I made myself some loading tools today.
Left to right:
-Brass 16 gauge x 2 1/2" freshly loaded with 2 1/2 drams of FFg and 1oz mixed 7s and 8s
-(at rear) Support tube, case rests on this tube (inverted) to be primed on arbor press
-(at front) Decapping punch
-(at rear) Powder/shot measure - I turned off the rim, but this is a .500 S&W case, perfect size
-(at front) Decapping and loading base (keeps primer off the deck while pushing down the innards of a live shell)
-Rammer - it has sharpie marks from my first time through, making sure everything was seating how it should. Tomorrow it gets a line turned on it to indicate proper wad compression.
Re: A little time on the lathe
2Nice. I would go nuts if I had access to real tools.
Puffing up is no substitute for smarts but it's a common home remedy
Re: A little time on the lathe
4Nicely done!
CDFingers
CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack
Re: A little time on the lathe
5To be clear (realized I might not have been) the loaded shell is Magtech. I didn't make that on the lathe.
Re: A little time on the lathe
6Excellent work!
'Sorry stupid people but there are some definite disadvantages to being stupid."
-John Cleese
-John Cleese
Re: A little time on the lathe
7Thanks for the kind words. Especially kind from Mason, who does this kind of stuff too.
I was sitting around with the calipers and the calculator and a bunch of medium-large cases trying to figure out which case to cut down to what length to get a 2.5 dram powder measure (which is also a 1oz shot measure). The .500 Magnum came out exactly right as-is. Everybody file that away in the back of your heads for the zombie apocalypse.
The one thing I discovered in this process that really seems worth passing on is that the Magtech brass shells have pretty roughly formed primer pockets. I haven't got a reamer for them on hand, but I'm getting one. Some of the primers sit high, even though they are fully seated. Not a big deal as long as I don't snap the gun shut on them vigorously, but it inspired me to only load shells on the base with a hole where the primer is.
I was sitting around with the calipers and the calculator and a bunch of medium-large cases trying to figure out which case to cut down to what length to get a 2.5 dram powder measure (which is also a 1oz shot measure). The .500 Magnum came out exactly right as-is. Everybody file that away in the back of your heads for the zombie apocalypse.
The one thing I discovered in this process that really seems worth passing on is that the Magtech brass shells have pretty roughly formed primer pockets. I haven't got a reamer for them on hand, but I'm getting one. Some of the primers sit high, even though they are fully seated. Not a big deal as long as I don't snap the gun shut on them vigorously, but it inspired me to only load shells on the base with a hole where the primer is.
Re: A little time on the lathe
8I would need to file a Form-1 right away!Simmer down wrote:Nice. I would go nuts if I had access to real tools.
"il corporativismo è la pietra angolare dello Stato fascista" Translated, this means: "boom-shacka-lacka-lacka,-boom-boom-boom.
Re: A little time on the lathe
9About the only thing I use my lathe for anymore is to thin the rims on Magtech 24 and 32 ga brass shells as part of the process of turning them into big bore British cartridges.Fukshot wrote:To be clear (realized I might not have been) the loaded shell is Magtech. I didn't make that on the lathe.
Re: A little time on the lathe
10So...
I took the rammer in to the shop today. I was going to cut a little groove in it to mark how far in to the case it gets pushed for proper wad compression. One thing led to another and the next thing I know, I'm figuring what the best way to chuck a tagua nut in the lathe. Tagua nuts are big and inedible and are also known as vegetable ivory. I had a couple laying around (like ya do).
Here's my new 16 gauge shotshell rammer:
I took the rammer in to the shop today. I was going to cut a little groove in it to mark how far in to the case it gets pushed for proper wad compression. One thing led to another and the next thing I know, I'm figuring what the best way to chuck a tagua nut in the lathe. Tagua nuts are big and inedible and are also known as vegetable ivory. I had a couple laying around (like ya do).
Here's my new 16 gauge shotshell rammer:
Re: A little time on the lathe
11
I had to look it up.
Puffing up is no substitute for smarts but it's a common home remedy
Re: A little time on the lathe
12Oh, my little stars & comets. Beautiful work. Such amazingly beautiful work...
If I didn't have a gazillion projects already demanding all my money I'd beg to buy a set like that from you.
If I didn't have a gazillion projects already demanding all my money I'd beg to buy a set like that from you.
Live like you will never die, love like you've never been hurt, dance
like no-one is watching.
Alex White
like no-one is watching.
Alex White
Re: A little time on the lathe
13I didn't realize how much glare there was in the first photo. Here's some closer shots so you can see the detail.
Re: A little time on the lathe
14After getting carried away yesterday, I continued the theme today. I re-made the measure and the decapping base.
Re: A little time on the lathe
15...and the decapping punch. I used the pin and retainer from an old die, so the pin can be replaced if it ever gets bent or broken. This is 4140 chromoly and I'll be bluing it this weekend some time, but I took some snaps in the white because it will probably show the details better than the final color.
Re: A little time on the lathe
16Sure looks like the work of a master machinist...
It is nice to have the right tool for the job..
It is nice to have the right tool for the job..
Bleeding Heart Liberal with Second Amendment Benefits.
Re: A little time on the lathe
17I wish I had space for a metal lathe.... Stuck with wood for now, unless it can be free-handed on the watch-makers' lathe. Must. Expand. Shop.
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo.
Re: A little time on the lathe
1890% of the tools in this post could be free-handed on a watchmakers lathe. I did all of this on a little Sherline.
Re: A little time on the lathe
19what would the exact cost for all this to set up be?Fukshot wrote:90% of the tools in this post could be free-handed on a watchmakers lathe. I did all of this on a little Sherline.
Check out my blog Equilibrium State
Socialism is economic suffrage
Communism is the antiquation of currency
Socialism is economic suffrage
Communism is the antiquation of currency
Re: A little time on the lathe
20The tools I made this stuff on, or for me to make a set of these tools for someone?gendoikari wrote:what would the exact cost for all this to set up be?Fukshot wrote:90% of the tools in this post could be free-handed on a watchmakers lathe. I did all of this on a little Sherline.
Re: A little time on the lathe
21Wow, just wow! It's so rare to see someone make anything by hand that it's a rare treat.
Re: A little time on the lathe
22the tools you made them on, it'd be a fun hobbyFukshot wrote:The tools I made this stuff on, or for me to make a set of these tools for someone?gendoikari wrote:what would the exact cost for all this to set up be?Fukshot wrote:90% of the tools in this post could be free-handed on a watchmakers lathe. I did all of this on a little Sherline.
Check out my blog Equilibrium State
Socialism is economic suffrage
Communism is the antiquation of currency
Socialism is economic suffrage
Communism is the antiquation of currency
Re: A little time on the lathe
23Depending on what machine you might pick, anywhere from about 500 to 1000, plus a variety of files, hacksaw and a vice, sharpening stones, drill bits, taps and dies, etc.
Re: A little time on the lathe
24Thanks. Making things is my day job AND my hobby.spara wrote:Wow, just wow! It's so rare to see someone make anything by hand that it's a rare treat.
Re: A little time on the lathe
25I am pretty totally over making things right now! I really don't feel like stepping back into my workshop so I guess I'll just go and do that. I am getting paid, I am getting paid, I am getting paid....Fukshot wrote:Thanks. Making things is my day job AND my hobby.spara wrote:Wow, just wow! It's so rare to see someone make anything by hand that it's a rare treat.
'Sorry stupid people but there are some definite disadvantages to being stupid."
-John Cleese
-John Cleese