Honing a Neck Die
- Thread starter bsumoba
- Start date
Keith Glasscock
Gold $$ Contributor
Try the die manufacturer. They have all been responsive to my requests.
This is another option you may want to consider. You or your local machinist can modify your neck size dies or standard full length size dies. I got the idea from this article - http://rickaverill.com/projects-past-and-present/lapping-reloading-dies/
I had my local machine shop open the neck portions of five of my full length size dies for $150. I then polished the die chambers myself. The project turned out well and I feel it was worth the expense. Be forewarned, according to my machinist, Redding dies have a reputation for cracking if opened up with a boring bar. My local machinist is also a benchrest competitor. He has modified his own dies this way and knows what he is doing and why he is doing it.
I had my local machine shop open the neck portions of five of my full length size dies for $150. I then polished the die chambers myself. The project turned out well and I feel it was worth the expense. Be forewarned, according to my machinist, Redding dies have a reputation for cracking if opened up with a boring bar. My local machinist is also a benchrest competitor. He has modified his own dies this way and knows what he is doing and why he is doing it.
Dies are normally harden. for that reason they must be honed. Tool making and sharping shop normally can fix you up. some can ever harden. Larry
If you are going to remove a small amount say up to .005" on diameter honing will do a great job. If your going to remove .020 or .030" I wouldn't recommend it.
The problem with a die is you are honing a very short area in a long part, and the area you are honing is towards the end of the part. The hole will remain very round and straight, but the center line will start to drift in both a parallel and conical direction. The center line drift is caused by the center of balance of the part and operator influence. The change in center line is random a good operator will give you a better part.
The problem with a die is you are honing a very short area in a long part, and the area you are honing is towards the end of the part. The hole will remain very round and straight, but the center line will start to drift in both a parallel and conical direction. The center line drift is caused by the center of balance of the part and operator influence. The change in center line is random a good operator will give you a better part.
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