Four new to me star sizer's

A

abj

Active Member
Bought out a friend whose health won't allow him to cast and reload any more. I purchased four San Diego stars and several molds and all his gas checks. I also got a Lyman base heater.
Has anyone put a temp control or dimmer switch on one to control the temp. plugging and unplugging is a pain.
My Midway heater is great, I use the Lyman digital thermometer just laying on the plate with a piece of scrap iron holding the probe down. I have two marks on the controller for 120 degrees and 130 degrees for big lube grooves.
If a dimmer switch would work, even I could handle that. LOL
Thanks, Tony
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I used a cord with plug, a 2 wide outlet box (metal), a dimmer, and an outlet. Pretty much a short extension cord with a dimmer inline. Works quite nicely.
 
358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
If you run a PID with interchangeable thermocouples you could easily use ring terminal type thermocouples to regulate your heater temps.
 
Winelover

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I use a ceiling fan dimmer switch, to control the outlet, I plug the Star and the Lam into.
 
Wiresguy

Wiresguy

Active Member
I can't remember where or when I got it, but I use a Wallbrand Temperature Regulator Model WBTR-3 to control the heat to the Lyman heater used on my Star lubesizer.

It is pretty much a rotary dimmer switch in a fancy box, but works well.
 
A

abj

Active Member
Brad, Thanks I believe I can handle that. Sounds simple enough.
Fiver, The next new one I buy will be a Magma. When the Midway gives up. The Lyman came attached to one of the sizers for free.
I think I might have to enlarge the shop for the sizing operations. Trying to decide which extra lube(s) I want to try. My main lube is CCR 160 degree. Glenn at White Label says one of the Alox's has been discontinued. I think it's the one he uses in the stick lube not the 45/45/10 clone. I don't want to start with something I can't replace. Just thinking out loud.
Tony
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
if you decide to speed up the operation and add on the feeder you need the magma base.
I'm not positive but iirc the lyman base has the heating element right where you need to drill and tap the hole for the riser block to fit the feeder properly.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
remember to use the bottom adjuster as pointed out in the instructions.
the top adjuster is 220 and it only kicks over to 110 when the water is mostly heated up, then the bottom one takes over and keeps the temp up as necessary.
 
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