broke my lee hand press.

[troy fairweather]

The one other thread going made me want to post about my lee hand press. Last year my lee broke, after many years of use. Used this thing for all kinds of reloading tasks, from just depriming to light case forming. it was great for the range, just a set of dies a hand primer with a lee dipper for good fun.
Mine is a aluminum one i think you can get iron ones to, and they have the quick bushing to. The only other one i seen brake was my dads friend, it actually cut him pretty good. Out of all the things i did with the press it broke when i was neck sizing some 308 wins.

guys said to send it in and see what they do with if, i don't expect lee to replace it. it's got countless rounds thru it. be nice i the did. i just figured to share my lee braking, some guys didcound th hand press but they can be very handy and or some, the only option or a reloading press. thanks troy.

 

[Sistema1927]

I am guessing that Lee will replace it for you.

 

[Charlie98]

JB Weld... it'll be fine...

 

[troy fairweather]

JB Weld... it'll be fine...

it would be a good test lol. if there was a way to get it lined up perfect i wound try brazing it.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I’d contact Lee although I suspect it’s out of warranty.
I’d also do nothing before I spoke with them as JB Weld, brazing etc will probably void the warranty if they do say they’ll replace it.

 

[Ireload2]

Lee might avoid some of these failures if they would perform life cycle testing before releasing a product to the market. If you review the material used it is probably die cast A380 aluminum. Aluminum has no endurance limit like steel and I am sure that Lee is missing that detail.
The endurance limit for steel means that if the stress is below the limit the steel item will take almost infinite cycles without breaking.
The lack of an endurance limit for aluminum means that no matter how small the stresses are if you have enough cycles it will eventually break.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_limit

Since the hand press cannot be easily manufactured by another method without incurring significantly greater cost Lee might consider beefing up the cross sections of the tool. It will still break but it might take 30 years instead of 10. Adding a few oz of aluminum would not cost more than a dollar to the cost of the tool.

 

[adcoch1]

I would bet that Lee doesn't see a lot of these come back broken, and for what they cost they may just replace it, or at least give you a cupon for some other Lee products. They back their stuff.

 

[troy fairweather]

I would bet that Lee doesn't see a lot of these come back broken, and for what they cost they may just replace it, or at least give you a cupon for some other Lee products. They back their stuff.

ya we got are money worth from this press, i deprime at least 5,000 cases a year. i like to use it for sizing pistol cases. some quick math. this press has done over 20,000 cycles a year. a good ten years from me and my dad got it in the 90s.

 

[Bfh_auto]

it would be a good test lol. if there was a way to get it lined up perfect i wound try brazing it.

Aluminum and brazing don't do well.
You could try aluminum rod and an arc welder, but you would have the same money in a box of rod as a new press.

 

[dh1633pm]

I had one of those. When it got to 19,999 cycles I sold it knowing that the next cycle would break it. End of joking. I did have one and loaded many a round when I first started reloading. To get 20K cycles out of it over the years for the price seems very good. And for the convenience of taking it with you to the range is an excellent reason for owning a hand press. When I got my first mounted press (a Lee as well), I did sell mine. After more than a few years, I missed the convenience. So I got a Bucannon Hand press. I considered the Lee, but spent the extra because the guy who makes them is a nice guy, who I met online and wanted to support his business.

This brings me back to the point that if I could live that part of life over again (young and poor), I would still buy a Lee hand press as my first press. I wouldn't try to fix it at all, but mount it on the wall with a sign that it gave excellent service before giving up the ghost. I might write a letter to Lee bragging about 20K cycles before it broke.

 

[Bandit67]

To get 20K cycles out of it over the years

I might write a letter to Lee bragging about 20K cycles before it broke.

I think Troy meant 20k cycles per year for 10 years after he got it from his Dad. Well over 200k cycles. I'd say he and his Dad got their money's worth.

 

[Rule3]

Lee might avoid some of these failures if they would perform life cycle testing before releasing a product to the market. If you review the material used it is probably die cast A380 aluminum. Aluminum has no endurance limit like steel and I am sure that Lee is missing that detail.
The endurance limit for steel means that if the stress is below the limit the steel item will take almost infinite cycles without breaking.
The lack of an endurance limit for aluminum means that no matter how small the stresses are if you have enough cycles it will eventually break.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_limit

Since the hand press cannot be easily manufactured by another method without incurring significantly greater cost Lee might consider beefing up the cross sections of the tool. It will still break but it might take 30 years instead of 10. Adding a few oz of aluminum would not cost more than a dollar to the cost of the tool.

Seriously?? It's a $50 item. With how many thousands sold, how many have broken?

Maybe they should use "Military, Aircraft Grade" Al O Min E Um. Like the the Trucks do?

 

[theothermike]

Seriously?? It's a $50 item. With how many thousands sold, how many have broken?

Maybe they should use "Military, Aircraft Grade" Al O Min E Um. Like the the Trucks do?

"Introducing the Lee hand press pro. Made from 100% areospace grade unobtainium alloy. Certified to last 200k cycles. It can be yours for three small payments of $1300."

