Forster coax press...should I buy one?

[Ron Milby]

+ 1 for coax! The best I have used in my many years of reloading.

 

[werth338]

Has anyone tried the Frankford Co-ax and how does it compare to the Forster?

 

[Svashtar]

Thank you. I am going to purchase the conversion and run a test on runout. Just for my own curiosity. I also appreciate the comments on side links. Have you a phone for josh?

No phone, but I emailed him at [email protected] and got a reply from him very quickly, with pics.

Here's what he wrote me initially about them:

"I have sets in stock and ready to ship currently. A set shipped to anywhere in the US is $65. They are fully machined from 1018 american forged steel with hardened dowel pins welded into location for new stops. they are then coated with black oxide as a rust preventative and for aesthetics. All orders are done with an emailed invoice from paypal. if you're interested, all i need is your shipping information and i will email you an invoice."

Then in a later email in response to a question: "The press doesn't lose any travel, and the tolerances held are almost exact to the stock links."

Again, look at the Inline Fab versions Dan Clausen makes. They are a nice finish to match his other products, and super quality, but I didn't care for the pyramid hump in the middle for the stop, which can affect your clearance. Josh goes a different route having the stops bear on the back of the press frame.

The only difference is that Josh used to leave them full bright polish, and had some rusting, so he recalled those and Black oxides everything now. That gives a great protective finish, but isn't as smooth appearing as black powder coating, or as pretty as the full polish ones were.

For want of a better word the finish will be slightly uneven or blotchy, if you look hard. I don't know enough about oxide coating to know if that's normal, but it doesn't look bad to me. I might have them powdercoated when I have another metal project done down the road, just for looks.

Here's a pic and you can see what I mean. I think these are the best designed side links for the co-ax though:

 

[Svashtar]

By the way, tried to edit the above post, but the system tells me it may be spam and won't let me.

Anyway, that pic is from Josh, mine look a bit different on the surface.

 

[Svashtar]

Has anyone tried the Frankford Co-ax and how does it compare to the Forster?

Check out Gavintoobe's original review of the Frankford M-press for details:



Honestly, I have some FA stuff like their tumbler, but this is a cheaper Made in China version of the Forster, and as can be expected has a few more issues.

I compared both and went with the Co-ax a few months ago. Not just the Made in USA, although that was a big part of it, but the overall quality, accessories, and customer support.

 

[sturner]

Y'all got me looking I'm using two Rcbs now
Was looking at the T 7 Redding

 

[werth338]

Check out Gavintoobe's original review of the Frankford M-press for details:



Honestly, I have some of their stuff like their tumbler, but this is a cheaper Made in China version of the Forster, and as can be expected has a few more issues. I compared both and went with the Co-ax a few months ago. Not just the Made in USA, although that was a big part of it, but the overall quality, accessories, and customer support.

Thanks for the info. Wasn't sure on it and reviews seemed to be pretty limited.

 

[DFHarley19]

Thank you, guys! I just emailed Manzgear. Hopefully, he has some of the plates I am looking for.

 

[Far North Hunter]

No phone, but I emailed him at [email protected] and got a reply from him very quickly, with pics.

Here's what he wrote me initially about them:

"I have sets in stock and ready to ship currently. A set shipped to anywhere in the US is $65. They are fully machined from 1018 american forged steel with hardened dowel pins welded into location for new stops. they are then coated with black oxide as a rust preventative and for aesthetics. All orders are done with an emailed invoice from paypal. if you're interested, all i need is your shipping information and i will email you an invoice."

Then in a later email in response to a question: "The press doesn't lose any travel, and the tolerances held are almost exact to the stock links."

Again, look at the Inline Fab versions Dan Clausen makes. They are a nice finish to match his other products, and super quality, but I didn't care for the pyramid hump in the middle for the stop, which can affect your clearance. Josh goes a different route having the stops bear on the back of the press frame.

The only difference is that Josh used to leave them full bright polish, and had some rusting, so he recalled those and Black oxides everything now. That gives a great protective finish, but isn't as smooth appearing as black powder coating, or as pretty as the full polish ones were.

