Restoring an old/abused press

kealil · May 25, 2013, 12:47 AM

Hello all!

I recently found a possibly old but definitively abused Lee Deluxe Turret at a garage sale recently, picked it up for five bucks. I just thought it would be fun to see if I could make it usable or at least functioning.

I started working on the coating of rust covering pretty much every surface and cranny on this press. I took care of most of that just so I would be destroying my hands or gloves while handling this thing.

The main problem that I can see on this press is that the ram is stuck and by stuck I mean that this seal(proper word?) couldn't have been stronger if it had been welded on. I'm still struggling with the stuck ram. I have even resorted to heating the ram up and smacking it with a rubber mallet. No dice

I need some advice. How can I get this thing unstuck? I assume its rusted stuck but I'm not sure the best method to free this thing up. I have the entire press soaking in CLR as I type but I'm not convinced that that will work.

Any hints? Sorry for the long winded approach but I'm tired and can't decide when to stop typing.....except now.

Thanks for the help!

(my bad NOW I stop typing)

dahermit · May 25, 2013, 06:23 AM

A 50-50 mixture of Acetone and Transmission Fluid is considered a very good if not the best penetrating "oil". Also, when you get the press ram free, if you want to de-rust the parts with minimum labor, you may want to look into electrolysis to remove rust...I have constructed a set-up to do it and it works very well. Do an INTERNET search on "electrolysis" and "rust removal", or look here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Elec...val-aka-Magic/

**Mike Irwin** · May 25, 2013, 08:35 AM

Wrap it well and throw it in your deep freezer for a couple of days.

Then remove it, hit it really well with penetrating oil, rewrap it, and stick it back in the freezer for another day or so.

I've freed up many stuck bolts and screws that way.

hooligan1 · May 25, 2013, 09:22 AM

If you can find it P.E.N, penetrating spray is the fastest, bestest, penetrant. I have used many products, this one turns rust into graphite dude!!

rlc323 · May 25, 2013, 10:01 AM

Go to Brownells and buy some Kroil. It penetrates to .001. Soak it a couple days and heat it with a heat gun, it should break loose.

lamarw · May 25, 2013, 11:13 AM

If you decide to give up, something major breaks and/or it still does not work then you can send it back to Lee and receive a new or reconditioned one for 1/2 price. Go to their web site: http://leeprecision.com/satisfaction-guaranteed.html

kealil · May 27, 2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Mike Irwin
Wrap it well and throw it in your deep freezer for a couple of days.

Then remove it, hit it really well with penetrating oil, rewrap it, and stick it back in the freezer for another day or so.

I've freed up many stuck bolts and screws that way.

THIS worked like a charm!I didn't even have to apply the oil. Just left it in the freezer, hit it once with a rubber mallet on the way out and it pretty much fell free at that point. still fun getting it completely out for polishing but this made things so much easier. THANK YOU!

I have already gotten to testing it. Sized some cast bullets and threw together some 45ACP rounds.

Seems to run like a champ. Probably the best $5 I've spent in a while

Jbotto · May 27, 2013, 11:59 PM

Some people have all the luck... Congrats on the investment kealil!

**Mike Irwin** · May 28, 2013, 07:37 AM

Glad that it worked!

I've always preferred cold for really rusted in parts, because rusting makes things swell, and the cold makes the parts contract away from each other.

May 25, 2013, 12:47 AM	#1
kealil Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Posts: 270	Restoring an old/abused press Hello all! I recently found a possibly old but definitively abused Lee Deluxe Turret at a garage sale recently, picked it up for five bucks. I just thought it would be fun to see if I could make it usable or at least functioning. I started working on the coating of rust covering pretty much every surface and cranny on this press. I took care of most of that just so I would be destroying my hands or gloves while handling this thing. The main problem that I can see on this press is that the ram is stuck and by stuck I mean that this seal(proper word?) couldn't have been stronger if it had been welded on. I'm still struggling with the stuck ram. I have even resorted to heating the ram up and smacking it with a rubber mallet. No dice I need some advice. How can I get this thing unstuck? I assume its rusted stuck but I'm not sure the best method to free this thing up. I have the entire press soaking in CLR as I type but I'm not convinced that that will work. Any hints? Sorry for the long winded approach but I'm tired and can't decide when to stop typing.....except now. Thanks for the help! (my bad NOW I stop typing) __________________ "A weapon without a name is nothing; Just another hunk of steel, wood, or what have you. A weapon with a name is more. It is a partner, a friend, and a comrade to the end"

May 25, 2013, 08:35 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Wrap it well and throw it in your deep freezer for a couple of days. Then remove it, hit it really well with penetrating oil, rewrap it, and stick it back in the freezer for another day or so. I've freed up many stuck bolts and screws that way. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 25, 2013, 09:22 AM	#4
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	If you can find it P.E.N, penetrating spray is the fastest, bestest, penetrant. I have used many products, this one turns rust into graphite dude!! __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

May 28, 2013, 07:37 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Glad that it worked! I've always preferred cold for really rusted in parts, because rusting makes things swell, and the cold makes the parts contract away from each other. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

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May 25, 2013, 06:23 AM	#2
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	A 50-50 mixture of Acetone and Transmission Fluid is considered a very good if not the best penetrating "oil". Also, when you get the press ram free, if you want to de-rust the parts with minimum labor, you may want to look into electrolysis to remove rust...I have constructed a set-up to do it and it works very well. Do an INTERNET search on "electrolysis" and "rust removal", or look here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Elec...val-aka-Magic/

May 25, 2013, 10:01 AM	#5
rlc323 Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2013 Location: Forgottonia, Il Posts: 217	Go to Brownells and buy some Kroil. It penetrates to .001. Soak it a couple days and heat it with a heat gun, it should break loose.

May 25, 2013, 11:13 AM	#6
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	If you decide to give up, something major breaks and/or it still does not work then you can send it back to Lee and receive a new or reconditioned one for 1/2 price. Go to their web site: http://leeprecision.com/satisfaction-guaranteed.html

May 27, 2013, 11:59 PM	#8
Jbotto Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: MN Posts: 437	Some people have all the luck... Congrats on the investment kealil!