59FLH
Well-Known Member
I watched the video, he nailed it at 15:36
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Frankford Arsenal Platinum Case Trim & Prep Center initial review
- Thread starter FEENIX
- Start date
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59FLH
Well-Known Member
Pro tip: Touch the mouth of the case on a wet lube pad before trimming, or a cloth / paper towel wet with cutting oil, or any oil.
59FLH
Well-Known Member
Could the cutter with internal chamfer pilot from a RCBS 3- way cutter be substituted ?
Would the pilot help or hinder the trimming process?
Would the pilot help or hinder the trimming process?
baldhunter
Well-Known Member
I have mine sitting upright inside of a 9"x12" card board box.I just use a 2" paint brush to sweep the brass shavings off to the side,so all my brass shavings stay inside the box.Beside finding it a great time saver and a great easy way to keep the brass consistent,it also lets me know when my brass needs to be annealed.I'm using the trim cutter it came with and around the forth firing,I start noticing chatter as the brass is getting harder,so I know it's time to anneal.Another thing about that is,if I don't anneal at that time,I start seeing a higher amount of runout on my loaded rounds.I usually will do a large amount prep of one type of cartridge and have them stored in plastic bags marked as prepped ready to load and the number of times fired.That way I don't have to switch back in forth on the trimmer setting so often.I know one thing,if my machine ever quit,I'd buy another without hesitation.
Yes!
It will help align and secure the case, but it will slow down the process. I think what came with it is sufficient.
I'm curious, a couple weeks ago I saw you recommended the Hornady case prep center. How do these two units compare? Pros? Cons?
Thanks
MarkInPA
Well-Known Member
Well.... For me, after watching this video, I will stay with my Wilson trimmer at least for case trimming.
Sorry, a little confused with this statement. Do you require noisy tools for inside use?
"My" preference would be the Hornady.
Hornady: Pro: Overall, it is a much better set-up. Con: Price $600+) and the space it takes.
FA: Pro: Portability and price ($140). Con: Fixed/single-speed motor. For most, this is a con, but for me, it is OK.
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I hardly need any trimming on my brass. The 20 I used to test did not need any, but I will not reload them.
Sorry, I cannot help you in that area.Sorry, a little confused with this statement. Do you require noisy tools for inside use?
Citified
Well-Known Member
Feenix:
Thanks for the review. I have been looking at this to simplify the process. If you size the cases first for the correct shoulder bump,
does the cutter provide consistent trim length? I have other FA tools
and they work well.
Thanks for the review. I have been looking at this to simplify the process. If you size the cases first for the correct shoulder bump,
does the cutter provide consistent trim length? I have other FA tools
and they work well.
cowboy
Well-Known Member
I'll jump in here and give you my experience with this unit as I have had one since they first came out.
To answer your question on consistent trim length. I have found that OAL trim length will vary in the .002"-.003" in "some" instances. This is caused by a number of circumstances.
- OAL is dependent on consistent pressure and clearance up against cutter.
- If I anneal before trimming I get much better consistency
- Built up brass shavings on cutter or shoulder stop (When my OAL starts going south I clean shavings out of cutter chamber) This is by far the largest cause of inconsistency.
- Different brands of brass vary in hardness and thickness - I never prep mixed brass at same time.
- having a sponge or cloth with cutting oil to dab each neck before inserting into cutter seems to make for a cleaner more uniform finish. I have also noticed the cutter stays much cooler. This is true with any cutting tool that uses a rotating head. Any heat is not good.
- Don't be afraid to have a spare cutter. All cutters go south with usage - it's just a matter of time.
Conclusion: OAL length is not as precise or consistent as a Wilson or Forester trimmer but most of us won't know the difference unless you're a bench rest shooter. I use this machine exclusively but go at in a very consistent and uniform manner.
This is just my 2 cent opinion and others may agree/disagree.
My process is as follows."
1. I always full-size/de-prime first, and since it is lubed inside and out, it addresses @59FLH tip.
2. Trim (if required). Once I had the cutter set, it was a breeze. Yes, trim lengths were consistent. It was only done with 20 cases. As previously noted, I do not trim a lot of my cases. I might have to revisit this later.
3. Chamfer the inside and outside of the case mouth and clean the primer pocket. Run a bronze brush inside the case and use steel wool to debut outside the case mouth.
4. Clean cases.
I appreciate the comment.
