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Post by kings6 on Mar 6, 2016 23:05:37 GMT -5
It is pretty pathetic but after having it on the shelf for 2 years I finally got to tryout my Star sizer today. Like so many other things in reloading, once you get past the first little learning curve, things go much smoother once you get in a rhythm. Figuring out basic logistics of the operation like where to place the raw bullets, how to catch the lubed and size pieces, how many bullets between tightening down the lube pressure handle and finally starting takes more than a few minutes. Throw in base plate heater setting for the included blue stick of lube and adjusting seating stem by trial measurement and error and the result is a bunch of ugly lubed pills to begin with but passable specimens by the end of the session.
One question about lube for you guys that use the Star. What is in your opinion the best lube to use in the Star system? I have bullets with blue, red and yellow lube but since they came that way I have no idea what type of machine they were ran through. Also, can the learning curve excess lube off the nose of some of the bullets and the wad that kept coming out when I failed to think about relieving the pressure while I switch dies means I have a little blue puppy pile of lube that I was curious if I could reuse by worming and adding back to the reservoir.
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Post by Cholla on Mar 7, 2016 4:06:24 GMT -5
Welcome to the world of Star! One day you'll wonder how you ever did without one, then you'll be looking for a place to mount another!
The Star like any other lubrisizer and will work with any lube. I haven't found it to be too much better with any one lube. I will say I've been using a lube called TAC 1 over very low heat and REALLY like it. If you have excess lube on the nose of the bullet you need to either lower the top punch a little or turn down the heat a little so the lube doesn't flow quite so easily. I absolutely keep those little piles of excess lube and add them back to the reservoir when I add lube.
One word of caution, I've found it all but impossible to get an entire stick of lube in unless the reservoir is completely empty. So I break the sticks in half.
You may already know, but there's a fellow over on the Cast Boolit forum that makes Star dies, any way you want 'em, for $44 shipped.
Cholla
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wdr2
.30 Stingray
Posts: 147
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Post by wdr2 on Mar 7, 2016 8:56:48 GMT -5
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Post by kings6 on Mar 7, 2016 9:13:10 GMT -5
Thanks Chollo, I was wondering about some of the bullets having some lube on the nose. I will try lowering the punch just a little. I had heard of lathesmith so I sent him sample bullets and got all my dies and top punches from him right after I bought the sizer. Great idea on half sticks at a time as well. I assume keeping a certain amount of spring pressure just takes time to learn how far to crank the handle every so many bullets to keep stuff flowing consistently through the lube holes.
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Post by 2 Dogs on Mar 7, 2016 10:20:54 GMT -5
Robb, I buy lube in bulk, melt it, and pour it into my Star Sizer. I prefer the kind that needs to be heated. Lately, Sixshot gave me the name of a company that escapes me at this moment, but I really liked their product.
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Post by kings6 on Mar 7, 2016 11:06:33 GMT -5
Thanks Fermin, I will get a hold of Dick when he gets back from Boise for the name.
Robb
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Post by fanofthefortyone on Mar 7, 2016 11:20:46 GMT -5
Couple places for lube, i have a star but use powder coating. I bought from both of these and never used it, guess it'll make a decent flux. www.lsstuff.comwww.bulletlube.comRonnie |
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Post by sixshot on Mar 7, 2016 12:25:46 GMT -5
Robb, we're back from Boise (great time) the lube Fermin is talking about is Lars Lube, Isstuff.com & I've used a whole lot of his Carnuba Red. You can get it in hollow or solid stick form. He use to be just an hour away in Pocatello but now he's down in Arkansas. Glenn is a great guy to deal with. I stopped in at his place one time years ago & he had 3 ton's of beeswax sitting on a truck bed, he had just returned from Nevada, had a lot of lube cooking! Great prices & makes several different lubes. Now that I'm powder coating I don't use much lube.
Dick
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Post by kings6 on Mar 7, 2016 13:07:48 GMT -5
I actually tried powder coating yesterday as well but even with air soft beads there is too much moisture in the air here in western Oregon to generate enough static electricity to get the powder to stick to the bullets. First batch came out as ugly as they went in. That is why the switch to lubing in the sizer. If I could get the pc to work I would just be sizing in the Star.
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Post by clintsfolly on Mar 7, 2016 16:28:13 GMT -5
What Sixshot said !! Love Lar lube form Very mid to very wild works great and is cheap too!
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