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Old June 16, 2011, 08:36 PM   #1
Shootin Chef
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Finally found dads press

Alright, so my dad let me have his old reloading equipment that has been sitting in the barn for years. Included is a RCBS single stage press, that I have no idea the model, as well as a extremely nice (and he said expensive) tumbler.
I'm pretty excited but since it's been in a barn the stuff is pretty weathered. So how should I clean this thing, and remove the surface rust? The press also has the primer arm, but it's rusty and I don't know if it works, can I put this piece in the tumbler to remove rust or is there something else I should do? Or just replace it?
I'm sure there's some of you that have bought used and neglected presses that know how to restore them so can you give me advice please?

Also if anyone has a cheap .40 S&W die set they want to sell, pm me
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Old June 16, 2011, 08:37 PM   #2
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Pictures?
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Old June 16, 2011, 08:41 PM   #3
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Let me see what I can do
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Old June 16, 2011, 09:07 PM   #4
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Primer part


Top


Underside


Overview

Sorry about the pic quality but I had to use my phone and a flashlight, it's not the best.
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Old June 16, 2011, 10:32 PM   #5
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It is an RCBS Jr. press. You have a couple of RCBS primer tubes for the priming device. Does the ram on the press move when you work the handle? If so, it is not frozen with rust. There are a few different ways to get the rust off if you can get the ram out of the press. If you are very lucky the part of the ram that is covered by the press is not covered with rust. You can use Navel Jelly to remove the rust on the ram. Or, if you know how, and have a large plastic bucket, you can use electrolysis to remove the rust from the ram and other steel parts.
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Old June 16, 2011, 10:40 PM   #6
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Here is another method of easily removing rust. Make up a very-very stong batch of tea. I buy the cheapest tea bags I can find in the grocery store and throw a bunch of them in boiling water. Put the item in the tea brew (after taking it off the heat) and let sit over night. Remove it, wipe it off and add a light application of oil.

Warning: Don't drink the left over tea.
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Old June 16, 2011, 11:17 PM   #7
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Yes, it moves up and down and isn't frozen, but I have no idea how far up it's supposed to go. Where it sits in the picture, it goes up maybe another half an inch? Is it supposed to go up further? Should I remove the rust on the outside/underside/handle and try to remove the rust on the ram?

What about the primer device? Is it to corroded? It doesn't seem to seat very well in the metal piece at the back of the press unless I move it in there.
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Old June 16, 2011, 11:26 PM   #8
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I'd take it apart and remove the rust - I like Evaporust available at the auto parts store, but Naval Jelly or electrolysis in washing soda (not baking soda) will work too. Haven't heard about the strong tea treatment, though.

Then polish up the ram a bit so it moved smoothly, study a good handloading manual, and start turning out ammo.

I don't know about the primer feed, I don't prime on the press. There are inexpensive hand tools that will do a better job.
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Old June 16, 2011, 11:28 PM   #9
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Hello, Shootin Chef. Your lucky it moves ok. You could disassemble everything & use either Naval Jelly like dahermit said. You could clamp round parts in padded vise & use wetor dry paper in a "shoe shine" fashon to polish up..there will probably be pitting with that amount of rust. You could take it to a shop & have it bead blasted with fine glass "balls" this will give metal a fine matt finish & pits will be less noticiable. If you really are ambitious, plug up all holes in casting, & have it sandblasted & repaint with a crinkle type automotive paint..I did this with an old C-H 0 frame & let it set in hot sun after painting..turned out like new. Good luck!
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Old June 17, 2011, 08:02 AM   #10
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Fine press. Not a thing funtionally wrong w/ it.

Disassemble the whole things (a couple of bolts/circlips, etc) and soak in strong tea for a week as suggested for gentle de-rusting. (Let the tea stay at room temp or better.) Better yet, you can also go the classic molasses route so it doesn't discolor the surface metal.
http://www.antiqueautoranch.com/mont...rian/rust.html

BEST is go get some "EvapoRust" which the best I've ever seen for leaving spotlessly-clean/pristine metal. (I use it on everything.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X56tb...eature=related
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ighlight=evapo

I recommend discarding the primer arm/setup just on general principles. (I'd do this in even a brand new press). Use a separate [Lee] Hand Autoprimer thereafter. It's just as fast and gives you better feel.

I wouldn't repaint anything.
Wear`n Tear is like a man's face.
It tells a story.

Last edited by mehavey; June 17, 2011 at 08:10 AM.
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Old June 17, 2011, 08:07 AM   #11
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Quote:
Yes, it moves up and down and isn't frozen, but I have no idea how far up it's supposed to go. Where it sits in the picture, it goes up maybe another half an inch? Is it supposed to go up further? Should I remove the rust on the outside/underside/handle and try to remove the rust on the ram?
Yes, the linkage should go so far as to be almost straight when the ram is near the top of its travel.

Quote:
What about the primer device? Is it to corroded? It doesn't seem to seat very well in the metal piece at the back of the press unless I move it in there.
As stated by others, press-based priming systems are not the best way to go. They exert too much pressure (can crush primers), and are not sensitive enough (cannot easily feel when the primer has bottomed out in the primer pocket). However, the primer system looks like it can be salvaged by carefully removing the rust. The priming post spring may or may not be salvageable however, but parts can be obtained from RCBS if you want to make the priming system work again.
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Old June 17, 2011, 08:12 AM   #12
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If you want to really remove the rust by converting it back to good metal instead of just sanding it off, you have to use electrolosis. Go to Youtube and search on Cast Iron Electrolisis to see people restoring cast iron cookware. All it takes is a big plastic tub, water, Sodium Carbonate (Arm and Hammer Washing Soda - not baking soda), some scrap metal, and a battery charger.
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Old June 17, 2011, 08:45 AM   #13
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Naval Jelly
+1 Great Stuff ; )
Y/D
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Old June 17, 2011, 10:20 AM   #14
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Doyle said it before I could. I set up a small unit to run in my garage (Detached from the house). I used an old cell phone charger and an ugly purple tote my wife had laying around.

