Don't Push IT! Magma STAR Lubsizer Repair!

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Just thought that I would tell on myself, and how I busted one of my STAR Lubsizers.

I use Glenn Fryxell's Moly Grease Lube, cold ,and guess it was a little too cold, and I pushed the Lubesizer Handle to hard, and cracked the Part #111, Fulcrum Lever Bracket, completely down the side!

It is aluminum and thought of Tig Welding, but even that cost money so, I called the nice Lady at Magma to see if I could get the part?

It was available for about $30 shipped so I ordered one.

I guess the Owner was there and he came on the phone and warned me they are tricky to install.

I thanked him, but told him I had a shop press and thought I could take care of it.

Admittedly I had to get on my lathe and make a push tool to press the parts back on, I removed them with a big flat face punch, while holding the Lubesizer in my Bench Vise.

The top and bottom brackets are held on extra tight by Knurling around the Grease Cylinder, it works quite well and parts MUST be aligned correctly before pressing on as there is no way to "tweak" the position while installed on the knurling.

I did not take pics while doing the job but was much like pressing/changing, wheel bearing or such.

Just thought, I would relate my experience, as a warning for these cold morning in the shop, with cold lubes!!!

 

[Brad]

Wow! Never imagined lube making that much difference.

I treat my Star kindly. No heavy sizing, that is left to the press and a Lee push thru type sizer.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
The sizing was not the problem...

The problem was I had not used this Lubesizer in awhile and the Lube in the base of the Lubesizer was a little hard, and cold, and did not want to flow.

What I should of done was take my heat gun and warmed everything up till the lube got flowing!

Lesson learned!

Yea, I like STAR Lubesizers!!!

 

[Winelover]

I run lubes that require a heater to flow, in my San Diego Star. However, many times I have run unlubed rifle bullets to install GC before oven heat treating. Usually, short stroking but sometimes you just forget. I know some say to apply sizing lube to every tenth bullet but I have not found it necessary. However, I never size my as cast bullets more than a couple thousandths. I prefer fat bullets.

That being said, I have noticed very difficult sizing if you are try to size too much. Better off sizing in increments, sometimes, using progressively smaller dies.

My Star was purchased used and came with bent handle from the the heavy handed past owner/owners.

 

[Jeff H]

I've seen a lot of busted, repaired/replaced Lyman 45 handles.

 

[Winelover]

I broke the tack weld on the RCBS LAM II, years ago, using soft NRA 50-50 lube. Just took it to work and had it welded by a professional.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
When I was young and just started to reload...

There was a Hermit type guy outside of town that ran a small Gas Station.

He cast and sized Boolits as a side line and owned one Lubesizer, which was a STAR.

When I decided to cast my own, I just naturally, bought a STAR and have never looked back and never really wanted any other make of Lubesizer.

Still think they are the best ,and always keeping my eyes open for them!

 

[Jeff H]

.....When I decided to cast my own, I just naturally, bought a STAR and have never looked back and never really wanted any other make of Lubesizer.....

I have only ever used the Lyman 45 and a Star. Grew up with the Lyman. Met the Star well into adulthood.

While the old Lyman works, I personally think the Star works "better" - one exerted stroke on the star per two on the Lyman, the bullet FALLS out of the Star, but you have to pick them out of the Lyman and you push on the base of the bullet with the Star, not the nose. OK, I think the Star is at least EASIER. They do seem well designed and made though.

My Lyman 45 was $30 almost 40 years ago, used and with several H&I dies. I think if I'd have seen/used a Star first, I'd have gone that route, but it may also have kept me away from casting unless I'd found one for $25 (meaning for less than the luber I knew). We had a Lyman at home when I was a kid and I knew it worked. I might have viewed the Star with skepticism then, but I know better now.

Thank goodness for LEE push-through dies though.

 

[JonB]

I remember bidding on a welded up Star, I think it was the top ring that was repaired. It went higher than I'd pay for a repaired unit that "might" be good. That was back when used Stars commanded a high price.

 

[fiver]

i'm not even gonna tell about bustin a star through stupidity, but i won't be doin that again.
i went from 4 to three real quick doin that, then down to 2, one original san diego, and one 30 year old new model.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Well... Magma seems to have parts for these STARS...

I'd buy screwed up STARS, all day, and fix them, if I could find them.

Not that hard, to work on, really.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Magma values the replacement parts highly. I lost one of two elements on my Magma pot. Replacement was on $150.00. Handle for the Star was $35.00. On the other hand the backup has been excellent. I was told that all parts are interchangeable.

Also, along the way had Lathesmith make a custom die. Using Star gear is a different world. First thing to do is tell self this is not a 450 many times. My suggestion is to do homework before diving into using a Star.

