Ideal #1 Sizer

[Green Frog]

All I can figure is that this old #1 Lubri-Sizer just didn't get noticed. I got it for the opening bid, which wouldn't have been a super great deal except it has both the clamp and wrench included! I already have one I've been using for years, so I think I'll probably set this one up dedicated to a .313" sizing die and a fairly soft lube so as to avoid putting too much stress on it. My old home brewed "Frog Guano" lube might be a good candidate, or maybe even the old school black lube from Ideal if I can find a steady source.

Froggie

[kootne]

Froggie, do those take the same dies as the later Lymans?
Thanks,
Dennis

[NoZombies]

Froggie, do those take the same dies as the later Lymans?
Thanks,
Dennis

I'm not Froggie, but yes, basically. The O-ring was added when the 450 was introduced, the #1 and #45 sizers use set screws to secure the H die in the sizer body. The O-ring dies still have a groove in the body so that they can be secured in the older sizers.

The non-o-ring dies are more prone to leaking lube around the top in the newer sizers, and the o-ring can cause the newer dies to be a little snug in the older sizing presses, but they are all at least basically usable through the generations.

[Bazoo]

Neat, thanks for sharing. Wasn't there also a number 2?

[Green Frog]

Since NZ answered your first question, let me start by answering your second one with a yes. Ideal made a #2 Lubricator-Sizer, a sort of "industrial grade" unit... in fact there was one on the 'Bay recently at a starting bid of $1000 IIRC. There has been discussion of this very one on the ARTCA Forum in the last week or so, and it turns out that they were never all that common, being big and expensive, and had as their target market military armories.

Back to the dies for the various sizing dies, in a rare case of practicality, Lyman has kept the same basic size and design of dies so that the newest die can be used in the oldest press. The reverse is not true, however as the O-ring that was added to the later dies is necessary to seal the later presses, so the old dies don't work well there. I don't plan to look very hard for "original" dies for this one, since the newer ones work well by design.

Froggie

[ndnchf]

That's sweet. I need to start scanning ebay more closely !

[Green Frog]

That's sweet. I need to start scanning ebay more closely !

I’m still kinda gob smacked with this particular transaction. I’ve seen the clamp go by itself for nearly what I paid for the whole thing, and the wrenches are almost as expensive. I guess the stars just aligned for me this time, but I will admit I went back in with just an hour or less to go and significantly increased my “automatic” bid, but nobody else challenged my opening bid, so that was all I had to pay.

I got my first one nearly 20 years ago at “The Nation’s Gun Show” in Chantilly, VA under similar circumstances for only $30. I didn’t think lightning would strike twice, but I guess it did. In the meantime I’ve seen some pretty good deals on presses missing the clamp and/or wrench, but those items make up a significant cost to the package and complete sets have been crazy high.

I’m just counting my blessings and waiting for this one to arrive. :bigsmyl2:

Froggie

[ndnchf]

Every once in a while the stars align :-) that one looks almost like new.

[Bazoo]

Thanks for the info.

I use one of the older dies without O rings in my 450. I don't have any issues with it leaking. It had a step inside instead of a tapered lead. I changed it to a tapered lead. I use it without issues.

[smithnframe]

Looks like a neat old lubrisizer.......good score!

[Green Frog]

Thanks for the info.

I use one of the older dies without O rings in my 450. I don't have any issues with it leaking. It had a step inside instead of a tapered lead. I changed it to a tapered lead. I use it without issues.

That was the longtime complaint... that step had a tendency to shave lead rather than squeeze it into place. It became an article of faith for the schuetzen community that you had to have a properly sized mould so you could shoot your bullets as cast. As you discovered, simply putting a taper at the mouth of the die eliminated the problem. I guess to be historically correct one would have to use the inferior, old style die, but for once, “New and Improved” really is! :cool:

Froggie

[Eddie Southgate]

Way to go Froggie ! Lucky for both of us that I didn't see that one . :lol:

[ascast]

nice snag ! I saw that myself and decided it would go high out of sight and never looked back opps ! Lightning will strike twice. I have on two separate occasions found the top for the #6 powder measures in a odd box or pile of stuff. gotta keep a sharp eye out...

[Green Frog]

The good news is that a package arrived at my door late yesterday afternoon, containing a complete #1 Lube Sizer. Mechanically it seems fine. The bad news is that it had been recently slathered with black enamel which in places was still a little soft and sticky. It’s definitely worth (to me) what I paid for it, but I kinda wish they’d left the paint in the can!

The top punch looks like it was intended for a RN 38 bullet and there is no sizing die, just the empty hole. I haven’t checked into what (if any) lube is in it. All in all, I’m pleased with my purchase. I just have to let the new paint finish drying and hardening or strip it off and start again.