I did not believe it would really work, but was amazed at the pair of pliers I pulled out after just 24 hours. Heavier rust requires more time. Once you pull the equipment out of the solution wash it off, dry it and oil it.

WARNING: This can be fun and pretty soon you will be trying to either remove rust from everything or taking the next step and trying to plate everything.
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Old June 17, 2011, 11:27 AM   #15
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The girlfriend is going to kill each and every one of you for giving me ideas for projects like this.

I will have to look into this electrolysis you speak of, once I figure out how to disassemble this thing. Is there any danger to speak of in the process of electrolysis? Will it take off the paint to?
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Old June 17, 2011, 11:47 AM   #16
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I wish they still used the Jr. Press linkage design. Hell, I wish they had made a larger opening
And called it a Sr.
You absolutely can't beat
the feel. I still use mine a lot for load developing and small stuff. And for swaging primer pockets,
You can feel the brass as is moves using the RCBS swage. Great press.
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Old June 17, 2011, 01:27 PM   #17
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Quote:
If you want to really remove the rust by converting it back to good metal instead of just sanding it off, you have to use electrolysis.
Electrolysis does not, "convert rust back to good metal". It turns it into a black, soft, material that can be easily removed with a wire brush. The metal that is left after the black crust is removed is clean and bright. There well however, be pits left from the rusting process...there is not way to avoid that because when rust forms its volume is greater than the metal's was. consider the following: Fe is iron. O is oxygen Fe2O3 is rust. If one could convert rust back into iron, one would have to use a chemical reduction process (if I am not mistaken), by combining Carbon monoxide with the rust. Fe2O3+ CO =2Fe + 3CO2 This is generally what happens in a smelter, they add iron ore (rust) to coke (adds carbon and carbon monoxide when it burns, just as charcoal does.) I probably screwed up the balance of the equation, but that is generally how it goes. But, if I am wrong, chemistry majors, please straighten me out on this.
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Old June 17, 2011, 01:37 PM   #18
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Thanks Dahermit. Chemistry isn't my strong suit.
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Old June 17, 2011, 01:38 PM   #19
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You guys are making this way harder than needed. Disassemble the press, brush the rust off the body (you can treat it with a rust inhibitor if you like), mask the ram opening and die opening and paint the press body. Toss the primer arm. Buff the linkage and the handle and oil it lightly. Use 0000 steel wool on the ram to remove the bulk of the rust and oil it with gun oil. Let the ram sit overnight and repeat the process on the ram. You may want to use white grease on the ram. Put it back together and get years of service out of it.
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Old June 17, 2011, 01:50 PM   #20
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Rustolium makes a great hammertone green in a spray can. Do what Flashhole said and give it a coat of paint.

Last edited by jaguarxk120; June 17, 2011 at 06:26 PM.
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Old June 17, 2011, 05:02 PM   #21
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Quote:
You guys are making this way harder than needed....
This is an HOCDN [Handloading-for-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-Neurotics] forum isn't it?
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Old June 17, 2011, 07:40 PM   #22
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You guys are making this way harder than needed. Disassemble the press, brush the rust off the body (you can treat it with a rust inhibitor if you like), mask the ram opening and die opening and paint the press body. Toss the primer arm. Buff the linkage and the handle and oil it lightly. Use 0000 steel wool on the ram to remove the bulk of the rust and oil it with gun oil. Let the ram sit overnight and repeat the process on the ram. You may want to use white grease on the ram. Put it back together and get years of service out of it.
We are making it harder than needed!!!??? We would let electrolosis do the work...you buff, paint, oil, grease, steel wool; all hand work!
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Old June 17, 2011, 08:04 PM   #23
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I enjoy taking things apart, removing the rust, oiling and getting back together again.

Painting, not so much.
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Old June 17, 2011, 08:36 PM   #24
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Hi my name is GP100man & I`m addicted to shooting, reloading ,& casting !!

Just keep telling SWMBO think of all the money your saving on ammo !!!

Nuttin wrong with the JR press , I use 1 dedicated to Lee autoprime II .

& it`ll do anything ya can get to fit !!! Just clean it up good enuff so it does`nt destory itself , it`s probably titer & truer than anything ya can buy now !!!

Good Luck on your endeavors & Be Safe !!!
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Old June 18, 2011, 08:34 AM   #25
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...Nuttin wrong with the JR press...
I agree. I searched for a used one and bough one years ago because of the shorter stroke than the "stronger", more sophisticated presses. I figured that inasmuch as the majority of my hand loading was for handguns (higher volume than hand loading for rifle), the shorter, and therefore slightly faster RCBS Jr. made more sense than a larger, longer linkage, as with the "stronger, better", RCBS Rockchucker style of presses. The RCBS Jr. has more than enough mechanical advantage to do all the common duties of hand loading. Anything with more mechanical advantage is just over-kill. It is my choice for anything I need to do or would rather do (bottle-neck rifle loading), on a single-stage rather than my Dillon 550B. If one has a progressive, it is also very handy to have a single-stage press and the RCBS Jr. is ideal in that role.
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