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Author Topic: How are Dies Made ?  (Read 730 times)

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Offline BeechNut

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How are Dies Made ?
« on: April 08, 2011, 01:51:47 PM »
How are reloading dies made ?
Are they reamed ?
Lapped ?
How about carbide dies... I don't imagine they ream them.
Anyone with firsthand knowlege about this.
Just wondering.
Thanks.

BN
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Offline Frank46

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Re: How are Dies Made ?
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2011, 06:14:16 PM »
I believe that they are made from 1211L steel which is a leaded steel. I saw a few photos once and yes from what I saw they are reamed much like a rifle chamber. Then internally polished and then heat treated. After heat treating the entire die is again polished to remove any discoloration from heat treatment, oiled and boxed up. I could be wrong about what steel is used though. I have made shorty neck sizing dies from 7/8x14 threaded rod I bought at a machine shop supply house. I omitted heat treating as steel is harder than cartridge brass. This is sort of a simplified explanation. Hope this helps. Frank
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Offline gunnut69

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Re: How are Dies Made ?
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2011, 04:53:04 PM »
 The carbide dies are actually just holders for the carbide sizing rings. The rings are made and installed in a crush fit in the dies bady. They are then diamond polished to the correct ID,,
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Offline .22-5-40

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Re: How are Dies Made ?
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2011, 08:16:31 PM »
Hello, BeechNut.  The carbide dies are ground to size with diamond impregnated wheels. & polished with diamond dust.  Back in the early 80's, we made our own .38 carbide dies..the grinders didn't like us for awhile!  Oh, the RCBS .38 & .44 carbide sets I have are silver brazed in place.
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Offline BeechNut

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Re: How are Dies Made ?
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2011, 06:24:12 PM »
Thanks, Gentlmen.
That answers my question.

BN
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