Reloading Die Storage Ideas

[Knight Templar]

I'm looking to you guys for some ideas for storing reloading dies in other than the boxes they come in. The problem is I had a fire and all the boxes melted so now I have about 40 sets of dies and no where to keep them. I can buy the Lyman flat boxes for about $3 each but would like to find a cheaper option. Right now I'm thinking about a board 1x6 with rows of 3 or 4 holes. I've looked at 5c collet racks but they take up too much room. Lets hear what you use. Thanks in advance for the replies.

[Brother_Love]

Built a drawer for my dies.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/revrun4/die_drawer.jpg

[Knight Templar]

Nice
How easy is it to find/read the dies that are not labeled on the top? What size holes and what is the spacing? I also like the pins for the shell holders. As usual a picture is worth a thousand words.

[Czech_too]

I did something like what Brother Love did but for router bits. Don't feel that it would work considering the # of die sets that I have though.
Since I've picked up neck sizing dies for most of the bottle neck cartridges which I load for, and since the regular boxes w/the exception of Hornady, would not permit placing another die in the box, I went with the utility boxes from MTM. Put a thin layer of foam on top and bottom and the dies don't rattle, plus their stackable.
http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/reloading/reloading-ub.html

[dudel]

I keep them in toolheads in stands I built for the 550b.

http://picasaweb.google.com/donudel/DillonStands#

Don

[Johnch]

I have a clear shoe box for several cal
In the box is several sets of dies for different rifles or pistols as I have serveral modifyed sets in the same cal but for differnt guns

I keep the differnt set in plastic boxs I get from work , using foam with holes cut in it
To keep the dies fromm rattleing around

John

[RP]

you may want to look into some fishing gear boxes to keep dies in you can get the clear ones and label fairly easy. Some of the things I use to store things are a plastic shotgun shell box to keep my sizing dies in I labeled the inside lid so i dont have to look at those little numbers. Another thing I use is a spice rack to hold dies hard to explain what style it is but just has holes in it that worked out perfect for dies. And a diff style spice rack that turns larger bottles I keep GCs in. So many things out there that can be used in reloading I always keep my eye out at the second hand shops for something that will help me keep my stuff in better order. Most of my dies are in turret heads and I keep them in the round dies boxes lee sells.

[zuke]

I did something like what Brother Love did but for router bits. Don't feel that it would work considering the # of die sets that I have though.
Since I've picked up neck sizing dies for most of the bottle neck cartridges which I load for, and since the regular boxes w/the exception of Hornady, would not permit placing another die in the box, I went with the utility boxes from MTM. Put a thin layer of foam on top and bottom and the dies don't rattle, plus their stackable.
http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/reloading/reloading-ub.html

I like your thinking!

[rbstern]

I salvaged an old pencil box and cut a wood insert for it, to store my turrents with the dies in them. No reason this can't be done with a simple block of wood, even a piece of 2x4, drilled for individual dies.

http://www.zjstech.net/gunstuff/images/MVC-959F.JPG

[Mk42gunner]

I kind of like Brother Love's Drawer idea; the only problem would be that I would like to keep the die sets in order; thus requiring a major change as I accumulate more sets of dies.

A 7/8" hole would work, a 15/16" would allow a little bit of wiggle room. You could use an embossing gun to lable what caliber fit where.

Robert

[DGG1]

Here is my suggestion for storing your dies.

Spray the dies good with Breakfree CLP and put them in ziplock bags, the freezer bags. You can use a magic marker to write the contents on the outside of the bag. The dies will last forever, take up very little space, and can be stored anywhere.

I like the used 25mm ammo boxes for storage. They are called PA-125 boxes.

This is the storage box that holds the rounds for the 25mm canon of the Bradley. They are very tight, lightweight, and waterproof. They hold about three times the amount of stuff that a .50 cal ammo box holds. The 30mm boxes are also nice, a little larger.

http://armynavysuperstores.com/containers.htm

http://go-armynavy.com/index.php/field-gear/ammo-boxes.html

[Echo]

I have a 2x6 about 2.5' long. I drilled 7/8" holes, three high, and store my dies there, at the back of my bench. Doesn't hold all my dies, but does hold the ones I use most
I also store some 38/357 dies on a Lyman Spar-T. Size & deprime through the carbide die, expand & bell on separate 38/357 dies, and have three other dies that I could need stored there.

[Brother_Love]

I knew which die was in each spot, but I wanted you guys to know I knew;).

So I picked up a sheet of dry transfers and labeled each die. They can easily be changed if need be.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/revrun4/labeled.jpg

Malcolm

[EvilElmo]

I did the same as rbstern. I used a length of 2x6 and just drilled deep so the turret sits flush.

[Big Dave]

Twodie sets will fit in stackable drawer files with labels on the front, Occasionaly you can find them with some drawers that will hold three dies.

PS Small stack bins like many use for cast boolit storage work well too.

[vonfatman]

That's a great set-up. Like Mr. dudel, I have all my pistol dies in tool-heads, so I'm good there. The rifle dies, well I may plagiarize your grand suggestion!

Bob

[XWrench3]

get someone who has gone to all the bother of making a new place for his dies to sell you his old boxes cheap! personally, i like brother loves idea the best! if i ever decide to drop the original boxes, i will probably copy that idea. good job brother love!

[buck1]

MTM 100 ct shot shell box at china mart for 15-20 bucks may work??

[GetBulletsandBrass]

MTM makes a die box that will hold 4 sets of 3 dies or 3 sets of 4 dies. Usually about $17 and they don't take up much space. I use these so I could get rid of all the plastic containers that come with the Lee die sets.

[BobS]

For some reason Brother Love's photos on his die storage shelf or drawer are not available. How could I get a copy of them. This is something I really need to find a solution to in my reloading set up.
BobS

[flashhole]

This thread is going on 4 years old. Maybe he will respond if he gets email notification of the rebirth. I use small drawer cabinets I bought at Walmart. You can see them in this picture.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/GuideGun/FunnelforClassicPress.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/GuideGun/media/FunnelforClassicPress.jpg.html)