Wrench to change primer punch
Quote from Reloader on November 25, 2016, 5:38 pmFrom what I have discovered from talking to several different people, apparently, the primer punch assembly has gone through at least 2 design revisions. Be careful with modifying it, it might come apart on you or break during use. I find that you don't have to tighten the primer punch down hard for it to work properly, just a slight snug down.
From what I have discovered from talking to several different people, apparently, the primer punch assembly has gone through at least 2 design revisions. Be careful with modifying it, it might come apart on you or break during use. I find that you don't have to tighten the primer punch down hard for it to work properly, just a slight snug down.
Quote from Reloader on December 8, 2016, 8:55 pmUpdate: After I checked the price on replacement primer punches, I went rummaging through my scrap metal box and found a few inches of 5/8" round bar - got busy with the lathe and fabricated a couple of "shoulder washers" to replace the spring retainers on my primer seating punches.
I then grabbed (another) 1/4" drive 9/16" deep socket and reduced the OD at the tip (per Dichione's instructions - thanks!) and viola - I now have frustration-free method of swapping out primer punch assemblies without having to remove any "extra" parts of the press or risking crunching the indexer ring or indexer spring with an open end wrench.
I've probably spent way more time on this project than it would have taken me to swap out the primer punch the next 100 times I change my XL-650 between large and small primers , but now I'll just pat myself on the back for being so clever (and a bit OCD) every time I do it.
Update: After I checked the price on replacement primer punches, I went rummaging through my scrap metal box and found a few inches of 5/8" round bar - got busy with the lathe and fabricated a couple of "shoulder washers" to replace the spring retainers on my primer seating punches.
I then grabbed (another) 1/4" drive 9/16" deep socket and reduced the OD at the tip (per Dichione's instructions - thanks!) and viola - I now have frustration-free method of swapping out primer punch assemblies without having to remove any "extra" parts of the press or risking crunching the indexer ring or indexer spring with an open end wrench.
I've probably spent way more time on this project than it would have taken me to swap out the primer punch the next 100 times I change my XL-650 between large and small primers , but now I'll just pat myself on the back for being so clever (and a bit OCD) every time I do it.