We had one local guy set aside his Star sizer including pneumatic system to PC.

 

[seagiant1]

Magma values the replacement parts highly. I lost one of two elements on my Magma pot. Replacement was on $150.00. Handle for the Star was $35.00. On the other hand the backup has been excellent. I was told that all parts are interchangeable.

Also, along the way had Lathesmith make a custom die. Using Star gear is a different world. First thing to do is tell self this is not a 450 many times. My suggestion is to do homework before diving into using a Star.

We had one local guy set aside his Star sizer including pneumatic system to PC.

Hi,
Well....My problem with the STAR, was my fault, should of known better, but...

Most STAR Owners go decades, without any problems, all metal, no plastic, very well built.

The handle is no more than a steel rod driven into a file handle...

Easy enough to make in a small shop.

What I was charged, for the part I needed, was cheap enough, and readily available, with prompt shipping.

A $30 part ,to get a $350 machine back on line, works for me.

I think we are lucky, that the people at MAGMA, picked up the STAR Lubsizer line, and are doing such a GREAT job with it!

 

[358156 hp]

You can buy the rod stock at most larger hardware stores. Just cut to length. Not that I have any first-hand knowledge of this. It isn't like I've bent one, or three.

Nope, not me!

 

[Jeff H]

......I think we are lucky, that the people at MAGMA, picked up the STAR Lubsizer line, and are doing such a GREAT job with it!

Definitely a POSITIVE in that respect.

Nothing like "buying the best," backed up by the validation of confidence from the maker who touts a "Lifetime warranty," only to have the company bought out or go belly-up and there goes not only the warranty, but often even the option to BUY replacement parts. Having the option to at least buy parts is a pretty good motivator. The older you get, the more often it seems to happen that stuff you like disappears.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Thought while we were talking about STAR Lubesizers...

I would show an old one, that I have, no idea when it was made, maybe someone here knows?

Note that the base is actually welded (brazed?) together instead of cast.

I found this one and 2 more at a Swap/Sell at my Gun Club.

The only damage is at the Fulcrum Lever Push Rod where the retainer housing was chipped but it still works fine.

I was actually given this old one, because I bought the other 2 he had,as the seller said, it did not work.

All it needed was a good cleaning and she was good to go!

Found this? https://starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?topic=1699.0

 

[fiver]

holy hannah that is a super old one.
they went to a larger diameter rod for the handle after that one, it had a bakelite knob on it shaped like an old headlight knob.
then they went to a knurled bakelite handle some smaller [same ~1/2" rod though] and finally the wood handles with the smaller softer 3/8 rods.

originally they come with top punches and pushed the bullets through the size die base first.
i don't have any of the top punches left though [at least i don't think i do]

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Mine came partially apart. The handle was missing entirely. Hycor washer and screw were missing.. The reservoir was filled with a black lube. This glob of lube came out in one piece. The best I can find is mine was made prior to the mid-1950's. The body is a dark blue finish. Base is in the white with no finish. Decal is intact.

I have a pretty good selection of dies for my 4500's. For small lots and odd ball calibers the 4500's are used. For ease of use the Star rules.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I really like the design of the Star and for years have contemplated acquiring one. The problem (for me) is the extensive supply of Lyman/RCBS dies I’ve acquired over those same years.

Even if I sold off the existing gear, the price differential is just too great to justify the changeover. I think this is one of those situations where one may be better off starting with the Star even though it’s more initial expense. I thought about getting a Star and setting it up for just one bullet (probably a 38 Special SWC) and keeping the Lyman for everything else, but the current primer situation stopped those plans.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the Star is a superior machine for high volume work so maybe this IS the time to acquire a Star and just set it aside for better days?

These are the issues we reloaders struggle with.

 

[Winelover]

I have both the LAM II and the Star. Started of with the LAM 40+ years ago. Yes, I have accumulated many dies, including custom sizes that Lyman and RCBS didn't offer...........like .432 sizer.. Never did go the Alox route. The RBCS was adaquate for pistol bullets. When I started rifle reloading, I purchased the Star because I noticed lopsided sizing on the bands with the LAM. That can't help accuracy. Disappeared, when I started nose first sizing with the Star.

Hardly, ever use the LAM, since I acquired carbines complementing most of the pistol calibers I load. As far as I'm concerned, I got my money out of the LAM, even if I never use it again. Currently, the LAM is filled with Carnuba Red. Recently, switched lube in the Star from CR to Lar's 2500+ lube. So if anything, I now have two lube options if desired and a backup luber if necessary.

I use Lathesmith's Star dies. Have acquired those matching the H&I's/RCBS's I've used in the past.