StickShaker
Active Member
I wasn't happy with my case prep station because it's WAY too slow and to make a good looking chamfer that's not lopsided I really had to concentrate on holding the case perpendicular to the cutter. Not to mention cramped fingers when doing lots of cases. I know it really doesn't matter as long as the primer goes in straight but it was bugging me to no end.
This setup didn't cost me a penny as I already had everything to build it. I can't remember where I got the motor from but I'm glad I kept it around for all of these years and finally found a use for it. The output shaft spins at 600 RPM and makes a perfect chamfer in just one second of cutting time. Total cycle time is around 5 seconds per case without rushing. I did about 500 cases today and found it to be so consistent that I don't have to inspect the chamfer any more which also saves a ton of time.
The spindexer supports the case and keeps it perpendicular to the cutter. The large spindexer spindle floats back and forth extremely easy for loading/unloading and cutting the pocket. I guide the case head into the cutter with one hand, and with my other hand, grab the front and back surface of the large disc with the holes in it using two fingers to provide the cutting force.
The motor is very neat and well built, probably in the 1950's or 60's. All of the bearings are high quality bronze bushings with no detectable play. The output shaft even has an adjustable bearing surface on the backside so axial forces, like what I'm doing, don't bind up the worm gears.
The case support in the spindexer is just a short piece of round stock with a hole and deep chamfer which pushes against the case shoulder. I made the hole large enough to give the case some play and let the primer pocket align easily with the cutter. I drilled a .30 caliber hole on the other side of the round stock and just flip it around. I chamfered some 30-06 pockets when I got done with .223 and it worked great as well.
Got fancy with the plug. I hate cords hanging off of things. You can see the axial bearing adjustments on both the motor and output shafts.
The spindex is cast iron and very heavy for its size. The weight plus the precision fit dowels allowed it to just sit on the plate with no need to clamp it down. Just pull out the finger tight dowels and the spindex can head off to other intended uses.
This setup didn't cost me a penny as I already had everything to build it. I can't remember where I got the motor from but I'm glad I kept it around for all of these years and finally found a use for it. The output shaft spins at 600 RPM and makes a perfect chamfer in just one second of cutting time. Total cycle time is around 5 seconds per case without rushing. I did about 500 cases today and found it to be so consistent that I don't have to inspect the chamfer any more which also saves a ton of time.
The spindexer supports the case and keeps it perpendicular to the cutter. The large spindexer spindle floats back and forth extremely easy for loading/unloading and cutting the pocket. I guide the case head into the cutter with one hand, and with my other hand, grab the front and back surface of the large disc with the holes in it using two fingers to provide the cutting force.
The motor is very neat and well built, probably in the 1950's or 60's. All of the bearings are high quality bronze bushings with no detectable play. The output shaft even has an adjustable bearing surface on the backside so axial forces, like what I'm doing, don't bind up the worm gears.
The case support in the spindexer is just a short piece of round stock with a hole and deep chamfer which pushes against the case shoulder. I made the hole large enough to give the case some play and let the primer pocket align easily with the cutter. I drilled a .30 caliber hole on the other side of the round stock and just flip it around. I chamfered some 30-06 pockets when I got done with .223 and it worked great as well.
Got fancy with the plug. I hate cords hanging off of things. You can see the axial bearing adjustments on both the motor and output shafts.
The spindex is cast iron and very heavy for its size. The weight plus the precision fit dowels allowed it to just sit on the plate with no need to clamp it down. Just pull out the finger tight dowels and the spindex can head off to other intended uses.