stay sharp longer. The push thrus have a lead in angle to squeeze bullet down going into straight bore size may shave lead off.

[texaswoodworker]

Why bother making it out of drill rod? Get on ebay and buy a 7/8-14 grade 8 bolt and be ahead by a long shot.

You can get 10 of them for $35 shipped. (maybe less if you shop around)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-8-14-x-6-Grade-8-Hex-Bolt-Cap-Screw-USA-UNF-Plain-Finish-Pk-10-/221528370598?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33941eada6

[DeanWinchester]

You can get 10 of them for $25 shipped. (maybe less if you shop around)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-8-14-x-6-Grade-8-Hex-Bolt-Cap-Screw-USA-UNF-Plain-Finish-Pk-10-/221528370598?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33941eada6



Ive been there, done that with a lathe. Damn if I'd chase 10 sets of threads for $25.

[country gent]

Unless the threads are something special ( acme, square, buttress, or multiple leads) chasing threads isnt a big deal. And for a new machinist it is good practice and learning experience. I have cut many threads over my carrer all the above along with shallow narrow forms to allow for grinding after heat treat. Its not a big deal once you get used to it.

[drinks]

Go to one of the metal supply sites and order a 3' or 6' length of cold rolled all thread in 7/8 - 14.
Really cuts down on the time required.
A set of # and letter drill bits is also very useful for this.
You CAN harden and temper the dies, but it is not necessary unless you expect to do several thousand bullets.

[stephenj]

Gentleman
Id be very happy to build a few mini sharps along with full size rifles .

All i'd need is a milling machine a rifling machine and $10,000 or so to buy some basic tooling .

Matter of fact i will up the ante .. send the tools and tooling and i will send the sharps and a matched set of single action armies with it .:)

Lead time shouldnt be much over ten years

[stephenj]

I am using drill rod for a couple reasons .. the biggest is because i have it on hand and it is fairly hard and it machines very easily .

Mild steel and bolts just plain suck to machine
Threading isnt difficult and honestly practice makes perfect and i need some perfecting .

And to boot drill rod is not all that much more money then plain old cold rolled mild steel and is close to threaded shaft .

[bangerjim]

If you are talking about lee push through bullet sizers then, no, they are not carbide and can be easily lapped larger

They are NOT carbide but are heat treated steel and are very hard. I have never put one in my RC tester to check it, but you will NOT touch it with HSS lathe tools and very roughly with carbide. Lapping with diamond compuond very slowly can be done successfully.

You can soften the steel in a HeatTreat oven and then work it and the re-harden in the same oven, but you need a pro HT oven to heat & soak it. I would not even attempt it with a torch flame.....not even enough heating all the way thru.

Lapping Lee dies close to the size is the easiest way.

banger

[bangerjim]

Cutting threads on a lathe (I have 5 of them) is relatively easy, but I have found if it is available commercially......buy it.....don't waste your time making it.

Practice is one thing.......drudgery and wasted time is totally another!

I only cut lathe threads when I cannot find that thread form and size/material from my local metal mongers. A quick-change lathe is a god-send for cutting threads. Change gears are thing of my distant dim past.

bangerjim

[Cowboy_Dan]

Here's an interestng one of you're up to it. A muzzle brake for my Mosin-Nagant 91/30 that clamps on securely, somehow. Either like the bayonette or if you have some other idea. I don't want to thread it.

[sparky45]

stevenj;
Please remove my request from your list of sizing dies. I'll simply buy from Lee. Put petroid's name in place of mine.
Very nice of you to offer your service, and I commend you for your efforts.

[DeanWinchester]

Mild steel and bolts just plain suck to machine
.


Not with the proper tool and grade 8 bolts machine pretty well.
People get hung up on carbide cutters a little too much IMO. A REX AAA with the right relief angle will cut like a mad man and leave a great finish.

[Bonz]

We could always use an additional source for swaging dies ;-)

[stephenj]

I havent ever tried cutting on grade 8 bolts ... might be a good idea if i see some at the salvage yard .

But in simple economy .. drill rod is a good bit cheaper then grade 8 bolts .
I understand quite well that once you factor in the same saved it isnt .
But time i have ... extra cash not so much of .

If i hadnt of won some lotto money i wouldnt have the lathe .

And my best personal arguement ... the lathe is just a new hobby for me .. i do not or will not go out to the shop and worry about the time it takes to make something .

I just go out relax and enjoy myself ... if it takes me 4-5 hours to make something that only cost $20-$25 bucks to buy ... who cares
I am doing it for pleasure ... i enjoy tinkering and making things .

[Bonz]

I havent ever tried cutting on grade 8 bolts ... might be a good idea if i see some at the salvage yard .

But in simple economy .. drill rod is a good bit cheaper then grade 8 bolts .
I understand quite well that once you factor in the same saved it isnt .
But time i have ... extra cash not so much of .

If i hadnt of won some lotto money i wouldnt have the lathe .

