cheygriz
member
Paul,
Are the Star lubri-sizers still being made? I haven't seen one advertised in quite some time.
Are the Star lubri-sizers still being made? I haven't seen one advertised in quite some time.
Considering Casting My Own
- Thread starter Bacchus
- Start date
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Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Star Reloaders Group
I was the top salesman of the San Diego Star Company and received or picked up at the factory ten Universal Reloaders and ten Star Lubers a month. Since the factory would rather make than clean and repair the machines they suggested that I be their authorized Star Reconditioning Center and I stocked a very large supply of parts.
I had a severe lower back injury in 1979 and put everything into storage til last spring when I came online. I have new in the box Star Reloaders, Heads, Lubers and parts but am sold out of caliber conversions so have been offering to buy them on the net along with unwanted or inherited machines and accessories.
I am the list owner of the Star Reloaders Discussion and Support group started in Sept last year. Besides discussing the machines we talk about the quality of components needed by progressive reloaders and the information discussed applies to anyone that uses a reloading die. We currently have 56 members and since we own and operate the most expensive and most accurate machines ever made we have some top competitors and reloading businesses that use the Stars and contribute information to the list. We sell, swap and loan items to each other and we are a sociable group. Anyone is welcome to read our archives but to post to the list you must own or have the use of a Star Reloader or Luber.
You are welcome to ask for my "Old Timers" Sale sheets of my current list of Fitz Pistol Grips, Star and C-H tools, extensive brass collection and California Saeco bulletcasting tools that I have with me from trips to my family ranch.
I was the top salesman of the San Diego Star Company and received or picked up at the factory ten Universal Reloaders and ten Star Lubers a month. Since the factory would rather make than clean and repair the machines they suggested that I be their authorized Star Reconditioning Center and I stocked a very large supply of parts.
I had a severe lower back injury in 1979 and put everything into storage til last spring when I came online. I have new in the box Star Reloaders, Heads, Lubers and parts but am sold out of caliber conversions so have been offering to buy them on the net along with unwanted or inherited machines and accessories.
I am the list owner of the Star Reloaders Discussion and Support group started in Sept last year. Besides discussing the machines we talk about the quality of components needed by progressive reloaders and the information discussed applies to anyone that uses a reloading die. We currently have 56 members and since we own and operate the most expensive and most accurate machines ever made we have some top competitors and reloading businesses that use the Stars and contribute information to the list. We sell, swap and loan items to each other and we are a sociable group. Anyone is welcome to read our archives but to post to the list you must own or have the use of a Star Reloader or Luber.
You are welcome to ask for my "Old Timers" Sale sheets of my current list of Fitz Pistol Grips, Star and C-H tools, extensive brass collection and California Saeco bulletcasting tools that I have with me from trips to my family ranch.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Star Lubers
The rights to the Star Lubricators was bought by the magma company of Arizona. They are making a cheaper quality simplified aluminum version of the original Star lubers. Unfortunitely the famous name companies I represented have had their owners pass away and the companies have gone through one or more hands with the products becoming cheaper quality and taking advantage of the old quality name products. Cast iron molds have changed to steel and aluminum, decades of increases of fuel, labor and materials costs has forced the changes.
My original Saeco patent all Steel Lead Hardness Tester that I sold 99% of the production of is now made of aluminum. A list owner told me that the steel version is "Head and Shoulders" over the current aluminum version.
Many of the original name products are now collectables including most of my 1970s stash.
Paul Jones
The rights to the Star Lubricators was bought by the magma company of Arizona. They are making a cheaper quality simplified aluminum version of the original Star lubers. Unfortunitely the famous name companies I represented have had their owners pass away and the companies have gone through one or more hands with the products becoming cheaper quality and taking advantage of the old quality name products. Cast iron molds have changed to steel and aluminum, decades of increases of fuel, labor and materials costs has forced the changes.
My original Saeco patent all Steel Lead Hardness Tester that I sold 99% of the production of is now made of aluminum. A list owner told me that the steel version is "Head and Shoulders" over the current aluminum version.
Many of the original name products are now collectables including most of my 1970s stash.
