Putting a small LED on Lee Classic Turret Press

[TeamPrecisionIT]

Hello everyone,

Just trying to see what everyone has figured out on hanging a small light to check powder drops on a Lee Classic Turret Press. I just got this thing and am enjoying everything about it except that it is a little difficult to see the height of the powder charge in my cases. Any ideas other than duct tape and pen light? Haha

Damian

 

[Rembrandt]

Had the same issue only with a Dillon....this could probably work on any loader. Picked up a small LED flashlight and made a clamp, then fashion an arm to pivot in any position.


Before....

After.....

 

[kennedy]

I clamped a reading lamp with a flexable support on to the shelf above my press so I can aim it at anything I need to, including the charged case in my lee turent press

 

[LiveLife]

Here's a $22 LED light from Grainger that takes 2 AA batteries.

 

[1SOW]

I have one similar to bds's made by Streamlight with an 18" flexible neck. The tip is very small so it fits even my Lee turret press with room to spare.

I can clearly see the bottom of a 9mm case.

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Streamlight_Stylus_Reach_18_Flashlight.php

I rigged an old computer power supply to mine so I don't need batteries.

 

[billybob44]

I have one similar to bds's made by Streamlight with an 18" flexible neck. The tip is very small so it fits even my Lee turret press with room to spare.

I can clearly see the bottom of a 9mm case.

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Streamlight_Stylus_Reach_18_Flashlight.php

I rigged an old computer power supply to mine so I don't need batteries.

I'm going to get one of those-BUT-60 hours on 4 AAAA batteries??-I'll leave it "Factory Equipt" HA HA...Bill.

 

[LiveLife]

FYI, if you take apart a 9V battery, you get 6 AAAA batteries (these are smaller in diameter than AAA).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr5ZB1eFhwc

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

FYI, if you take apart a 9V battery, you get 6 AAAA batteries (these are smaller in diameter than AAA).

Not always. Sometimes you get a stack of little wafer type things.

 

[rfwobbly]

I like the flexible "goose neck" lamps best too. I was looking for an LED type, but ran across a small high intensity goose neck bed-side reading lamp at a local thrift store for $4. The head gets a little hotter than an LED, but it doesn't use any batteries.

 

[wrench]

I use this light from streamlight:
http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CFEQ8wIwAA#
and really do stick it to my press with duct tape.
Works great

 

[Crimp]

Find someone handy with a soldering iron (if you're not) and have them pull the LED out of one of the small flashlights and solder it on a foot or two of wire inside some shrink tubing, back to the flashlight. You'll then be able to tape the LED on one of the riser legs of the press and aim it almost directly into the brass.

 

[YellowCake]

I have some white leds sitting around. I was just going to zip tie a light to the leg like crimp said and use a piece of small alum to position the angle.

 

[RidgwayCO]

I use this LED with rechargeable AAA batteries (light sits snug in a hole drilled with a forstner bit) :

 

[jfh]

Has anyone tried a real custom fit into the tool head--casting, whatever? Think it would work? I.e., say a 1/8+-" hole for the wires, LED snugged in below?

Jim H.

 

[Otto]

I use a flashlight that fits perfectly in the center hole.
The light has a Cree R5 LED and runs on a rechargeable AA battery.
They cost less than 20 bucks on ebay.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

What center hole?

 

[mbruce]

I reload in the dark so that when the power goes out or the SHTF I'm accustomed to reloading in the adverse conditions.

Really I have an Energizer book light that has an alligator clamp -- got it from Office Depot. Proper name is Trim Flex LED light. I alligator clamped it to one of the black turret poles (I beleive the one on the far right).... works great and was like $8. It hasn't popped off yet and you can see all the way to the bottom of the case.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

I ended up temporarily putting a maglite solitaire zip-tied to one of the outer rods (so much for staying away from duct tape, right?) and it has worked okay. But I think I am going to find a way to make a centered hole on the turret that threaded to accept some kind of low wattage LED flashlight threaded right into it. I am going off the idea that Otto posted that at first didn't make sense since my turrets don't have a center hole in them - I think you have an LnL, right?

Damian

 

[evan price]

I used a piece of steel that I welded a washer on the end. The washer goes under one of the bolts that hold the top plate onto a leg. The flashlight is a freebie LED I got somewhere. I hold that on the metal with a small screw type hose clamp. I bend it to where I want it and viola.

 

[GW Staar]

$5 Flexible LED Light I bought at a local Hastings Books.

See how I used it in this thread.

Or you could simply tie it to one of the steel supports with plastic zip ties.

 

[Bello]

lol i just use the 18v dewalt goose neck light

 

[mbruce]

Energizer book light -- it takes longer to get it out of the packaging then it does to mount it and start reloading...

 

[wingman]

Same as post 20, small LED light ring clamped to right support post light shining direct into case, always see drop.

What is wrong with duct tape I've flown aircraft using duct tape.

 

[RustyFN]

I got this light from Grainger. It takes three AAAA batteries and will last around 60 hours.

 

[jfh]

rusty's light is the one that looks most feasible. If Lee would re-do the turret head and provide a spot in it to run the light cable through--wouldn't that be slick?

3 AAAs = 4.5 v., plus-or-minus. The current draw would be low enough that any DC converter should work, if it could be adapted to it.

I'd rather spend the $5.00 or so for the adapter, rather than buy the batteries, for something like this use.

Jim H.