Le Pellet Presse

[avator]

Ok, I cast .22 and .25 pellets.
If you cast pellets you would have, or will run into pellets that just fit a bit tight in one or more airguns.
I don't want to put the added pressure on the bolt, or my thumb in the case of a break barrel, to force them into the breech. Not only that, tight pellets don't shoot well in most cases.
Up until now my only option was to force them in and shoot them off or to use a brass ram to knock them back out into the breech. Then they are waisted or go back in the pot.

[avator]

As some of you may already know, I am a repurposer (boarder line hoarder). EVERY man's junk is MY treasure. 
When we moved into Killers I happened upon this "thing". Not sure what it was until I looked it up. It was supposed to have accessories but they were nowhere to be found.
To be honest, I had to go behind Betty Lou and dig it back out of the trash more than once. Finally I hid it from her. I knew someday I would find a use for it. My original line of thinking was a Dremel drill press.

Anyone else see the potential here?

[avator]

First step:
Find a screw that was something smaller than 5.5mm, a couple washers and a couple nuts.
Next was to cut the top of the press open to expose the under side of the top. Then drill a hole and put the screw in.

[brewbear]

As some of you may already know, I am a repurposer (boarder line hoarder). EVERY man's junk is MY treasure. 
When we moved into Killers I happened upon this "thing". Not sure what it was until I looked it up. It was supposed to have accessories but they were nowhere to be found.
To be honest, I had to go behind Betty Lou and dig it back out of the trash more than once. Finally I hid it from her. I knew someday I would find a use for it. My original line of thinking was a Dremel drill press.

Anyone else see the potential here?

Well, there goes my idea of home made sausages.... but I can see it work as a sizing press

[avator]

Next was to make the die.
I found an ss wheel valve stem and took the stem out. I measured a Crosman .22 Ultra Mag pellet with the calipers. (they fit all my .22 guns and shoot well).
I drilled the valve stem out to the exact size then fitted it into a brass plumbing reducer. I cut a hunk of scrap wood, drilled a hole for the brass reducer and screwed it into the wood tightly.
Now I can drill valve stem inserts for different sizes. 

[avator]

As some of you may already know, I am a repurposer (boarder line hoarder). EVERY man's junk is MY treasure. 
When we moved into Killers I happened upon this "thing". Not sure what it was until I looked it up. It was supposed to have accessories but they were nowhere to be found.
To be honest, I had to go behind Betty Lou and dig it back out of the trash more than once. Finally I hid it from her. I knew someday I would find a use for it. My original line of thinking was a Dremel drill press.

Anyone else see the potential here?

Well, there goes my idea of home made sausages.... but I can see it work as a sizing press

[avator]

I aligned the die with the screw and clamped the block to the bottom plate of the press then clamped the whole unit to the work bench. I placed a short glass canning jar under it... glass make a very satisfying "tink" when the sized pellet drops in. 

Instructions:
Insert pellet in the die.
Pull down on handle.
Listen for the "tink".
Rinse and repeat.

[avator]

And just a lickity split later, we have perfectly sized pellets.

Next week we'll explore airgun sausages. 

[brewbear]

And just a lickity split later, we have perfectly sized pellets.

Next week we'll explore airgun sausages. 

Don't forget to add the garlic! I did once, had to cut and remove the casing , mix the meat with garlic and a bit more spices and start the whole sausage making from the top!

[avator]

Now you've presented the problem..
I'll need to find a way to inject the garlic into the sausage as they exit the muzzle.   

[buellm2]

Clever repurposing.   I like it.

[avator]

Think I'm going to add a return spring to it to help pull the top back up. The guides are neoprene and it operates very smoothly but it's not loose at all. I can push it half ways down and it will hold it's position.
It's not really needed thing but I have springs so, why not?
I think I'm going to get alot of use out of this thing.... especially if it decreases my pellet cull rate.

[avator]

I need to grab another valve stem or the like and drill it out a bit smaller.. the pellets are better but still a little too tight. I found the same valve stems on the big A and put a couple in my cart.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Hmmmm. . . . .  I've got this George Foreman grill I've had for years. . . . . 

[avator]

Hmmmm. . . . .  I've got this George Foreman grill I've had for years. . . . . 

First thing that comes to mind is a pellet casting mold preheater... but you ain't quite there yet... lol, I said "yet". 

[buellm2]

Hmmmm. . . . .  I've got this George Foreman grill I've had for years. . . . . 

First thing that comes to mind is a pellet casting mold preheater... but you ain't quite there yet... lol, I said "yet". 

Interesting.   Along that line, I've been thinking of using an electric hair dryer for the same purpose.   It's a like-new, very fancy and powerful hair dryer.   But shortly after buying it, I found that I didn't often take advantage of it's bluetooth and wifi connectivity to dry my hair remotely.

[avator]

Or you can get real fancy....

I'm working on another one of these now.... bigger, faster, stronger...