Anyone use a bullet collator?

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  • Last Post 20 June 2012
CB posted this 11 June 2012

I have been working on an attempt to build a bullet collator for my star sizer. I see there are a couple of commercial models out there, but they are big bucks. Anyone got one hooked up to a star sizer?

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LWesthoff posted this 12 June 2012

Jeff:

I was a little confused, so I looked up the definition of collator. Now I'm very confused. Just what do you want this thingamabob to do? (I'm not trying to be a smartass, just admitting I don't know what a bullet collator would do.)

Wes

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CB posted this 12 June 2012

A bullet collator has a hopper that take the bullets and orientates them in the same direction, such as base down. There are a couple of commercial versions, one by MA Systems that Magma uses on the lubemaster and another by a fellow tha goes by Mr. Bulletfeeder.com Both are more expensive than I can spend to get it. I am working on one to feed my star sizer to do pistol bullets. There are a couple of videos on you tube that I used as a starting point. I am 3 months into this project and I can say at this point it would be easier to buy one. But it us an interesting project to stretch the brain cells. I will get a link to one of the videos so everyone can go Oooooh! I want one of those!

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CB posted this 12 June 2012

Here isw a pic of the MA Systems collator used with the lubemaster..

And here is a homemade version

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LWesthoff posted this 12 June 2012

Well that makes a heckuva lot more sense than what I was picturing. After nearly 40 years of bullseye pistol competition, with most every cast .45 bullet having been run through a Star, I was picturing some kind of gadget that would sort the bullets AS THEY CAME OUT of the lube/sizer rather than before they went in. If it's OK, I'll go over in a corner and blush for a little while, now.

Wes

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CB posted this 12 June 2012

Ah Hell Wes, no need to blush... I was utterly amazed the first time I saw one. So it ate at me until I got up the gumption to try and make one myself. I just may draw up plans and make templates so guys can make their own if they want..

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James Ball posted this 12 June 2012

I have an idea,get the Dillon case collator and make a plate out of aluminum that fits your bullet about $250.00 delivered.If you want the best call GSI international in Arizona.Dillon may have a size plate they think will work for your bullet if its 9mm or 38 357-45  dont know about 30 cal or smaller without going to GSI

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ubetcha posted this 19 June 2012

Sure is noisy and what about damage to the bullets with all that tumbling.But it does look neat though

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CB posted this 19 June 2012

The damage is minimal, I get more damage dropping them from the mold than I get running them in the collator, it only turns about 4rpm.. Another reason I chose plastic for the material to make it out of, particularly UMHW and Polycarbonate. I am working at the moment in making the auto-feeder for the star, the bullets from the collator feed via the auto-feeder into the star die. I finished the air pressure cylinder for the star lube reservoir over the weekend. Once I get the auto-feeder completed I will be able to set up the mounting for each of the units and finish the tubes that guide the bullets from each of the individual units.

Should be quite a machine when I get it done.

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CB posted this 20 June 2012

Well the housing for the auto-feeder is made. I have a couple of the other pieces for it made as well. I should be able to finish it up tomorrow and work on the mounting if it isnt too hot in the shop. Today was a smoker, 97 degrees in the shop made it little tough making the pieces.

To get an idea of what I am doing here is a link showing the auto-feeder on a star sizer.

?v=n8NdY15RstE

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joeb33050 posted this 20 June 2012

The SYNTRON BOWL FEEDER has done this kind of job at a zillion factories for the last 50+ years. Norm Johnson shoots unlubricated lead pistol bullets as a matter of course.
joe b.

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CB posted this 20 June 2012

Had not looked at this company, they don't have enough pictures for my liking. But I can see enough to ask for better info. Thanks.

I am building this because I can, not because no one else has done it. To me it is interesting to see and understand how and why something works.

A very challenging project to build when you don't have much to work with in the way of a working unit to copy or plans to work from.

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