Star lubrisizer top punch lock nuts

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
OK, Brad, using the band saw is a really narrow cutoff! :D My lathe cutoff is about 1/8" wide so
wastes a lot of the knurled, threaded tube.

Thanks, Cherokee. I am please with the way this is turning out.....pun intended. :rofl:

Setting up the end gears was a first for me. And of course the one end gear that uses a setscrew
did not have one in it, a 20 min trip to the hardware store to get a 5mm-0.8 socket headed setscrew
was a bit of an irritation, but a one time thing, of course.

But, once I had the gears installed, and the QC box set right, I tried a piece of scrap and it was cutting
at 27 tpi, screwed a factory Star nut onto it. Then I made the first real top punch, .45 cal.

Now to make one in .44 cal and .38 cal - for starters. I will probably make some more so that I can
set them up for specific bullet designs, but not at this moment. I want to get set for H&G 68, 429421
and for RCBS 38-150-K/358477 which will use the same setting. These are my most commonly loaded
rounds which I run through the Star. Next after that will be one for the 9mm Lee TC 120, which I use a
good bit of, too. Then will want one for 454423 and 454424, which might work for both, not sure.

Bill
 
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Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Nice work Bill. Something to keep the Winter doldrums in check.

Never found the need for the lock nuts on Star punches. Probably, cause I don't have a lathe to make a dedicated top punch for every bullet I size. For instance, I cast at least four different bullets for 44 caliber alone. None are the same length so none would use the same setting. I just count the number of exposed threads and keep it in my records. One flat TP works for all. In fact one bullet requires only two threads to be showing............nary enough room for a locknut on that TP setting.
 

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
I measure from the top of the size die to the bottom of the top punch to set it for a specific bullet. Keep a record for each bullet I use.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I never used lock nuts. I just adjusted on the fly. Learned pretty quick about what I needed and adjusted from there. Usually had it within 5 - 10 bullets.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
My issue is not keeping notes, and leaving the two Stars set up for long periods on the same
bullet, so I forget entirely what the setting is. Then I need to switch to a multigoove bullet....
drilling out shot, starting adjusting from scratch.
I bought some blank Star dies from Keith, and will start towards an eventual goal of having
a die for multiple groove bullets in diameters that I use multiple groove designs, and a die
for single lube groove bullets in calibers where I have single lube groove designs. I must
admit, the Star's mostly get used on single lube groove designs today, just more hassle than
I usually want to switch the dies. Stars are best for long runs of the same bullets, can turn out
a pile of lubed bullets very quickly. I use the RCBS and Lyman lubers most of the time for
all of multigroove designs, super easy to adjust, frequently no adjustment needed.

Some of it is "because I can", of course.

Bill
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Bill, if you want a dedicated punch you could skip the lock nut. Use an existing punch to get the measurement from end of punch to top of nut. Turn a new punch but leave a shoulder that keeps it from threading farther into the press. You could even make the should per part of a raised band and knurl it.

After work tomorrow I may try one like that.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
Nice work, guys. Perfect rainy day to make more....INSIDE.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Hah! Great idea, Brad....but I am nowhere NEAR capable of getting that right by measuring.

I suppose I could set up an adjustable one and find the position that works and measure from that one.

I'll probably just do with the adjustable but lockable ones, at least for the time being.

Bill
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I suppose I could set up an adjustable one and find the position that works and measure from that one.
This is exactly what I am thinking. Use an existing punch and lock ring. Get it right then measure off of that.