Old CH Press

the keepa

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I have an old Ch...(a big C with a smaller h inside) press that has a sliding (Turret?) also the number 206 is embossed on the frame . I found an old RCBS powder dispenser that was screwed into a steel plate .The sliding plate happens to fit into the grooves on top of the press. There is one threaded hole outside of the groove that when tightened with a thumb screw locks the sliding plate into 4 different positions . The threads on a die set also fit into the steel plate .
I remember a friend gave me the old CH press because where the operating handle slides in was broken off....and he figured that I could fix it .The powder dispenser and attached sliding plate didn't come with it. The joys of garage sales I guess .
Anybody have the part where the handle fits into to raise and lower the press piston .?
I'll see if I can post some pictures.
 
CH 206, sliding tool head rail with locking knurl.
e27b2d81658ea4f4d511a9efa566940f.jpg


The grey rectangle is a magnet sticking to the iron body.
 
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interesting, never heard of this one before.
I guess this design lost it from the rotating turret design.
I get the quick change advantage, just slide in a set if you have all your die sets mounted on separate slides. Wonder how tight the tolerances are on the slide though.

Never understood the tilted/angled design of those vintage presses, what would have been the idea behind it?
 
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The one I have looks like the top half of the one pictured and is cast aluminum except for the sliding station .
Thanks
On second look mine is exactly like the one I have.
Thanks for the videos .....I watched three of them .
 
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interesting, never heard of this one before.
I guess this design lost it from the rotating turret design.
I get the quick change advantage, just slide in a set if you have all your die sets mounted on separate slides. Wonder how tight the tolerances are on the slide though.

Never understood the tilted/angled design of those vintage presses, what would have been the idea behind it?

There is a bolt that clamps the slide tightly to the frame .
 
interesting, never heard of this one before.
I guess this design lost it from the rotating turret design.
I get the quick change advantage, just slide in a set if you have all your die sets mounted on separate slides. Wonder how tight the tolerances are on the slide though.

Never understood the tilted/angled design of those vintage presses, what would have been the idea behind it?

I always wondered about that with Forster and Frankford Arsenal copy of the Co-Ax where you just slide the die in a slot?? How tight can the tolerance be?? Does it wear and loosen up over time??
 
I always wondered about that with Forster and Frankford Arsenal copy of the Co-Ax where you just slide the die in a slot?? How tight can the tolerance be?? Does it wear and loosen up over time??

I am totally just "guessing", but I think the idea might be to have some slop and allow the assembly to find it's own centre under load. In my Rock Chucker, with die lock ring torqued, not much play - is relying 100% that bore of the ram and the alignment of the die threads are perfect, to be concentric. I think I read that is why the Lee lock rings have the rubber o-ring - so that there is some "give" possible to allow the die to "find centre" within the die threads, under load. Can not have perfect 100% fit between male and female threads, or you would not be able to turn in the die by hand - has to be slop for it to be able to turn in.
 
The one I have looks like the top half of the one pictured and is cast aluminum except for the sliding station .
Thanks
On second look mine is exactly like the one I have.?
Thanks for the videos .....I watched three of them .

Might want to re-phrase that a bit. :)
 
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Never understood the tilted/angled design of those vintage presses, what would have been the idea behind it?

I've seen a fair number of older presses with the tilted design, and have wondered the same thing. Would think that it would lead to the mouth of the brass catching the edge of the die more often...

Anyone aware of a reason for having the top tilted backwards like that?
 
I think it had to do with the arm linkage. I have a older CH by Roddy (201) type and if if wasn't angled, the the arm would be very close to vertical on the downstroke.
I bought an Ergo handle from Inline Fabrication for a RCBS Jr (1/2-20 threads) which helps a lot and use bungee strap to keep the handle from bruising my shins.
 
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Here is a picture of my sadly abused CH 206 4 station press made from heat treated cast aluminum (sez so on the frame_)image1 (1).jpg
 

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Your poor toggle is toast. Do you have the missing piece(s)?
Ask Dave at CH4D if any toggles from other older models will work.
Do you intend to try it out?
 
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Wow I tried for so long to upload my picture that it fell asleep....and I don't even know how I got it here...
Gotta wait until one of my grandsons visits to explain...but at least you get the idea .
the black wedgey thing to the left is the broken "toggle block"and then some one drilled a hole all the way through for another handle which probably worked with less mechanical advantage.
The round embossment below (to the right of) is where a knurled knob bolt is screwed into to lock the sliding station in one of 4 positions. I noticed a slotted set screw in the threaded hole and when I took it out ...Lo! and Behold ! the spring and ball were still inside...I'll screw in a Thumb screw there .
My neighbor said he will grind down and taper the broken edge on the toggle block and weld in a strong aluminum stud or an aluminum handle also fill in the added hole as it seems my options are closing down.
It's gonna be nice to get this up and running .I think I'll put one powder measure and two 7x61 S & H dies on the 4 station sliding plate....and leave them there .
Geeez...now Igotta look for more toolstations
 
Diopter
Dave told me he doesn't have anything for such an old press .
The press came from a friend in that condition...so no pieces....The sliding tool head came from a different source probably a box of stuff from a garage sale ...I didn't know that they were made for each other (how romantic) 'till I was scrounging up reloading stuff for my nephew (nephew-in-law?)
Thanks for all the help and contacts .
The toggle is in pretty good shape if you ignore the obvious ..like there is no wear in the pin holes or the pins themselves ...My neighbor is a very good welder and a problem solver
I'll put up some pictures when done....standing up hopefully
 
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Diopter
Dave told me he doesn't have anything for such an old press .
The press came from a friend in that condition...so no pieces....The sliding tool head came from a different source probably a box of stuff from a garage sale ...I didn't know that they were made for each other (how romantic) 'till I was scrounging up reloading stuff for my nephew (nephew-in-law?)
Thanks for all the help and contacts .
The toggle is in pretty good shape if you ignore the obvious ..like there is no wear in the pin holes or the pins themselves ...My neighbor is a very good welder and a problem solver
I'll put up some pictures when done....standing up hopefully

May I suggest Welding a block of Metal drilled and tapped for 1/2-20 thread so you have some choices as to handles afterward? I have my original CH handle lying around doing nothing and a handle for my old RCBS rock chucker(have to check what thread that is). See my post #14 as to why. You can get them from me for the cost of postage.
 
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