Froggie

[ndnchf]

Too bad about the paint. I'd strip it before it fully cures. If you don't leave the stripper on too long, you can probably get it off without harming the old oruginal paint.

[Oyeboten]

Anyone have a picture of an "IDEAL No. 2" Lube-sizer Press?

I'd like to see what one looks like!

[Green Frog]

If you can get onto the ARTCA forum, there was a thread there about the one that sold recently on fleaBay. It’s pretty impressive.

Froggie

[Green Frog]

Lightning has struck again! While perusing the ’Bay I spotted a poorly presented First Model Lubricant-Sizer. The kicker was that although it was missing the wrench, it had the clamp, which was held in place by the surprising expedient of using what appears to be an old “Super Ball” to clamp it on. Several years ago I had bought an orphan wrench and stashed it, knowing I would need it someday. As a bonus, this is a Middlefield example, while my previous examples were New Havens. Life is good! :mrgreen:

Froggie

[Bazoo]

Nice score, congratulations. I love to find a poorly represented deal.

[Green Frog]

The best opportunities I’m finding on the ‘Bay these days generally come from people who either go to auctions or yard salads or are selling grandpa’s stuff that they don’t know what it is or white what to call it. It sneaks through that way. :D

Froggie

[abunaitoo]

I also picked up a #1 from evilbay.
Shipping was almost as much as the luber.
No clamp, that I knew nothing about.
It did have the wrench though.
Got a thread going about my adventure working on it in the Casting Equipment section.
Been watching to see if a clamp might show up.
But I'll probably just make one.

[Green Frog]

I thought about your thread when I was bidding on this one, abunaitoo. When I got my “spare” wrench, it was from a dealer who sells a lot of old reloading stuff. He said he almost didn’t bother to list it because he didn’t think anybody would be interested. So hang in there, although they don’t show up often, I have seen a couple of the clamps on the ‘Bay. In the meanwhile, I would look into making some sort of substitute or maybe using a couple of little C-clamps if I could.

Regards,
Froggie

[Green Frog]

Life is good! My third Ideal #1 Lubricator got here today on the white FEDEX truck and upon unpacking, it looks as good as I had hoped... a little rust on the two metal shafts and of course some cement-hard black lube as well as the usual missing paint chips, but all in all pretty good. The other good news is that not only did I have the missing wrench for it... I actually found it with less than 10 minutes of searching. I had stashed it in a box of Pacific Pistol Measures (Don't ask!) [smilie=w:

For those keeping score, I now have three #1s, two from New Haven and one Middlefield. I'll decide sooner or later whether I want to keep the dupe or sell it and redirect the cash into other projects. Then again, maybe trade bait? :roll:

Froggie

[Hamish]

Yer killin me,,,,,,

[Green Frog]

Yer killin me,,,,,,

But I still can’t find a #2! :violin:

[Pressman]

Well, we know who has a #2, and it ain't me:-(

[NoZombies]

But I still can’t find a #2! :violin:

Tell me about it...

[Green Frog]

Reactivating this old thread... I've decided to keep my "original" (New Haven) #1 which I've been using to size and lube .515" bullets for my Maynard (very soft lube based on the old Emmert's formula) and my newly acquired Late Type (Middlefield) will get a .313" die to size bullets for my 32 S&W L through 327 FM with classic 50-50 NRA formula beeswax and ALOX.

I'm putting together a list of reloading stuff to sell. I guess I'll put the third press on that list, but I'm wondering whether I should offer it on Swapping and Selling here first for the good of our group, or whether I should put all of this stuff at auction to maximize my return on investment.

Froggie

[Pressman]

How you sell them depends on if I need them:bigsmyl2: Keep me in the loop, I am looking for a "few good tools".

Ken

[John Wayne]

I'm for giving Pressman a crack at em through PM first. Then us here :drinks:

[Green Frog]

Woe is me! I've mislaid the top cap (the cast iron "spider") from my first Ideal #1 lubricator sizer. :-? I'm sure it's somewhere on my cluttered work bench but I noticed today when I was looking to see what kind of lube stick was in it (it was an old black stick of Ideal Lubricant.) Now I've got to break down and clean up the bench to find that one weird piece. :roll:

Froggie

[Pressman]

Mr Frog Person, after you find that cap stop over and help me find a cheek riser I know I have, somewhere, in the basement.

[Green Frog]

It would probably be cheaper for me to buy a cheek riser (whatever that is) than to travel all the way to the “Land-o-Lakes” to help you search! ;-)

Stay warm!
Froggie

[Pressman]

Mr. Frog Person Sir, that's very nice of you to offer to buy me a cheek riser. Thank you very much.

This is where it's needed, without the riser my chin is on the stock while looking through the scope.

I know I have a riser, I had it out a year ago. Then I put it away and thinking at the time that maybe I should not store it here as I won't be able to find it back. Yup, it's true, I can't find it.


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