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Messages - rbwillnj

211
Star Reloaders / Re: Shell Expander Plug Modifications
« on: August 07, 2016, 12:56:44 pm »
Expanders are very hard, and they are case hardened not hardened all the way through.  You would have a very difficult time turning one down on a lathe, and you would probably would not be happy with the finish.  You could grind one down with a tool post grinder, but then you may go through the case hardened surface and you would have to re-case harden it.

By the way, I have 9MM shell expanders in stock.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

212
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: July 26, 2016, 04:16:00 pm »
Ken,

Sorry for the late reply.  Somehow I missed your post.

I'm afraid I really don't know much about this machine.   I seem to recall eaglemike saying that he modified it to use RCBS shell holders, but this was not one of eaglemike's machines.   Eaglemike worked at Star in the mid-70's and again in the mid-80's so it's possible he may have done the modification even if it wasn't his personal machine.

213
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: June 30, 2016, 02:29:04 pm »

I believe this is the same press described in a post by eaglemike a while back.  He describes it as a multi-station press designed to be less expensive than the Progressive and indicates that only a dozen or so were made.   I know of six including mine.     Some believe the Inline predates the "Progressive".  I'm told that the 1937 Phil Sharps book "Complete guide to Handloading" has a picture of the Inline but makes no mention of the Progressive. Of course we know the patent for the "Progressive was filed in 1933 and granted in 1936.   

Since this post is active again I thought I would add some additional information.   Apparently the multi-station press that eaglemike was referring to was not the Inline but a press similar to the one pictured below.  The pictured press belongs to CHAWKI44 who's stepfather got the press from Elard Mock.

214
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: June 30, 2016, 02:22:39 pm »
Chris,

I'd love to trade notes with you.  I never met your great uncle, but I have talked to a few people who knew him well. I'm sure they would be happy to talk to you.

Bruce Williams


215
Star Reloaders / Re: "Bushing" Inserts at Sizing & Seating Stations
« on: May 18, 2016, 04:14:34 pm »
I have seen worse.

Bruce

216
Star Reloaders / Re: "Bushing" Inserts at Sizing & Seating Stations
« on: May 16, 2016, 07:05:39 pm »
It is a hardened insert to prevent wear.   I have replacement "wear bushings" , but you would have to send your reloader back to me for the repair.  It requires a fair amount of fitting to do the job right.

Bruce Williams

PS, No offense, but did you pull that out of a pond?

217
Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders
« on: May 14, 2016, 07:20:56 pm »
Message sent.   It's best to contact me by email.  My mail box on the forum fills up quickly and I loose track of conversations.




218
Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders
« on: May 13, 2016, 04:11:10 pm »
Humbo,

Before you worry about bullet feeders, the first option you will want to add is a Hulme type case feeder.   I can help you out with that.

The best bullet feeder for the Star was the MA Systems unit that Tony mentioned.  Unfortunately they are out of production and difficult to find.

Bruce

219
Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders
« on: May 12, 2016, 11:10:44 am »
I did find a Willy Klette invoice, but not for your reloader.   You should ask the owner if he has any of the original paperwork.   I would love to lock down the dates the gold metallic stickers was in use.   Unfortunately I only have copies of invoices for 1993-1997.

My assumption that your machine was made sometime after 1993 is because I know Star was using a Silver metallic sticker in 1990, and it was still in use in 1993.  I have only seen a couple of Gold Stickers and I know they were newer machines.   Also, your machine has a retaining screw for the Rocker Arm Screw and that feature did not come into use until about 1988.

The machines you are looking to purchase look to be in very good condition.   These machines were made to load millions of rounds, so unless they were used for commercial loading, I doubt if anything is worn out.   Look underneath the shell plates to see if there is a lot of wear on the steel base.   Sometimes machines that have been used with indexers by commercial loaders have a wear groove in the steel base.

220
Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders
« on: May 12, 2016, 09:25:03 am »
That's not a bad price for one machine, especially in Norway.   The machine on the right is a very late model, towards the end of production.  The metallic gold sticker came into use sometime after 1993.  The Last Star reloaders produced in San Diego were made in 1996 or 1997.

I will have to see if I have a copy of the original invoice for that machine.   If I knew the name of the owner it would help me find it.   They are filed alphabetically.

Looks like you are in pretty good shape, but if you need any parts I can help.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

221
I have new primer slides in stock.

Bruce

222
You must remove #80 Column Nut to remove the aluminum base.   You might want to give it a good soak with WD-40 or Kroil ahead of time to soften up rust or any varnished oil.   To remove the column nut, I put a taper pin in the taper pin hole in the column then hold the column in a vice between some SOFT jaws, using the taper pin to prevent the column from rotating.  For most Stars you need a 1 7/16" socket.  For some you need a 1 1/2" Socket.   It is likely to take considerable force, but there is no particular torque spec that I know of.

If you don't have a good vice with SOFT jaws don't attempt to remove the nut.  You are sure to bugger up the column

Almost all Stars have a dowel pin that goes through the aluminum base into the steel base.  This assures proper alignment. 

Bruce Williams

223
On most machines, you do have to remove the aluminum base in order to remove the Rocker arm tappet.  When you reinstall the Rocker arm tappet, put some grease on the large diameter edge and on the bottom where it contacts the rocker arm.

Yes, you can remove the #75 brass primer casting and reinstall it on the same machine.  The screw with the rounded head goes on the right.   When reinstalling the rocker arm, the pointier end goes under the primer punch.   If you reverse it, the primer punch will protrude above the primer punch bushing.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works.

224
Star Reloaders / Re: Tool head die holes Question??
« on: February 17, 2016, 10:26:15 pm »
bkbc38,   I am aware that Star made some 7/8" tool heads, and also, that in later years the recesses in the top of some of their shell plates could accommodate a 7/8" die.  However, the vast majority of shell plates that are out there, and those that I sell now are not compatible with a 7/8" die unless the die is modified. 

Bruce Star sold tool heads modified for 7/8 14 dies they also recess the shell plates for the dies. I have several machines that are that way.

225
Star Reloaders / Re: Tool head die holes Question??
« on: February 16, 2016, 11:20:47 am »
It can be done, but is not recommended.   You will probably have to modify the Powder Slide Housing to make room for a 7/8-14 die.  Also many 7/8-14 seating dies are too tall and will conflict with the Tool Head Anchor Screw and Spring..   You will probably also have to modify some dies.  The sizing die in particular is too big to fit into the recess in the shell plate so you will have to reduce the diameter of the nose in order to do full length sizing.

Bruce Williams