And my best personal arguement ... the lathe is just a new hobby for me .. i do not or will not go out to the shop and worry about the time it takes to make something .

I just go out relax and enjoy myself ... if it takes me 4-5 hours to make something that only cost $20-$25 bucks to buy ... who cares
I am doing it for pleasure ... i enjoy tinkering and making things .

Absolutely the same reason that I reload my own ammo, just to 'relax and enjoy myself'

[Bullshop]

Gentleman
Id be very happy to build a few mini sharps along with full size rifles .

All i'd need is a milling machine a rifling machine and $10,000 or so to buy some basic tooling .

Matter of fact i will up the ante .. send the tools and tooling and i will send the sharps and a matched set of single action armies with it .:)

Lead time shouldnt be much over ten years
OH OK let me have a little time to think on it first.

[stephenj]

Bullshop

Would it help any if i was to cut the lead time back to 8 years instead of 10

[petroid]

A fellow member kindly made be a powder thru expander plug for my Lee 40SW dies. It works like a charm and expands bigger and deeper which is what I needed. They are a very simple piece and make a world of difference when loading cast boolits in Lee dies. This may be something that you might want to try out. Shouldn't be too difficult or expensive and helps a lot. I hear the 38 Super plug works great for 9mm. I wonder what other Lee PTE dies would benefit from an enlarged expander plug. Great Job!

[Handloader109]

Sounds like you have a lot of ideas and plenty of other things to keep you busy. Would never expect you to copy other member's gas check maker. Link was from a member that from what I can see designed a different maker and posted the drawing. Thanks anyway.

[stephenj]

First sizer is finished .. i have plans both friday and most of sat .. sunday morning if i am feeling ambitios ill draw two more names out of my hat and make a couple more sizers .

Once my batteries charge up ill post a couple pics .

[stephenj]

Oops i meant to put this up this morning and it slipped my mind ... brstevens sizer done and going out in the mail sat morning .

The push rod is still in the chuck so i didnt take a pic of it
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/22/4f822b18897e488cc1aa1325dd4fb097.jpg

[stephenj]

I missed a few posts ...

Bonz ... you better give me awhile i am going to say swage dies are beyond me at the moment .. two or three weeks more practice should be long enough.

Hand loader .
I didnt realize that was not a free chex till you pointed it out ... long as i am not stepping on anyones toes im good with that .
Once i get some suitable material ill give it a shot . I can use one or three of them myself .

And as to the mosin muzzle brake .. sorry i already forgot who asked but ....
At the moment i am going to have to say its beyond what i can do .
Making the brake would not be hard at all to do but lacking both a good drill press and a mill i have no good way to do the ports .
Maybe santa will bring me a mill for x mas

[stephenj]

I woke up sunday and felt extremely lazy so i did not make any progress .
But i did make some progress today aftet work

One die body drilled and threaded .. and one more started .

Ill send out mesages to the two lucky fellows for adresses once i have them finished .
It may be a day or three till i have time to work on them ... grass needs mowed and other chores need done .http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/25/ca67386f8712da591b058cea618cf893.jpg

[brstevns]

Oops i meant to put this up this morning and it slipped my mind ... brstevens sizer done and going out in the mail sat morning .

The push rod is still in the chuck so i didnt take a pic of it
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/22/4f822b18897e488cc1aa1325dd4fb097.jpg

Never did receive the die?

[mozeppa]

if you can find the time ...i'd like a push thru die for my 8" howitzer.172724 thanks!:bigsmyl2:

[paraord]

Not sure if you are still taking requests but I need a seater plug for my RCBS 44 die. Just wad cutter so flat is perfect, these 430-310 Lee mould boolits if seated with the swc plug leave a ring around it. Doesnt look like RCBS makes a wad cutter version. If that's too much no worries just let me know.
Thanks man, that's a really cool offer you put up.

[BrassMagnet]

Not sure if you are still taking requests but I need a seater plug for my RCBS 44 die. Just wad cutter so flat is perfect, these 430-310 Lee mould boolits if seated with the swc plug leave a ring around it. Doesnt look like RCBS makes a wad cutter version. If that's too much no worries just let me know.
Thanks man, that's a really cool offer you put up.

I have some stems left over from a project.I could check and see if any are 429 diameter. Please PM me.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

hey brassmagnet, how are you doing? haven't heard from you in a while, ive been reloading enough the I think I have worn out my 45-70 brass, the cases seem to be developing a bulge in front of the rim about where the shellholder is,lol I still have like 60-70 loaded up and ready to go. found out that the star die (457) is sizing too small, I am going to have it lapped out by a machinist to about 459 ( after some more careful measuring) when I get the money. if you want to send a pm sometime! have a good day, Travis p.s. thanks again for all your help and wisdom.

[w5pv]

You are a good man.God Bless

[bbogue1]

How about a round block gauge with known dimensions and a hole in it to check our calipers in. The hole could be the size of the requestors bullets.