Make a reloading press?

mwjones

mwjones

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Hey guys. Been in school for a week, now, and I'm already thinking of things to do for projects later on in the year. I thought a reloading press would be interesting to build. I can't imagine it would be that difficult to do.

Now, before anyone says "forget about it and just go buy one", I have one (or rather, have unlimited access to one). I just want to try it. Materials will be free, shop time will be free, and I'll even get marked on it. I was thinking Things like the ball for the handle, the handle parts, all the tapping and thread cutting might even end up being seperate projects.

I've been looking for some press plans/blueprints/how to's, and i might just end up looking at a similar one to figure out how exactly it will work. I'm thinking an o-frame of aluminum made from 8" round stock would be a good base to start from.

Any ideas, opinions? Anyoen done this before?
 
seen a single stage "c" frame made up out of 1.5" steel plate. i think common 6061 aluminum is a bad choice for a press. to soft. any other type of aluminum and its going to cost you

if you want to make one give er.
 
what i would do is build a press that could handle a cartridge the length of the .50 bmg .

not too many presses out there than can handle the really long rounds . and it is a real pain to start reloading for the new rifle you have , only to find out you have to monkey around with the case to get it in and out of the press .
 
lol i was thinking of maybe something int the size range of being able to do 30-06 or 45-70 comfortably. The largest rifle i have that i would reload for is a .308 right now.

Interesting ideas so far, thanks a bunch fogducker!

I was thinking you could almost make the base and top out of plate without really milling them, with round bar for supports, bored on the ends and tapped for bolts through the top and countersunk through the bottom so it'll bolt to the bench easier. Could use a block bolted on top to hold the die instead of milling the whole top out of one big block to try to keep costs down.

Are we sure you couldn't use an aluminum block? With large coarse threads...I guess the hole for the die would wear rather quickly.... Maybe aluminum plate with steel block, or would the aluminum bend at the corners where the upright supports are bolted? I just figured since some presses are cast aluminum that it was probably plenty strong enough. Also, I figure that I'll probably have to use different metals for some stuff, so there will have to be some aluminum in there somewhere. Maybe a brass or bronze knob for the arm.

Thought maybe cutting teeth in the back of the ram and running it over a gear in the back and over a couple rollers in the front to keep it running straight.

Installing autocad right now...
 
mwjones said:
I was thinking you could almost make the base and top out of plate without really milling them, with round bar for supports, bored on the ends and tapped for bolts through the top and countersunk through the bottom so it'll bolt to the bench easier. Could use a block bolted on top to hold the die instead of milling the whole top out of one big block to try to keep costs down.
Click to expand...

What you describe is pretty much how the Lee Classic Turret Press is built. As for aluminum, the turret plates are cast aluminum and feel like garden variety 6061 to me, in terms of hardness. Certainly not anything as hard as 7075.

The Lee Turret Press:

ClassicTP.JPG


From here: http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/turretpress.html#ClassicTurretPress

Mark
 
Yeah the ammomaster is kinda like what i was thinking. Now, seeing as these are usually cast aluminum or cast iron frames, i'm guessing that making the whole deal out of milled steel you'd be able to do it a lot sleeker, maybe smaller since the steel is that much stronger? I think it would be cool to have this tiny looking little press on the corner of the bench, doesn't take up much room...
 
Good for you. Ambitious to say the least. Certainly doable. Made a barrel vise, long ago, from a picture. That's not anywhere near as complicated. Friggin' thing ended up weighing close to 50 pounds, as I recall. Over engineered it a bit.
Doubt you'll find any drawings, but you can make your own from the press you have. Measure everything, including the assorted angles. I'd be thinking SPS steel, just because not all Al is the same. Too soft of an alloy or stock that is too thin and it'll bend.
"...without really milling them...a gear..." Just look where the press you have has been machined. There are no gears. I suspect the hardest part to machine will be the cut out for the shell holder. Getting the ram to work properly might be tricky too. Just angles for a lever though.
"...hole for the die..." Drilled and tapped for 7/8-14 threads. Top milled flat with a suitably sized end mill. Neither will be particularly difficult.
Knobs you can buy. Or just make a tapered, knurled handle.
We will expect production pictures too.
 
Well i have a blueprint right now, but i'll probably make from my own design (technically, the handle angles are just math, right? :) ). I will probably use the handle and ram angles and take approximate sizes from it. I guess i could do drawings by hand before i figure autocad out....
 
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