dedicated hydro form press

[fguffey]

What does "hydroforming brass" mean if it doesn't mean making the press hydraulic?

Jammer Six, "What does it mean?" A reloader does not need a press to form cases when using a hydraulic to form cases. I have used dies without a press. And then there is the mess. I use forming dies in presses to form cases without a hydraulic.

F. Guffey

 

[Jammer Six]

I don't understand what creates the pressure to form the brass.

Is there some advantage with this process over presses and dies?

 

[hpshooter]

"I don't understand what creates the pressure to form the brass."

The short form is that the die incorporates a piston that is activated by a hammer blow causing the liquid the user has put in the case and die to form the case. This is an alternative to fire forming cases that some prefer.

A site search or Goggle search for hydroforming cartridges or hydroforming dies should provide more concise information.

 

[Erud]

Jammer Six,
Maybe you'd be better off sticking to the political threads. You are clearly out of your element in the shooting-related ones.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

When I read the title, I thought you meant you were building a hydraulic press.

How do you hydroform with a Rockchucker?

What does "hydroforming brass" mean if it doesn't mean making the press hydraulic?

I don't understand what creates the pressure to form the brass.

Is there some advantage with this process over presses and dies?

 

[Jammer Six]

Jammer Six,
Maybe you'd be better off sticking to the political threads. You are clearly out of your element in the shooting-related ones.

I would answer that perhaps you guys should stick to guns rather than politics, because you appear to know something about guns.

That's a fascinating video, thanks!

I'm not sure I see the advantage over a press, though.

 

[jfseaman]

"The only stationary base press I know of that is suitable is the RCBS Summit."

The Summit is probably the worst press for case forming - it is not as strong as an old "C" press.

In my opinion, you are thinking about your forces the wrong way.

It does a fine job my FL sizing my CheyTac cases.

 

[BenPerfected]

Why buy the press, die(s) and deal with the water mess when DJ's Brass can hydro-formed your brass $60 per hundred? How many cases are you going to have? How long to get your investment back?
Ben

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

thanks P1. I was worried that some of you were going to come to blows...

 

[fguffey]

I don't understand what creates the pressure to form the brass.

Is there some advantage with this process over presses and dies?

Many years ago I used water to drive Berdan primers out of fired cases, the fact I use water meant I was using a Hydraulic method/technique to remove primers. I eliminated the need for a ram, handle, toggle block and linkage. And then there were a few things I had to keep up with, I had to use a shell holder or other means to support the case head with an opening in the support for the exiting primer. I have never been a fan of press abuse and when removing primers with hydraulics I never found the ram, handle, toggle and linkage useful.

Moving on to forming cases with hydraulics; I ask how does that work with a shell holder with an exit hole for primers? I have shell holders, some do not have exit holes, my shell holders without exit holes are used for swaging bullets. And then if for some reason I wanted the primer to seal the bottom of the case I could use a shell holder without an exit hole. Again, it is not necessary to dedicate a press for hydraulic forming.

When forming with a fluid the reloader needs to understand a fluid flows and it is a liquid and it can not be compressed. I use a shell holder without an exit hole, a die or a cut off piece of barrel, a large hammer and drivers; and of course there are methods and techniques that can be used to improve the process.

F. Guffey

 

[Jefferson]

Why buy the press, die(s) and deal with the water mess when DJ's Brass can hydro-formed your brass $60 per hundred? How many cases are you going to have? How long to get your investment back?
Ben

I have 400 brass to do for a start, 200 per gun.

Then I am sure once guys in my province,state find out I have a die they will ask me to do theirs.

It takes only a few hundred to pay for itself die is 150 plus

Dis is great but I intend to do 1000 by spring and sell them at a local gun show and my press is
Aid for

Jeff

 

[BenPerfected]

I have 400 brass to do for a start, 200 per gun.

Then I am sure once guys in my province,state find out I have a die they will ask me to do theirs.

It takes only a few hundred to pay for itself die is 150 plus

Dis is great but I intend to do 1000 by spring and sell them at a local gun show and my press is
Aid for

Jeff

Makes sense Jeff, didn't expect you were going to start a business. Generally, starting a business has another set of cost and risk. Me, I just want to shoot

 

[Jammer Six]

Don't get caught.

I'm starting to understand the force, but don't see any advantages.

 

[fguffey]

I'm starting to understand the force, but don't see any advantages.

I make every effort to form first then fire; by forming first I save a trip to the range that is required by 'fire formers'. When I form first I use a forming die. In the absence of a forming die I can form cases the old (fashion) hydraulic way. Again, I am not the fan of hammering on my press. Again, the press is not necessary but there are those that insist.

F. Guffey

 

[jfseaman]

I don't have it on the project list but a hydroforming specific machine would not be difficult. Not expensive. The features are very limited.

Solid base for the shell holder. No ram under the shell holder.
Reliable locating of the die over the case but no need to press down very hard.
Easy to pull the die off the brass
Clearance for hammer.

During the hydroforming process, the press should not be taking any load on the die carriage. A little in vertical but nothing like forming brass by sizing.

I don't have CNC, I do everything by hand. Make a mock up in delrin. Semi working in aluminum. Real deal in steel.

My biggest design challenge is to avoid welding.

 

[fguffey]

Jfseaman, long story: A Hydraulic press was built out of necessity; the first effort was to design a hydraulic press from any press available at the time. The shock shattered all of the best of presses, I do not know if it was the sudden start or sudden stop that did it but the builder started over with a press of his own design.


Time has proven he got it right. His press design could have been converted to hydraulic forming with a better seal at the neck of the case.


F. Guffey