How Hard is it to Cut a Reloading Die

[Rfeustel]

Noob question: I need to cut a reloading die to make a push through die for a project. I have a bandsaw from Little Machine Shop. Do I need a special blade? Can I cut a die without heating it?

My goal is to get a cheap die off eBay and cut it. Probably a Lee.

Thought I’d ask before ruining a blade.

Thank you

[bangerjim]

You did not mentioned the brand of die, just "probably Lee"

Test: If a metal file skates across it's surface, your teeny little band saw will be of little use against hardened steel! If me, I would use one of my solid carbide slitting saw in my vertical milling machine.

Test it and see.

[para45lda]

I used an abrasive cutoff wheel in my chop saw

[Winger Ed.]

They're harder than Chinese Algebra.

You'll need something like a cut off wheel on a high speed grinder.
One that spins up around 8,000 rpm or so.

[Rfeustel]

Oh boy I’m glad I asked. Thanks guys!

[Traffer]

What other kinds of tools do you have? If you can spin it (even very slowly) by attaching something to the axis then putting it in a drill you can cut it with an angle grinder or even a Dremel type tool with a cut off blade.
Before I had a lathe, I would figure out ways of attaching larger diameter stuff to something to spin it in the drill. Even jamming a dowel in the hole will work if you don't spin it very fast.

[Rfeustel]

That’s ingenuitive Traffer. I have a drill press. I also have a chop saw and a Milwaukee grinder that goes 8500. I think I’ll get a cutoff wheel for the chop saw first ($10), if that doesn’t work try the hand grinder and vise method.

[GregLaROCHE]

What are your plans for it after cutting it?

[Rfeustel]

What are your plans for it after cutting it?

Greg - I got suggestions from another post to create a push through from a 30-30 to start the process and converting .40 S&W into 8mm Nambu. I’ll cut the die (at least try to), wet grind the burrs and marks (let’s see how that works) then get (as suggested) a lee bullet sizer “punch” or maybe try to have one made that pushes the 40SW through that gets close to the 30-30 diameter.

[Winger Ed.]

a Milwaukee grinder that goes 8500.

That would be my weapon of choice.

However; If ya don't know already--- The wheels are very brittle. You'll want to dress accordingly.
Heavy gloves, jacket, full face shield, and work around the die body without letting the disc go deeper than the outside wall thickness.

A shattered 6" angle grinder disc is the only tool I've ever used that sent me to the Emergency Room.
This isn't me, but I kept a similar picture in my shop to show the kids that wanted to borrow a angle grinder and disc--
"to do something real quick", and didn't have time to put on safety equipment.

That, and pointing at the 1/2 of a disc stuck in the shop's ceiling was always enough to show them the error of their ways.

[Rfeustel]

Holy Moly winger. Wow. Thank you for sharing that.

[country gent]

What might get you thru is cut a ring around the die with the grinder about 1/8" deep this should get you thru the hardened case then use the saw. It wont remove the case inside but the blade will do better from the soft thru the hard.But slow the speed way down around 75 sfm and go slow. also try to keep 4-6 teeth in contact with the work.

[Char-Gar]

Well, it depends. Depends on which die in a set and what make. I have chucked up many dies in my lath to modify them and this is what I have found. I am talking RCBS, Lyman and CH dies here.

The sizing dies are quite hard but can be cut with a carbide bit. The others (expanding and seating) cut like butter.

[Gewehr-Guy]

I have cut a very hard die with a hacksaw and a Rem-Grit blade. It is a cable blade coated with carbide grit. Was very slow going,and left a wide kerf. Not sure if they are even made anymore.

[gunther]

Second Gewehr-Guy's post. I used a Rem Grit rod blade in a hacksaw to crenelate a grade 8 nut that would eat cut off disc blades. It also trimmed a RCBS sizer die for another project. If you can find one, buy it

[Winger Ed.]

Holy Moly winger. Wow. Thank you for sharing that.

I tell everybody my stories of shattered wheels when ever I can fit them into the conversation.
I hope it helps someone keep from getting hurt.

The one that let go and stuck in my shop ceiling hit my leather jacket dead in my chest first,
then climbed up, leaving a trench in my full face shield, then went on up and stuck in a 12' high sheet rock ceiling

[BP Dave]

To the OP, most dies I've cut are very hard all the way through. I don't think your saw will cut it and you could easily wreck a blade. I suggest some kind of abrasive wheel--angle grinder probably makes the most sense, but you could do it on a bench grinder. Third choice might be a Dremel with a cutoff blade. There are some dies I have encountered--might have been Hornady or maybe it was Lee--that had a hard surface but were much softer on the inside--you might be able to cut that on your saw after getting through the surface treatment.

To Ed Winger--Ah geez. I always wear safety glasses, but I gotta get a full face shield. That photo's gonna haunt me.

[Winger Ed.]

To Ed Winger--Ah geez. I always wear safety glasses, but I gotta get a full face shield. That photo's gonna haunt me.

Hmm,, You definitely don't want to do a quickie search for 'Angle grinder cut off wheel accidents',
and then click 'images' up at the top.

It shows cut off fingers, big giant gash/cuts, and a few guys getting loaded into helicopter ambulances.

[country gent]

Always when mounting a new wheel hang it on a screw driver ans lightly tap it, if it rings your good a thud and the wheel is cracked throw it away or take it back. cutoff whelks are dangerous not just from the lack of thickness support but as the piece heats it pinches the sides of the wheel.

A grinder injury is worse than a cut as the meat is removed and the heat seals the surface it can take a long time to heal be careful.

[fiberoptik]

That picture hurts me just looking at it!


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