Which Arbor Press?? New to the arbor....

[TimP]

I have just started using the 21st Century hydro press. It takes some getting used to.

I had gotten used to feeling the seating force with the standard mechanical 21st Century arbor press. The hydro one feels mushy / spongy by comparison, and I really cannot feel the seating force. I *have* to use the gauge and can no longer rely on feel.

It's probably better this way, but so far I am not so sure I like it.

That's interesting. I have been using 21st Century 21st standard arbor press for the last three years and what I love about it is the "feel" of seating force. After years of bullet seating with 7/8" dies I was enlightened. I have been considering buying their hydro press and would be interested to hear what you think as you have the chance to use it more. Sorting by gauged pressure seems like the way to go.

 

[michaelnel]

Yeah, I think it's probably better to sort by the pressure reading, but it feels quite foreign and "disconnected". Frankly, if they had a generous return policy I would probably send it back and keep using the non-gauged one. I need to give it more of a chance though, I have only seated about 150 bullets with it. Perhaps the thing will start feeling less strange to me the more I use it.

 

[Joe R]

Erik Cortina said:
Forgive me for the hijack question, by why is Sinclair's arbor press not on the list? Is that not as good of a press as the others listed?

Andy


The discussion is about arbor presses that measure seating force. The only two that I know of that do that are the K&M and the 21st Century hydro press.

Erik, do you use one of these presses?

It would be interesting to hear from someone that has been using a press with the dial indicator if they've seen any improvement on target?

Actual data would be nice. We always have to guard against the placebo effect.

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[Phil]

There is an ad on TV that comes on from time to time - it is for one of those garden hoses that un-curl itself.

In the ad, he shows how strong his fitting is by trying to crush it with an arbor press. The press has a digital force gauge built into the base.

Any of you guys remember this ad and know who makes such a press - I have tried Google with no luck.

A press with a digital force gauge would remove any mushy feeling - it would feel exactly the same as a standard press.

Cat,

I cannot recall the advertisement, but it kinda sounds like it could be a valve spring checking tool.

When building engines the valve springs are set up for seat pressure and open pressure, the seat pressure is adjusted with shims, and checked with a tool that looks eerily similar to an arbor press with a gauge.

Just a thought as i haven`t seen it.....

Phil.

 

[deadwooddick]

Noob question, if the seating pressure data from either of the "hydro" style presses forms a bell curve, I think I understand the statistics likely indicate an issue w/ case prep.

But what do you do with the loaded rounds present in the bell curve spread ?

 

[michaelnel]

But what do you do with the loaded rounds present in the bell curve spread ?

Shoot 'em!

 

[CatShooter]

Noob question, if the seating pressure data from either of the "hydro" style presses forms a bell curve, I think I understand the statistics likely indicate an issue w/ case prep.

But what do you do with the loaded rounds present in the bell curve spread ?

Ol' guy answer...

It has been my experience that when making ammunition, bell curves are hardly ever seen - what is seen is "groups" of variations, that are very narrow, separated by meaningful, significant spaces between them.

 

[Patch700]

There is an ad on TV that comes on from time to time - it is for one of those garden hoses that un-curl itself.

In the ad, he shows how strong his fitting is by trying to crush it with an arbor press. The press has a digital force gauge built into the base.

Any of you guys remember this ad and know who makes such a press - I have tried Google with no luck.

A press with a digital force gauge would remove any mushy feeling - it would feel exactly the same as a standard press.

Cat,

I cannot recall the advertisement, but it kinda sounds like it could be a valve spring checking tool.

When building engines the valve springs are set up for seat pressure and open pressure, the seat pressure is adjusted with shims, and checked with a tool that looks eerily similar to an arbor press with a gauge.

Just a thought as i haven`t seen it.....

Phil.

A good valve spring tester that would have enough height to accommodate a Wilson seater will run you well in excess of 1000 dollars...closer to 1500 actually.

There are other models that resemble a harbor freight arbor press but be aware they may not have enough height to fit a seating die not to mention some of them don't start to register until a minimum of 50lbs .

If you are thinking of going this route be sure to do all your homework or you could wind up with a very trick paper weight lol.

 

[Phil]

Patch,

I left out the spendy part......... ;D

Harrell`s and 21st. Century hydro here......


Phil.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Erik Cortina said:
Forgive me for the hijack question, by why is Sinclair's arbor press not on the list? Is that not as good of a press as the others listed?

Andy


The discussion is about arbor presses that measure seating force. The only two that I know of that do that are the K&M and the 21st Century hydro press.

Erik, do you use one of these presses?

It would be interesting to hear from someone that has been using a press with the dial indicator if they've seen any improvement on target?

Actual data would be nice. We always have to guard against the placebo effect.

Kindest regards,

Joe

I actually have both, the K&M and the 21st Century. There is definitely an improvement on target using it. I prefer the 21st Century.

 

[25-06 Mike]

Greetings all,
I have been reloading for decades now, dodging the annealing bug until now .
I am quite aware of how harder (stiff might be a better word), un-annealed the brass becomes after a few reloads, and I suspect bullet seating forces are all over the place. I have always wondered how this might be hurting my loads accuracy.
I have been considering this 21st century press for a-while now, from the reviews and few online videos it seems to operate quite nicely.
However one thing that bugs me is my suspicion it operates with a hydraulic chamber (Piston) right above the Inline dies.
For those who own one, I ignore it's design, but I suspect it operates a hydraulic cylinder and thus seals with an o-ring(s) ? I am thinking about leaking some of the oil from this cylinder (piston) right on top of the die.
Any such experiences ?
Thanks a mill..

 

[whatwind?]

Over 100lbs yes, but just a little and it does create a slight delay to the reading

 

[1bamashooter]

I had a hydro press and loved everything about it. Now I have a K&M with the force pack I haven't used it yet but it was cheaper than a new hydro press. We will see if I like it as much as I did the hydro press.

 

[michaeljp65]

I have a Sinclair and a 21st century long handle press, non hydro press. I had a hydro press but sold it and now just use the long handle 21st century press. You can feel the pressure difference case to case with the long handle of the 21st over the short stubby handle of the the Sinclair.

 

[Al Lu]

Is the new AMP Press considered an electronic version of an Arbor press?