Storing Dillon 550 Tool Heads/Conversion Kits

[hunter64]

Just wondering how you guys are storing your various Dillon 550 parts?

I have 8 different calibers to load for and I have ordered another conversion kit and some different Powder Funnels to round out my reloading needs.

Obviously some conversion kits will work with various calibers as does the powder funnels and the pins.

I saw a long box that a guy had cut slots into to hold all the various shell plates and on the end of the box he had the pins but no place for the powder funnels. He wanted 20 bucks on fleabay for it but I was thinking of a more versatile setup.

I currently have all the conversion parts in a plastic storage bin with various drawers and so when I want to load a specific caliber I just look on the chart and pull out the appropriate shell plate, powder funnel and pins. When I am done I put them back and it works good but I would like something with more room. Maybe a small toolbox with them all organized somehow.

Now the different tool heads I think I will make a long board with some slots in them to just push in the complete tool heads.

Lets see what you have figured out to store your tool heads and conversion kits.

[Tom R]

I made stands that look kinda like there's I used 1/2 inch alum. I turned down alum bar stock ad but a ss tip in it. You could just as easy use a bolt and a nut as a stop. I plan on making a wall mounted rack, but I will wait Until I move. You could also use 2x4 with dowels installed and a cross dowel to hold it up. If you drill holes and mill or wrought a slot in the base wood/alum then you don't have to pay 20 dollars per stand.

[hunter64]

I made stands that look kinda like there's I used 1/2 inch alum. I turned down alum bar stock ad but a ss tip in it. You could just as easy use a bolt and a nut as a stop.

I was kinda thinking along the same lines. I have a long piece of aluminum channel that is doing nothing and some 9/16" ready rod that I could use. Just measure the distance I need between the tool heads, drill and tap the aluminum channel, cut pieces of the ready rod that I need and thread it into the stand. I could just as easily buy some bolts and thread them up thru the bottom and then I wouldn't have to cut the ready rod.

Then all I would need to do is put a nut on each rod (bolt) to hold the tool heads up and good to go. A 2' piece of aluminum would hold about 6 die heads.

[dudel]

I made these for very little. They work well for me.

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

Also easy to adapt for the powder dump.

[hunter64]

Dudel: Great idea. I love the Tupperware idea to keep the dust off.

I made my first tool head holder last night. The inside diameter of the heads are 9/16" and while looking at home depot for some weather stripping I walked over to the nuts and bolts section to see what they had.
I found a scrap piece of metal and drilled and tapped 8 holes. I bought 2 1/2" long 5/16" bolts and screwed them into the metal plate. Then put the 9/16" connecting bolt on top and screwed it down, put a washer in between the two to hold the head up. Took me all of 20 minutes and for under 10 bucks not counting the piece of metal. Could do the same thing with wooden base. Don't really need the bolt and washer on the top but what the heck.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/1964bigfoot/IM002380.jpg
These fit perfect and the threaded middle section is 5/16". They are made to connect two bolts together.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/1964bigfoot/IM002383.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/1964bigfoot/IM002384.jpg
To hold it up I found some large headed bolts used for furniture and threaded them in.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/1964bigfoot/IM002385.jpg

[rattletrap1970]

I just buy theirs. I like the way they look and I made labels that lists the Caliber, Shell Plate, Buttons, and Funnel. Just in case I'm doing something custom I know in a glance what parts make up that caliber conversion.