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11/19/2008 8:34:39 PM EDT
I just started using a Star semi-progressive press (in .45acp) I got after my great-uncle passed. The resizing die is scratching the cases. I'm used to a Lyman All American turret with a carbide die. Is the Star die steel?

Anyone know if carbide resizing dies are available for the Star? I don't want to have to mess with lubeing the cases, I guess I could run them through the lyman resizing die first, then run them through the Star for the rest of the steps.

Thanks

11/19/2008 9:14:49 PM EDT
[#1]
I believe these folks once handled the Star press (and still sell the Star bullet sizer):  
www.magmaengineering.com/  Doubt they can help you though.

Stumbled across this site (which has a forum):  www.starreloaders.com/

I’ve successfully cleaned up regular steel sizing dies that scratched cases with careful use of 400 wet and dry paper wrapped around a wood dowel and lubricated with a light oil.
11/19/2008 9:48:44 PM EDT
[#2]
All Star size dies were carbide.
If the sizer is scratching the brass, you have a build-up of dirt and brass.
Just take the size die out of the press, remove the expander, use a small knife to scrape the lumps of brass and dirt off, then follow up with a brush with a patch or mop that fits snug, ues a drill with some good copper remover bore cleaner to fine tune the surface.
Semi progressive?,, it is the first progressive press ever made, and a very good one,, I have two with the Hulme case feeders myself.
'Borg
ETA only run clean brass in the sizer,, always dust off the cases first and you won't have this problem.
11/20/2008 4:09:31 AM EDT
[#3]
I say semi progressive because I have to manually rotate the shell plate. I might have mixed up my terms.

I did disassemble all the dies and run a brush through them, I also used a small polishing dremel wheel on the sizer after I first noticed the scratches, though not too much since I didn't want to chance ruining it. I'll look at it again.

Thanks for the tips!
11/20/2008 8:03:35 AM EDT
[#4]
A brush won't even touch the build up,, it has to be scraped off,, carbide doesn't scratch.
'Borg
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