 

[Charlie98]

Seriously?? It's a $50 item. With how many thousands sold, how many have broken?

Maybe they should use "Military, Aircraft Grade" Al O Min E Um. Like the the Trucks do?

They just need to advertise it as 'MilSpec' and add a rail to it... they will sell a bunch more.

I knock Lee stuff, the very few items of theirs I've had have not given me very good service (my Lee Challenger press broke on the 3rd use... no lie...) but there is no denying their value. I have a friend who has loaded well over 700K rounds on his Lee turret press... sure it breaks, but he just gets more parts and fixes it, and keeps going. I've always thought, if Lee would improve their build material, they would have less breakage and happier customers.

The single Lee item I still have on my bench is doing well, however... it's a powder funnel.

 

[mdi]

Lee might avoid some of these failures if they would perform life cycle testing before releasing a product to the market. If you review the material used it is probably die cast A380 aluminum. Aluminum has no endurance limit like steel and I am sure that Lee is missing that detail.
The endurance limit for steel means that if the stress is below the limit the steel item will take almost infinite cycles without breaking.
The lack of an endurance limit for aluminum means that no matter how small the stresses are if you have enough cycles it will eventually break.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_limit

Since the hand press cannot be easily manufactured by another method without incurring significantly greater cost Lee might consider beefing up the cross sections of the tool. It will still break but it might take 30 years instead of 10. Adding a few oz of aluminum would not cost more than a dollar to the cost of the tool.

Interesting, just wondering the poster's experience with metallurgy. Has he been in touch with Lee's engineering dept. and know they did not test their press prior to putting it on the market?

 

[Tilos]

The one other thread going made me want to post about my lee hand press. Last year my lee broke, after many years of use. Used this thing for all kinds of reloading tasks, from just depriming to light case forming. it was great for the range, just a set of dies a hand primer with a lee dipper for good fun.
Mine is a aluminum one i think you can get iron ones to, and they have the quick bushing to. The only other one i seen brake was my dads friend, it actually cut him pretty good. Out of all the things i did with the press it broke when i was neck sizing some 308 wins.

guys said to send it in and see what they do with if, i don't expect lee to replace it. it's got countless rounds thru it. be nice i the did. i just figured to share my lee braking, some guys didcound th hand press but they can be very handy and or some, the only option or a reloading press. thanks troy.

View attachment 839207

View attachment 839208

Go to the Lee sight, find the press frame replacement, as a part not the whole press, put it in your "cart".
At checkout, I'm guessing it'll show as being FREE and you will only pay for shipping, that has been my experience.

 

[troy fairweather]

Go to the Lee sight, find the press frame replacement, as a part not the whole press, put it in your "cart".
At checkout, I'm guessing it'll show as being FREE and you will only pay for shipping, that has been my experience.

i have looked on the site, i don't see the frame. i think just sending it in is best,

 

[troy fairweather]

Aluminum and brazing don't do well.
You could try aluminum rod and an arc welder, but you would have the same money in a box of rod as a new press.

i would like to get some of them hobart aluminum rods one day, but think i would just send the press back.

 

[Rule3]

i have looked on the site, i don't see the frame. i think just sending it in is best,

Email them first explain the issue with a picture.

I have heard that Dillon has excellent customer service. Why do they need customer service if everything made by man is perfect? Heck there was just a thread that a RCBS press broke. Can you imagine??

I have lots of Lee stuff and never had a problem.

 

[troy fairweather]

I think Troy meant 20k cycles per year for 10 years after he got it from his Dad. Well over 200k cycles. I'd say he and his Dad got their money's worth.

ya it's got some use lol, i did load most off my 44 mag 44-40 30-30 35rem 357 and when i was younger i had a hi-point 9mm carbine, countless rounds loaded.

 

[troy fairweather]

Email them first explain the issue with a picture.

I have heard that Dillon has excellent customer service. Why do they need customer service if everything made by man is perfect? Heck there was just a thread that a RCBS press broke. Can you imagine??

I have lots of Lee stuff and never had a problem.

yup lee stuff are just fine. and things brake/wearout nomader the cost

 

[Whiterook808]

For the price it is a good press and you can't complain. If you want something that will last forever, then spend the extra money for a Buchanan. The aluminum makes it light and portable. If we take unfair advantage of the great warranties we are seeing from companies they will disappear.

 

[Bfh_auto]

i would like to get some of them hobart aluminum rods one day, but think i would just send the press back.

I've used them on parts that aren't easily replaced. It's kind of like melting a pile of aluminum and grinding it to shape. I don't recommend it unless it's needed.

 

[troy fairweather]

ok sent lee a Email, did not see anywhere to post a photo. given the age i don't expect them to replace it. i think any broken lee stuff no matter the age you just pay 50% the cost. see what the say.

 

[troy fairweather]

I've used them on parts that aren't easily replaced. It's kind of like melting a pile of aluminum and grinding it to shape. I don't recommend it unless it's needed.

ya that's what i had herd, kinda like brazing with aluminum. ill get a tig welder one day.