32Special
01-23-2009, 08:22 PM
I got a Star a couple of months ago. Got dies and punches from Lathesmith (first rate!!)
I've had trouble getting lube grooves to fill, and trouble with getting lube on the front of the bullet. I think I have it set. Then, when I come back in a couple of weeks, I have to adjust all over again. Maddening.
I came upstairs to read what others advised on the Forum. Temp, pressure and seating depth were the variables everyone talked about.
I went downstairs again to adjust some more (heater had been on the whole time), and suddenly everything worked great, well, for 20-30 bullets. Then I started having trouble again. I had lube groove fail to fill but would have lube on the front of the bullet, and I was applying what I thought was too much pressure.
I have the temp turned up enough that the seepage around the inspection screw on the side looked almost liquid.
Then it hit me: the bullets were cold!! The bullets set on my concrete floor in coffee cans and my basement is only partially heated. It's probably 50 degrees down there.
I was literally chilling the die with the bullets! So, I started dropping in a bullet, counting for 3 seconds (one one thousand,...) then I'd press the bullet down. Drop another bullet in the die, count 3 seconds, etc. This way I preheated the bullet for 3 seconds in the hot die, and exposed the grease groove to lube for at least 3 seconds as well.
This worked. Grease grooves filled. Minimum pressure, and no lube on the bullet noses. Only problem is it is SLOW.
SO, I robbed an old flat aluminum cake pan from the kitchen (that I've never seen used). I set this pan on the heater box of my Midway heater, and poured the rest of my bullet in it. The bullets are preheating in the pan now as I type this. I'm sure it will help.
With my new found expertise, this is the way I see it for adjusting a Star:
1) If the lube groove doesn't fill either your lube and/or your bullets are too cold.
2) If lube gets accumulates on the front of the bullet, you have too much pressure.
I expect I'm not the only one who does his loading and bullet sizing in a cold space so I hope this helps.
I do my casting in an unheated garage with the doors open. IF it is below 50 degrees, the lead will freeze in the spout of my bottom pour furnace. Of well, spring is coming!
I've had trouble getting lube grooves to fill, and trouble with getting lube on the front of the bullet. I think I have it set. Then, when I come back in a couple of weeks, I have to adjust all over again. Maddening.
I came upstairs to read what others advised on the Forum. Temp, pressure and seating depth were the variables everyone talked about.
I went downstairs again to adjust some more (heater had been on the whole time), and suddenly everything worked great, well, for 20-30 bullets. Then I started having trouble again. I had lube groove fail to fill but would have lube on the front of the bullet, and I was applying what I thought was too much pressure.
I have the temp turned up enough that the seepage around the inspection screw on the side looked almost liquid.
Then it hit me: the bullets were cold!! The bullets set on my concrete floor in coffee cans and my basement is only partially heated. It's probably 50 degrees down there.
I was literally chilling the die with the bullets! So, I started dropping in a bullet, counting for 3 seconds (one one thousand,...) then I'd press the bullet down. Drop another bullet in the die, count 3 seconds, etc. This way I preheated the bullet for 3 seconds in the hot die, and exposed the grease groove to lube for at least 3 seconds as well.
This worked. Grease grooves filled. Minimum pressure, and no lube on the bullet noses. Only problem is it is SLOW.
SO, I robbed an old flat aluminum cake pan from the kitchen (that I've never seen used). I set this pan on the heater box of my Midway heater, and poured the rest of my bullet in it. The bullets are preheating in the pan now as I type this. I'm sure it will help.
With my new found expertise, this is the way I see it for adjusting a Star:
1) If the lube groove doesn't fill either your lube and/or your bullets are too cold.
2) If lube gets accumulates on the front of the bullet, you have too much pressure.
I expect I'm not the only one who does his loading and bullet sizing in a cold space so I hope this helps.
I do my casting in an unheated garage with the doors open. IF it is below 50 degrees, the lead will freeze in the spout of my bottom pour furnace. Of well, spring is coming!