Star size die extraction tool

[dragonrider]

Thought you might like to see the die extraction tool I made for Star dies. Nothin special, screw the small piece in place of the punch, lower the ram, insert the long piece in from the bottom of the die and screw into the previous piece until it stops, lift the ram.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/360-180%20Star%20die/360-180Starsizedie020.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/360-180%20Star%20die/360-180Starsizedie019.jpg

[runfiverun]

now all you need is the rod to push out the last boolit in the sizer and you are good.

[Swagerman]

You got to admire a fellow who can make those tiny tpi threads that are noted for those dang dies.

What are they? 27 or 28 tpi?

Jim

[dragonrider]

They are a 1/2"x27 tpi. and I used a threading die, real easy, next one I'll photo the process.

[MtGun44]

Interesting. I paid the big bucks for one, thinking that this was a totally
non-std pitch. Where'd you find a die??

Nice job, too.

Bill

[GabbyM]

I like the one piece design. Mine alwyas unscrews at the wrong end so I have to turn it out on top after.

A bullet of smaller caliber works for pushing the orphaned bullets out.

Now a thought just struck me. I'll be seting up 22's.,.,.,. Yep just went out to measure. It's a 1/4" threaded rod with a .243 O.D. Won't fit to well down 6mm dies either. Now perhas we need a tool using a 10-32 rod? uh um. :coffee:

[garandsrus]

After warming up the die/lube, I just push the die out from the bottom with a piece of wooden dowel rod. It works very well and fits all dies since it doesn't go into the opening.

This also allows me to leave the last boolit in place so that it can act as a stop for setting up the die the next time, assuming I am lubing the same or a similar boolit.

John

[GabbyM]

After warming up the die/lube, I just push the die out from the bottom with a piece of wooden dowel rod. It works very well and fits all dies since it doesn't go into the opening.

This also allows me to leave the last boolit in place so that it can act as a stop for setting up the die the next time, assuming I am lubing the same or a similar boolit.

John

I've done it that way too. But when you're nursing a bilateral hernia you look for ways to make things easy as possible.

I'd about assume Magma has a tool for the small dies. If not I can place my step stool under the sizer. Set a bottle jack with wood dowel ram atop the stool and jack it out. :drinks:

[dragonrider]

An extractor with a 10-32 tpi rod would not be a problem.

[garandsrus]

I would think that a rod turned down to 1/8" diameter would work just fine. The rod is only in tension when removing the die, so it doesn't need to be very thick.

John

[Springfield]

But then the rod doesn't fit the other half of the removal tool.

[dragonrider]

The parts are made as a set, I don't size anything smaller than 357, hence I didn't need anything smaller than .250", as john said the diameter isn't that important. No sideways stress to deal with.

[Lloyd Smale]

me too i havent used a tool to take a die out in 15 years. as a matter of fact i gave mine away.
After warming up the die/lube, I just push the die out from the bottom with a piece of wooden dowel rod. It works very well and fits all dies since it doesn't go into the opening.

This also allows me to leave the last boolit in place so that it can act as a stop for setting up the die the next time, assuming I am lubing the same or a similar boolit.

John

[dragonrider]

The two star factory dies that I have are a very tight fit in the machine, and I have it mounted on a piece of plywood that I c-clamp to the bench which is good for sizing but not ridgid enough when using the dowel and hammer method of removing the tight dies, the bench actually bounces and stuff starts fallin off, the extraction tool stops all that. Plus the dies I made are .001" less than factory and thus easier to install and remove and no leakage.

[lathesmith]

dragonrider,
+1 here on tight-fitting dies. Maybe a gorilla could press them out by hand with a dowel, but my dies fit my press too snugly for me to do it by hand. I also use the plate and C-clamp method for attachment, so the setup isn't really rigid to begin with. I think you are right on with the 10-32 threads for the smaller dies, and just make a matching top piece.

Bill, for a 1/2-27 die, try the following link:

http://www.tapcousa.com/about.asp


lathesmith

[lathesmith]

Sorry Bill, here is a more useful link for a 1/2-27 die:

http://www.icscuttingtools.com/Dies.htm

Check under "special sizes".

lathesmith

[dragonrider]

They are cheaper at MSCDIRECT. $23.60