Don't Push IT! Magma STAR Lubsizer Repair!

seagiant1

Active Member
Hi,
Thanks!

I was going to 3 wire the threads and go on that.

Of course for us none Machinist ,trying the nut, works too, I guess!
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
The wire size listed is the recommended size but you can use a wire ranging from 0.01943 to 0.03886. If you don't have the recommended size in your thread wire set but you have ones that fall in that range let me know and I'll input your wire size into the program and post the min/max dimension to match.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
one of lathe smiths neat inventions is those lock nuts with a locking thread in the side. [like a die lock ring]
set it, set the screw, and forget about measuring.
in-out-in all you want, there it is.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My Magma Star uses a 1/2-27 thread on the punches. I cut many by single point threading but found a reasonably priced die and use it instead.
I have a 1/2-27 tap as well.
With a little measuring and some math you can make a punch for a specific bullet where you thread to a shoulder and it is set perfectly.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
This one is for the NOE version of the HG 503. The knurled collar is used to thread it easily thread right to the shoulder. This puts the lube groove exactly where it needs to be when the lube is pumped in.
2639B04B-BC0C-41ED-A7EE-BB8399F2CDD9.jpeg2B1C3D9B-3326-4D9D-B5DD-EEE64C8FA817.jpeg
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
i need like 6 more of those things.
i think the g-Boy found them hid at the back of my bench and used them out in the yard.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Fiver, that is all one piece. The collar is part of the punch- made specific to a single bullet.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
i got a grinder..

it took me a half hour and enough of a blood pressure rise to give myself a headache Saturday looking for my 310 sizer and a punch to fit it.
good thing i built that stand for them so i could keep them all in one place, only they all weren't there.
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Here is 1/2-27 data

Inch Units

External
0.5000-27 UNS-2A
Allowance,0.0011
Major Diameter Max,0.4989
Major Diameter Min,0.4922
Pitch Diameter Max,0.4748
Pitch Diameter Min,0.4711
Minor Diameter Max,0.4588
Minor Diameter Min (Ref),0.4470
Root Radius Max,0.0053
Root Radius Min,--
Flat At Root,0.0093
Thread Height (Basic),0.0227

Internal
0.5000-27 UNS-2B
Allowance,--
Minor Diameter Min,0.460
Minor Diameter Max,0.469
Pitch Diameter Min,0.4759
Pitch Diameter Max,0.4807
Major Diameter Min,0.5000
Major Diameter Max (Ref),0.5101
Flat At Root,0.0046
Thread Height (Basic),0.0200

Pitch,0.0370
Lead,0.0370
Starts,1
Lead Angle,1.419

Included Angle,60.0000

Wire diameter, 0.02138
Max. 0.5069
Min, 0.5032
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
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. :D
Allow me to predict falling prices for used Stars as the curse of powder coating consumes one caster after another.
 

seagiant1

Active Member
Hi,
I always thought Powder Coating was a lot of trouble, but...

No doubt people weighing which way to go, starting out...

Might look at ,a STAR Lubesizer, and Lube, as a lot of trouble???
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Hi,
I always thought Powder Coating was a lot of trouble, but...

No doubt people weighing which way to go, starting out...

Might look at ,a STAR Lubesizer, and Lube, as a lot of trouble???
I grabbed every cheap Star that was dangled in front of me. At one point I had 6, I let two get talked out of me and then I stopped letting them go. A friend recently got a cheap one at his gun club. The older than us old guys are dying off and that stuff comes up. A lot of modern shooters don't even know what that old greasy junk is. When I think of families throwing stuff away from Grandpa's basement reloading room I tear up.
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
FWIW - I checked on eBay and found numerous listings for 1/2-27 taps and tap/die sets from $8 on up.
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Maybe I’m missing something but can’t you use a Star w/o lube to size bullets prior to powder coating? Just use it as a push thru sizer?
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Maybe I’m missing something but can’t you use a Star w/o lube to size bullets prior to powder coating? Just use it as a push thru sizer?

Of course. Do it all the time when heat treating, size and gas check without lube nose first. Heat treat and then lube with a die .001" larger than the die used to size.