Walking alignment pins

[Brad]

I figure that I am not alone in my dislike for alignment pins that walkout over time. I hate suddenly seeing fins on bullets and knowing that I have several more that don’t have fins but that are oversized.
My MP 200 swc is the worst. I fought it for long enough and decided they would walk no more.

I used a file to verify that the pins are not hardened. That made it easier.

A little measuring to see where to drill and then into the mill vise. A couple of 1/2” deep or so 1/8” holes and a couple of short chunks of 1/8” music wire.

Peen the brass over the ends of the pins so they don’t walk out either!

 

[Ian]

That'll teach 'em!

I can't say I've ever had an alignment pin walk out of any mould, ever.

 

[fiver]

aluminum molds will do it because of the uneven expansion ratio between steel and aluminum.
I had JD use finned and inset inserts to keep everything in place in the HM-2 molds, they can go back but not forth.

 

[Brad]

This is a brass mould and I think the expansion difference is the exact problem.

 

[Rick]

I can't say I've ever had an alignment pin walk out of any mould, ever.

Nope, I can't remember that ever happening either.

 

[Rick]

aluminum molds will do it because of the uneven expansion ratio between steel and aluminum.
I had JD use finned and inset inserts to keep everything in place in the HM-2 molds, they can go back but not forth.

Been my experience with steel bolts in aluminum that if an anti-seize isn't used an act of God won't get the bolts out.

 

[462]

If it's threaded, it gets anti-seized.

 

[Ian]

Or threadlocked. Loctite is good stuff, people often miss that it is not only a retainer but a sealer as well which prevents the parts from corroding together. Well, except SS and Al, I don't think there's anything that will keep those two from becoming one given pressure and time.

 

[462]

I should have put a mould qualifier in there.
For stuff that needs to be kept in place but easily removed, I use Devcon blueish purple, because Loctite wasn't available at the time.

 

[Winelover]

I can't say I've ever had an alignment pin walk out of any mould, ever.

Has it happen on a couple of brass moulds..................funny thing, they were both MP moulds. Don't own any of his aluminum moulds.

 

[Brad]

I have had it happen with this brass mould and one Lee 6 cav.
Based on the other moulds I own I would say it is unusual but certainly let not impossible to have it happen.
Both of my moulds have the pin come out too far and not allow the mould to close fully. I wonder if it is a slightly too large pin getting caught in the opposing recess?

 

[Winelover]

Personally, I would like to see the makers using set screws, to hold them in place.

 

[Brad]

View attachment 15337 Personally, I would like to see the makers using set screws, to hold them in place.

I would like that also. I considered that modification but went with pins because I didn’t have to remove the alignment pin this way.

 

[Winelover]

I would like that also. I considered that modification but went with pins because I didn’t have to remove the alignment pin this way.

If I had a drill press, I would install them myself. I just reseat the pins with a brass hammer.

 

[Brad]

If I had a drill press, I would install them myself. I just reseat the pins with a brass hammer.

If you wired the garage for 220 you could have a very powerful one....

 

[Winelover]

Main garage is wired for 220.................. for my air compressor and Pro-melt. Detached garage doesn't have 220, cause it's not needed up there. I would get little use out of a drill press, otherwise I would have one.

 

[Rick]

Yes, your detached new garage is definitely wired 220v to the junction box. In the junction box it's split to 110v to your outlets. You just didn't install any 220 outlets but the garage is wired 220v. I talked with the electricians and watched them doing it. Yep, you have 220v up there.

 

[RicinYakima]

The only time I have had pins move is with mis-matched handles. If the handles are thin and allow the mould halves to not be aligned, they tend to walk. The worse are like SAECO blocks and Lee handles. I have less problems if I use handles made for the mould.

 

[Winelover]

Be that, as it may...................I have no use for it up there.

 

[fiver]

but one day you might want to recharge the lasers on the guard gators and dragging them down to the lower garage might not be cool with the wife.

then where you gonna be?