For want of a better word the finish will be slightly uneven or blotchy, if you look hard. I don't know enough about the coating to know if that's normal, but it doesn't look bad to me. I might have them powdercoated when I have another metal project done down the road, just for looks.

Here's a pic and you can see what I mean. I think these are the best designed side links for the co-ax though:

View attachment 166145

 

[Svashtar]

Y'all got me looking I'm using two Rcbs now
Was looking at the T 7 Redding

I almost went with the T7, and if I didn't have a Dillon might have got one. That is a beautiful piece of machinery. I like that you can set up one turret with up to two calibers worth of dies, and have other turret heads standing by on your bench ready to go.

But, I already have the Dillon progressive with extra toolheads setup for each (pistol) caliber, and a dedicated big O frame single-stage for decapping or full length resizing of larger magnum rounds where a lot of power is needed, and wanted a really fine single-stage like the co-ax to work towards as little runout as possible.

I've heard the T7 head can flex a little (I can't say that it affects runout though) and the loss of convenience in not having the next die right there was offset by the quick die changes you can do with the co-ax. Extra dies are also quickly accessible in an Inline Fab rack, so everything is handy anyway.

Once I factored in the T7 price, plus the extra turrets and stands I'd end up getting down the road, the co-ax seemed like the best choice for my setup.

 

[Far North Hunter]

I appreciate your time and feedback. I have sent Josh a email and hope to go forward with his links. Happy New Year

 

[Svashtar]

I appreciate your time and feedback. I have sent Josh a email and hope to go forward with his links. Happy New Year

Good deal, happy to refer him! That is a better mousetrap I think, and you'd be surprised how much more clearance those side links give your hands.

Shipping from both Josh and Manzgear (Michael Manzella) was quick with great communication.

 

[shinbone]

Just an FYI: I have the improved shell plate by Manzgear. I also have the linkages by Josh Badeau for improved access. Both products are super good!

Unfortunately, the Manzgear shell plate runs into the top of the press when using the Badeau linkages. More specifically, it is the cap screws holding the shell plate in place that hit the press. In other words, when using those two after-market products together, it is the Manzgear shell plate hitting the press that stops the ram's upward travel, rather than the stops on the Badeau linkages.

I looked into sourcing screws that have a lower profile, but couldn't find anything. The Manzgear screws already have a low profile head, so it looks like the best option would be to countersink them. Countersinking screw holes in hardened steel is beyond my abilities, though.

Again, both products are really well made, and each one is a substantial improvement over the OEM part it replaces. But, at least for my press, they are incompatible with one another. Meaning, I unfortunately have to choose between using either the Manzgear shell plate or the Badeau linkages, can't use both.

 

[Svashtar]

Just an FYI: I have the improved shell plate by Manzgear. I also have the linkages by Josh Badeau for improved access. Both products are super good!

Unfortunately, the Manzgear shell plate runs into the top of the press when using the Badeau linkages. More specifically, it is the cap screws holding the shell plate in place that hit the press. In other words, when using those two after-market products together, it is the Manzgear shell plate hitting the press that stops the ram's upward travel, rather than the stops on the Badeau linkages.

I looked into sourcing screws that have a lower profile, but couldn't find anything. The Manzgear screws already have a low profile head, so it looks like the best option would be to countersink them. Countersinking screw holes in hardened steel is beyond my abilities, though.

Again, both products are really well made, and each one is a substantial improvement over the OEM part it replaces. But, at least for my press, they are incompatible with one another. Meaning, I unfortunately have to choose between using either the Manzgear shell plate or the Badeau linkages, can't use both.

Well, $&@(, I feel like an idiot. I bought the side linkages from Josh and installed them, but got the Manzgear plate last month and just eyeballed it and hadn't changed it out yet. I know it's thicker than OEM. I was impressed with his design as he adds extra adjustable springs, but didn't go any further than handling it.

I'll see if perhaps the screws could be countersunk. That's too bad, as I was impressed with both units.