Paul Jones
Thumper
Member
For me, casting is it's own reward. One of the most relaxing things I can think of.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
I Love Casting
My casting buddy was partners in a machine shop and he made a block for a line from a propane tank to come into and 4 torch lines come out of with torch nozzles at the ends pointed at a Saeco Cast iron bottom pour pot bare of electronics. We also had a Saeco cast iron 20 pound electrical pot to heat lead and we stacked the traditional one pound ingots around the top to preheat. We used H&G 8 cavity molds in 45acp caliber and a 10 cavity H&G 38 target molds we had identical pairs. I would cast for 20 minutes switching molds of the same caliber so they did not overheat while he poured liquid lead into my bottom pour pot and tipped preheated ingots into the electric pot and restacked more ingots on top. We switched places every 20 minutes to give our wrists a break. We dropped the hot bullets from the molds into a 5 gallon bucket half full of water and when the water reached the top we ended the session. It was common at the time in the 70s to drop the bullets on a carpeted surface. We found later that dropping the bullets into water case hardened them enough for the difference to be read on a Lead Hardness Tester.
When we switched to the more precision Premium Quality California Saeco 4 cavity molds it was a lot easier on our wrists and we then had the best cast bullets available for Competition.
The cold winter evening in the garage with the heat of the flames and cold beer and socialization gave us some really good friendly memories and was one of the happiest memories of my life.
My casting buddy was partners in a machine shop and he made a block for a line from a propane tank to come into and 4 torch lines come out of with torch nozzles at the ends pointed at a Saeco Cast iron bottom pour pot bare of electronics. We also had a Saeco cast iron 20 pound electrical pot to heat lead and we stacked the traditional one pound ingots around the top to preheat. We used H&G 8 cavity molds in 45acp caliber and a 10 cavity H&G 38 target molds we had identical pairs. I would cast for 20 minutes switching molds of the same caliber so they did not overheat while he poured liquid lead into my bottom pour pot and tipped preheated ingots into the electric pot and restacked more ingots on top. We switched places every 20 minutes to give our wrists a break. We dropped the hot bullets from the molds into a 5 gallon bucket half full of water and when the water reached the top we ended the session. It was common at the time in the 70s to drop the bullets on a carpeted surface. We found later that dropping the bullets into water case hardened them enough for the difference to be read on a Lead Hardness Tester.
When we switched to the more precision Premium Quality California Saeco 4 cavity molds it was a lot easier on our wrists and we then had the best cast bullets available for Competition.
The cold winter evening in the garage with the heat of the flames and cold beer and socialization gave us some really good friendly memories and was one of the happiest memories of my life.
PDshooter
Member
cheygriz
member
Paul,
I have similar memories. In the late seventies, I and three friends had a small commercial reloading business that serviced primarily the LE community. For a couple of years,we cast our own bullets. We had two .38 148 full wadcutter H&G 10 cavity molds, and two .38 158 SWC H&G 10 cavity molds.
We used two 20 pound Saeco open top electric pots for melting and a Lyman 10 pound bottom pour for casting. And we used a 30 gallon drum, cut in half, for dropping the bullets into cold water.
We also had two star lubers, one set up for each bullet type. We made our own bullet lube out of STP oil treatment, paraffin and an ingredient that I'm hesitant to mention.
I agree with you about the wonferful memories, the cold nights, the hot lead and the cold beer.
We outgrew the ability to cast our own and started buying bullets. Our two C-H progressive reloaders gave way to an Ammoload machine, and our line expanded to include 9MM, .45 ACP and .357 Magnum.
I had to leave the business a couple of years after that, but I still remember the pleasure of casting and loading thousands of bullets/cartridges in an evening. I especially remember, and miss, the comraderie.
I have similar memories. In the late seventies, I and three friends had a small commercial reloading business that serviced primarily the LE community. For a couple of years,we cast our own bullets. We had two .38 148 full wadcutter H&G 10 cavity molds, and two .38 158 SWC H&G 10 cavity molds.
We used two 20 pound Saeco open top electric pots for melting and a Lyman 10 pound bottom pour for casting. And we used a 30 gallon drum, cut in half, for dropping the bullets into cold water.
We also had two star lubers, one set up for each bullet type. We made our own bullet lube out of STP oil treatment, paraffin and an ingredient that I'm hesitant to mention.
I agree with you about the wonferful memories, the cold nights, the hot lead and the cold beer.
We outgrew the ability to cast our own and started buying bullets. Our two C-H progressive reloaders gave way to an Ammoload machine, and our line expanded to include 9MM, .45 ACP and .357 Magnum.
I had to leave the business a couple of years after that, but I still remember the pleasure of casting and loading thousands of bullets/cartridges in an evening. I especially remember, and miss, the comraderie.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Cheygriz good memories
Cheygriz, you may have bought some equipment from me when I was in business as Paul Jones of San Fernando or Sylmar California. I convinced C-H to change the Auto Champ and H presses to 4 position presses to hold a taper crimp die and also added the Safety blast tube. I still have parts and caliber conversion kits for the C-H tools. I personally sold the majority of the Auto Champs and Star Universal Reloaders produced in the late 1970s.
