Park your dies in the press for months?

Gunsite, I am fascinated by the picture of your bench. Could you please tell us what we are looking at?

Kevin Rohrer said:

Months?

Years

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Bat Rastard said:

Gunsite, I am fascinated by the picture of your bench. Could you please tell us what we are looking at?

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Five Hollywood presses. From left to right: Senior, Super Turret (1 of 100), Senior Turret, swayback Model-I (made around 1935, 1 of 100), and a Model-III Custom Deluxe. Most of these were made after 1960. They were all restored by me. All except the Super Turret are cast iron and tool steel. The Super Turret is aluminum and tool steel. They were all made in batches of 100 each, and some have serial numbers (if you know where to look).

The blue thing in back is a Star clone for .38SPl.

Thank you sir!

kmw1954 said:

Valid point though I am not convinced the bushings are a better idea than turrets. After all the bushings are more costly. At least in the case of the Lee's.

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There are arguments for and against them, I don't think they are a better idea, just another one. So you don't have to be convinced, just get what you like. Personally I prefer the toolhead/turret because its faster and keeps everything together but that's just me. As far as individual bushings go, I also prefer the locking Lee system over the Hornady but I did fix the self quick detaching powder measure with a thicker o-ring.

Funny.....I never knew Hollywood presses existed until the reloading forums came. My first real press was an old Rock Chucker about 1972. I do know one thing....looks to me like Kevin has plenty of room for such things..... looks fun!

#1 question for me: what did they sell for new, and what did you get the restoration projects for? #2 question: Who bought these new? (market target)

kmw1954 said:

Valid point though I am not convinced the bushings are a better idea than turrets. After all the bushings are more costly. At least in the case of the Lee's.

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So I had to look. On Lee's website the turret tool heads are about $12.00 for either the 3 or the 4 hole. The bushings are almost $17.00 for 3 or $22.00 for four of them. So in my case I could either buy 4/5 turret heads or 4/5 sets of bushings. Which saves money? As we all know Lee is about being cost effective! I know, Lee's selling point is that you can buy a set of dies and set them up and then buy a bunch of individual seating dies so you don't need to keep adjusting them, just a quick swap out.

if you leave those dies in the press that long, do you ever clean them?

film495 said:

if you leave those dies in the press that long, do you ever clean them?

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Can't speak for anyone but myself but yes I do. First I wash all my brass before it ever comes near a press and then because my dies are in turret heads I can leave the die body in the tool head and still take them apart to clean. Mostly the seating stem.

D Rock said:

I'm not an expert, but from what I understand there can be a corrosive reaction between aluminum and steel screwed together, especially if they are in a damp environment.

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An electrolytic carrier must be present to complete a galvanic cell. Dissimilar metals can happily be in contact for many moons. People use this as a false explanation far too often.

Because of multiple presses, and standardised loads, it's been decades now.

With no problems. But it's dry here.

Same here, my presses are in a humidity controlled environment. I haven't heard of this water soluble sizing lube but that doesn't mean anything.
I don't think the OP can blame the bushings or the dies when he is using something that mixes with water and it get in those areas.
I agree with anti-seize but be careful with it, like someone else said it get on everything.
My Uncle use to say you could paint a barn with a drop of that stuff because of the way it smears.

Varminterror said:

An electrolytic carrier must be present to complete a galvanic cell. Dissimilar metals can happily be in contact for many moons. People use this as a false explanation far too often.

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Thank you. Always glad to learn something new. I did have to look up "electrolytic carrier" to get a better understanding.

Dave

GW Staar said:

#1 question for me: what did they sell for new, and what did you get the restoration projects for? #2 question: Who bought these new? (market target)

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1.From a 1959 gun ad:


2. Who bought these? Reloaders, especially shotgun reloaders and those who loaded large cartridges (e.g. Nitro, 50BMG).

BTW, the current value of that Super Turret is around $6k.

Wow! I was a 10 year old playing Little League Baseball. Talk about value for your money then. The most popular car to restore (57 Chevy) was only 2 years old. Stands to reason though....9 years later I bought a brand new 1968 GTO for only $3500....now look at prices and value for your money. Thanks for posting that ad.....cool!