Dies won't thread into Press

[LVLAaron]

The one whidden die I have is a tight sum-bitch in my Mec... for what it's worth.

 

[jackieschmidt]

If Whidden dies are like most, they are case hardened. You will have a tough time chasing them. Not saying you can’t, it just might be more difficult than you are accustom to.

I think your best bet is to unscrew the insert from the press and have one made. A good grade 8 bolt would be a suitable material if you don’t happen to have a piece of material.

I’m in a good mood tonight, so if you want to, send it to me and I will make one for you. It’s really not that big of a job. I can put a standard 7/8 14 thread in it as well as the 1 1/2 12 tpi on the OD.

Or, send me an accurate sketch.

 

[carlsbad]

Run a 7/8-14 die through the threads on the press.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Run a 7/8-14 die through the threads on the press.

Another poster stated that according to the manufacturer, the insert is hardened.
Of course, that could be a relative term. If it is case hardened by what ever means they use, then it could be in the 58+ RC range. A high speed tap would not cut that.

if it is hardened by quenching and tempering for strength, it could be in the 40 RC range.

 

[carlsbad]

Well, if it is hardened that might explain why it is too tight. Hardening after final machining is always asking for trouble. Steel moves when it is hardened. I'd still try it.

But if some dies won't fit, the manufacturer should give you a new insert.

 

[hoz53]

I just received my Prazipress and it is a marvel of German quality. My Redding, RCBS, and Forster 7/8-14 dies thread in fine, but my Harrells and Whidden dies won't. I assume the Harrells and Whidden dies are purposely made with tighter threads.

I have an e-mail into Prazipress to see if he has a press insert that has a little looser threads for use with the Harrells and Whidden dies. If he doesn't then I need to figure out how to get these dies to fit.

I suppose I could put them in my lathe and try to deepen the threads some. I don't know if the dies are hardened on the threads and if that would put a strain on my carbide threading inserts. I have never tried to deepen existing threads.

I guess I could also buy a 7/8-14 die to deepen the threads on the Whidden and Harrells dies but I don't know how successful that would be.

I am not excited about the idea of using a 7/8-14 tap in the press insert, and I really don't want to try and machine my own insert.

Thoughts?

can’t beat that offer from Jackie Schmidt but you’ve got the equipment why not just make one yourself. If you learn something from it, and I would- so much the better.

 

[Herzo]

Parts list includes both 7/8"-14 and a 1-1/4"-12 bushings which implies to me that the thread in the press is cut to a larger diameter (possibly even metric). A good machinist with a capable lathe and the appropriate gauges will be able duplicate the bushing, once they have the drawing and the tolerances required. You then have the question of heat treatment - this is not a try this at home operation unless you want to attempt using Kasenit. Even then you run the risk of warping the part.

In that you have a new bushing on the way, I will repeat my suggestion --- lap the SOB.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I can't imagine paying 1k for a press and having to do all this. What does this thing do that a 100 dollar Rockchucker won't do?

 

[Shooter13]

I can't imagine paying 1k for a press and having to do all this. What does this thing do that a 100 dollar Rockchucker won't do?

 

[AlNyhus]

Take Jackie up on his offer! -Al

 

[M-61]

(possibly even metric).

Presses like dies may (like auto rims {1 exception for a short time that I know of}) be US standard everywhere.
The Germans may well have cut to 3B. Unnecessary and creates problems in this application. You don't need a Rolex Microstella screw thread on a reloading press.

I wonder if some other country really does use the metric system on dies and presses?
I'd take Jackie up on his offer. Good luck with your new press. It sure is pretty.

 

[Texas10]

One possible quick remedy would be to slather some lapping compound on a die that will thread into the bushing and see if you can lapp it out enough to fit your dies. Might take a few hours, but maybe worth a try.

 

[Herzo]

One possible quick remedy would be to slather some lapping compound on a die that will thread into the bushing and see if you can lapp it out enough to fit your dies. Might take a few hours, but maybe worth a try.

For a lap to work, the lap should be of softer material than the part from which you are trying to remove the material. Abrasive will embed into the lap and cut the harder surface. That's why a lot of laps are made from copper. Using a die as a lap will not be productive and will only damage the die.

Odds are good that if you use a die to attempt to lap the female threads that you may gauld the assembly wrecking both parts.

 

[jackieschmidt]

How many of you are under the assumption that a “1 1/16 18 TPI” is an industry standard.

If you do, don’t try to screw a 1 1/16 18 TPI Panda barrel into a Bat DS.

a while back, a local shooter did just that, and noticed it was tight. He put an action wrench on it, and it seized about 1/2 way in.

he took it to a friend who attempted to bore it out, ended up with only about 4 or 5 useable threads.

He brought it to be, and I told him it could be made serviceable. I could Establish the same thread that a large tenon Savage has, 1.120 20 TPI.

I chucked it up, and set it up dead true with the beltway. I then threaded it for 1.120 20. I took a few thousandths off the face to be sure it was dead square. I even made him a gage.

In short, Bat uses a tighter Pitch diameter.

The only drawback is you have to use a barrel with a 1.250 shank.

 

[INTJ]

I can't imagine paying 1k for a press and having to do all this. What does this thing do that a 100 dollar Rockchucker won't do?

It's not the press, it's the custom dies that are not threaded properly. All brands of commercial dies fit well. It's only the Whidden and Harrells dies, so there error is obviously with them.

The precision of this press is second to none, and if all I need is to get a special die adapter made for the incorrectly threaded custom dies it's not a big deal. Having the Prazipress side by side with the CoAx and the Rockchucker Supreme shows just how much better it is. In the press testing that was done of few years ago, the Prazipress had ZERO variation when sizing brass. There is as much as .0015" of variation when sizing brass on the CoAx or Rockchucker, which means multiple passes with the press and multiple sorting son the cases.

 

[INTJ]

The adapter and offending die will be on its way to Jackie this afternoon. This is a job for a real machinist, not just some guy like me with a lathe who has chambered a half dozen barrels and is still learning. If this adapter is not true, then the cases I size will be crooked.

 

[kineteks]

I had the same issue with Whidden dies in my Prazi. I was lucky, a little oil on the threads and about 15 minutes of threading the die in progressively deeper got me a fit that allowed easy hand insertion and removal. I don't know, or really care, if the Prazi does a better job than a more economical press. In back to backs with my other presses, it's certainly not worse and I enjoy the hell out of reloading with it.

 

[Kratos]

Presses like dies may (like auto rims {1 exception for a short time that I know of}) be US standard everywhere.
The Germans may well have cut to 3B. Unnecessary and creates problems in this application. You don't need a Rolex Microstella screw thread on a reloading press.

I wonder if some other country really does use the metric system on dies and presses?
I'd take Jackie up on his offer. Good luck with your new press. It sure is pretty.

It’s 2B threading according to Thomas Turban. I think it is just unfortunate tolerance stacking with some (not all) Whidden dies.

 

[INTJ]

BTW, Thomas is a great guy to work with!

 

[INTJ]

I just checked several more dies. Dies made by Forster, Redding, RCBS, Hornady fit fine. Dies by Whidden, Harrells, and Wilson do not fit. I also have one Lee die that is a tad tight but most of my Lee dies are fine.

So it seems to me that the custom die makers are making their threads a little less deep to reduce the slop in a normal press.