Many of the progressive reloaders I sold had my C-H printed little Blue booklet. "How To Live With And Love Your Progressive Reloader"patented in 1979. When I came on line last spring so many fellows wanted one that I had to do a reprint and still have a small supply.
Cheygriz, you may have bought some equipment from me when I was in business as Paul Jones of San Fernando or Sylmar California. I convinced C-H to change the Auto Champ and H presses to 4 position presses to hold a taper crimp die and also added the Safety blast tube. I still have parts and caliber conversion kits for the C-H tools. I personally sold the majority of the Auto Champs and Star Universal Reloaders produced in the late 1970s.
Many of the progressive reloaders I sold had my C-H printed little Blue booklet. "How To Live With And Love Your Progressive Reloader"patented in 1979. When I came on line last spring so many fellows wanted one that I had to do a reprint and still have a small supply.
lead foot marv
Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2007
- Messages
- 2
paul fitz jones
master paul fitz jones sir
it would be a great pleasure to meet with you for some old time lead casting and a beer or ** 37 and learn a little of your philsophy it sounds like a worth while journey. BUT this may never com to pass.Iwill ask if there is a possibility that you would have a thermostat control for the furnace we are all so proud of It was and is probably the best ever built for casters
DO you or does any one on the line have the original equipment for building that was used for making the furnace and was there just one size furnace thank you keep writing the info is needed leadfootmarv
master paul fitz jones sir
it would be a great pleasure to meet with you for some old time lead casting and a beer or ** 37 and learn a little of your philsophy it sounds like a worth while journey. BUT this may never com to pass.Iwill ask if there is a possibility that you would have a thermostat control for the furnace we are all so proud of It was and is probably the best ever built for casters
DO you or does any one on the line have the original equipment for building that was used for making the furnace and was there just one size furnace thank you keep writing the info is needed leadfootmarv
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Looks like a lot of experience on this forum. If and when I get back into casting this is where I'll come for advice.
I've casted many thousand bullets and have had my share of problems and questions. I stopped last year when I was diagnosed with cancer. I know there is likely no relationship with the lead, but want to get a better set-up with an exhaust fan before casting again. BTW- cancer's gone, I'm fine now (mostly).
I've mostly used Lee melting pots and molds. I have a couple 6 cavity molds but had trouble with the bullets shrinking on one side, too hot maybe? I also fiddled around with a couple hollow point molds and couldn't get them to fill out completely. Not hot enough??
As to the issue of time, this is why I may not get back into casting. I turn down overtime at work all the time. One day of OT pays enough to buy several days worth of cast bullets. With two young kids to raise I'll be needing all the OT I can handle just for bills.
Wheel weights- I used to get them free or cheap all the time years ago. I gave up on them a while back when I was told at a tire shop that they couldn't give or sell them to me because they were reclassified as hazardous waste and they had to pay a haz waste company to come get them; if they sold them to me they could get a big EPA fine.
I realize now that that was BS.
I've casted many thousand bullets and have had my share of problems and questions. I stopped last year when I was diagnosed with cancer. I know there is likely no relationship with the lead, but want to get a better set-up with an exhaust fan before casting again. BTW- cancer's gone, I'm fine now (mostly).
I've mostly used Lee melting pots and molds. I have a couple 6 cavity molds but had trouble with the bullets shrinking on one side, too hot maybe? I also fiddled around with a couple hollow point molds and couldn't get them to fill out completely. Not hot enough??
As to the issue of time, this is why I may not get back into casting. I turn down overtime at work all the time. One day of OT pays enough to buy several days worth of cast bullets. With two young kids to raise I'll be needing all the OT I can handle just for bills.
Wheel weights- I used to get them free or cheap all the time years ago. I gave up on them a while back when I was told at a tire shop that they couldn't give or sell them to me because they were reclassified as hazardous waste and they had to pay a haz waste company to come get them; if they sold them to me they could get a big EPA fine.
I realize now that that was BS.
TEDDY
Member
Paul Jones:I wondered if that was you.I have a question who made the Saeco furnace?I have one as does an engineer at Redding and both have been trying to get new thermostates.I wondered if Lymans old furnace was made by Saeco.I once had the furnaces rebuilt in Modesto?
ted jones aka [email protected]
ted jones aka [email protected]
DaveInFloweryBranchGA
Member
For those who are seriously interested in getting into cast bullets, here is a website for a forum that's specifically about cast bullets:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
Regards,
Dave
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
Regards,
Dave
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