tips on machining dies?

C

crappie

Guest
I want to make some forming dies so i was going to see about using a neck die and a seating die and just opening up the neck. Any recomendations for setup, just dial in with the 4 jaw or should i have some sort of spider? I was thinking about just opening them up with a reamer then polishing. Is there anyone that does this type of work inexpensive? RCBS doesnt do it, redding wants $30 each just for honing. Im not sure how hard dies are so dont know if i have to have carbide or not and i dont have any boring bars or holders for them yet.
 
What are you attempting to make?

crappie said:
I want to make some forming dies so i was going to see about using a neck die and a seating die and just opening up the neck. Any recomendations for setup, just dial in with the 4 jaw or should i have some sort of spider? I was thinking about just opening them up with a reamer then polishing. Is there anyone that does this type of work inexpensive? RCBS doesnt do it, redding wants $30 each just for honing. Im not sure how hard dies are so dont know if i have to have carbide or not and i dont have any boring bars or holders for them yet.
Click to expand...

You might be able to use something like you are talking about/
 
iv had problems trying to cut hardend material with a boring bar. i get frustrated and take a carbide endmill to the surface grinder and make a cutter for what im trying to do
 
Hmmmm

Dies are case hardenned, problably in the 60+ RC area. You can forget about "reaming" that with anything but Carbide.

If I need to make a form die, say to push shoulders back and neck down, I just machine one out of StressProof.

To make a 30BR neck die, I had a carbide reamer ground to .325 for my .330 neck. I paid $125 for it.

In all honesty, the prices you were complaining about leads me to think you should save up some more money............jackie
 
I'm wayyy with Jackie and clinton here but I'll also add..... you do realize that when "just dialing in a 4-jaw" you can exert hellacious pressures and distort even bar stock? Dies being hollow will distort quite easily.

Just a thought.

al
 
I noticed in Jackie's pictures

when he was chambering he had an adjustable three jaw chuck. This seems the ideal setup to me. Damn a four jaw chuck!
 
thanks all

I appreciate all your answers even the ones telling me im crazy:p, thats nothing new. Ill keep a lookout on evilbay for some carbide reamers, I already saw some for 3 for $10. I did plan on being easy with the 4 jaw chuck, so ill see if i can easily dial it in and if it will ream out using carbide. I dont know why, I seem to be happy doing things the hard way and learning from it, makes it easier the second time around,lol. I did pickup a set of intermediate dies for $12 today so im half way there.
 
thanks all

I appreciate all your answers even the ones telling me im crazy:p, thats nothing new. Ill keep a lookout on evilbay for some carbide reamers, I already saw some for 3 for $10. I did plan on being easy with the 4 jaw chuck, so ill see if i can easily dial it in and if it will ream out. I dont know why, I seem to be happy doing things the hard way and learning from it, makes it easier the second time around,lol. I did pickup a set of intermediate dies for $12 today so im half way there.
 
If all you want are case forming dies, you're going about it the wrong way. They don't have to be hardened. Best/cheapest would be to make a set like Skip Otto use to sell. One die body for each case body size, a set of bushings to take down the neck/push back the shoulder.

Not to hard to make.

I'm not going to try to describe them in words. There were write-ups in older PS a couple of times. Pictures help.

'Course once you *form* the cases, you'll still need to *size* them after shooting . . .
 
The Otto style form die set is/was available from Butch Lambert that posts on BRC. These dies are used to make wildcat brass from existing cases. It appears that you intend to make a sizing die. The mechanics of what you intend to do are unclear. If the case you intend to size is a PPC or some iteration of that case used dies are available. Check in the classifieds. If you are looking to make a workable die cheapper than you can buy one that depends on your metal working skills. There are a lot of ways to skin this cat. We need to know more about the cat,so to speak.

Mike Swartz
 
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These are pics of our die sets. They are a copy of John Bunch's dies. Skips had a lot less inserts.
DSC02170.jpg
DSC02167.jpg

Lot's of things you can do with them.
Butch
www.shadetreeea.com
 
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