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June 21, 2000, 08:21 PM
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#1 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: April 6, 2000
Location: PA
Posts: 3,451
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Has anyone come up with a better solution for adjusting dies than the silly sheet metal wrench that Dillon ships with their presses? I've asked a number of people, and so far I come up empty. It's a PITA to properly adjust dies with the tools I have, including that cheap Dillon sheet metal crap. I'd love to find a truly thinwall socket that would fit Dillon and RCBS dies, it would make the adjustment painless.
 Sorry for the "double tap", my trigger finger was itchy. [This message has been edited by johnwill (edited June 21, 2000).] |
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June 21, 2000, 10:52 PM
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#2 |
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Staff
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,383
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Yes.
Instead of the die wrench, you need a die wench. In a pinch, she can also be used as a beer wench...  ------------------ Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag. Chances are he knows how to use it. |
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June 22, 2000, 03:00 AM
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#3 |
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Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
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What sort of die requires a wrench to adjust? All I've got are regular rifle and pistol dies, and I've never used a wrench on any of them...
Pray elucidate further! , Art
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June 22, 2000, 06:40 PM
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#4 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: November 22, 1999
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 136
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Art, I think he means locking the die after it's been adjusted. Anyway, RCBS makes a die wrech like you describe and I have one. In principle, it's like a thinwall socket. They sell for $4.95 I think. They fit RCBS lock rings great and will work with Dillon. The Dillon lock rings are just a hair larger O.D. so you have to push down a little while tightening the lock ring, but they still work. I would reccomend them.
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June 22, 2000, 07:15 PM
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#5 |
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Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
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Oh, that BIG lock nut. I just hold the die with my left hand and twist down snug with the right hand, and snug-up the little set screw.
Sockets, huh? Live and learn, live and learn... , Art
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June 23, 2000, 04:44 PM
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#6 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: April 6, 2000
Location: PA
Posts: 3,451
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I'll have to check RCBS, though I suspect that the Dillon dies might still be a problem.
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June 25, 2000, 09:14 PM
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#7 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 26, 2000
Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear
Posts: 2,209
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John, I had the same problem. Went to Sears and bought an eight piece combination wrench set that covers most of the nuts one must adjust. I still have to spring for one additional, the larger one for die lock rings.
Ditto for the hex wrenches. Bought a set of Craftsman ball head allen wrenches. Both come with plastic carrier/organizer and both live on nails next to the press mount. ------------------ Archie |
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June 26, 2000, 08:31 PM
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#8 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: April 6, 2000
Location: PA
Posts: 3,451
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The die nut is the one that I'm interested in adjusting, I have a wrench for everything else. I looked at box wrenches, but I was too cheap to spend $25 for one wrench! I guess I'll have to reconsider.
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June 27, 2000, 11:05 PM
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#9 |
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Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
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johnwill, levity aside, why not just put some electrical tape inside the jaws of a pair of pliers? No scratching, if you're even halfway careful, and they can tighten the nut a lot more than is needed.
Art |
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June 29, 2000, 08:36 PM
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#10 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: January 1, 2000
Location: Roanoke, Virginia
Posts: 2,678
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My 2000 RCBS catalog lists a "DIE LOCK-RING WRENCH Part # 09634.[1-3/16"] priced at $2.95.
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June 30, 2000, 11:55 PM
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#11 |
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Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
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But, MADISON, my old Pacific dies take a 1-1/4" wrench and I already have pliers.
Sorry. Entirely too much fun at the local watering-hole. , Art
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