if any of you could get a group buy going I know a guy who might do some up
they would be 200-250 for a set of Neil waltz clones
JUST GUESSING AT THE COST,
tool and die maker with CNC equipment
rather than just approach a job shop get someone to do it up
with any shop saying they could make them I would first get one made, send it to the op and then and only then
develope a cost, take 50% deposits and get someone to hold them in trust
once made then pay the shop and collect the rest of the money
easy easy but you would need 20 - 30 to make it viable would think
does this help or hinder
AND NOT OFFERING TO TAKE THIS ON
Just suggesting it as an idea
Shell holder is pretty basic machining, and like as not, a couple bucks each, in thousand+ qty's, if ordered from a shop. Of course, it's not complicated machining, and you could do those easy enough yourself.
You can buy lapped Carbide drill bushings in various diameters and lengths, that would give you a solid, reliable, and accurately round bore. Install on a bored out old Die body. Drill press, and some bearing retainer compound. If it comes out some how, install a set screw or some pins.
These bushings can be ordered in custom sizes to very close tolerances, if you wanted, say, to customize a die for a particular barrel bore diameter.
You can buy hardened and ground Ejector Pins or Dowel pins for pennies each, and modify them to any end shape you want. Or get creative, regrinding 1/4 inch screwdriver bits, say.
Most of the work could be done with a mini-lathe and a Dremel tool. Add a milling slide and you are ready to cut the slots in the otherwise all turned shell holder,
7/8-14 Ready Rod (fully threaded 3 foot long sections of rod) are cheap and available. Saves threading the outside of the die body.
A fella could get all fancy-schmancy, and build a toggle lever feed for the forming pin, or even adapt the idea to a hand held tool like the old Ideal 310 tool, or even simpler, with a little thought.
If I ever get to feeling the need to own one, that's what I'd be looking to do.
I think a fella with some ambition could do OK with a little lathe, and likely be able to sell them at prices that would go a long ways towards paying down any additional tools he wanted.
The few pieces that I made on my own lathe for trade goods or sale, were very profitable!
Just floating some ideas out there...
