Anyone have a piece of reloading equipment that's no longer in production or can find parts for but like it so much because it works? Have you engineered a replacement to fit to keep it going?
I bought an Ohaus 7200 Duo Measure Powder Throw off of here a few years back and fell in love with it the first time I set it up and used it. Where ever I had my powder dialed in at it would throw a consistent charge time and time again even if I had to take a break of a few weeks due to lack of supplies it still held where it was at. I also got it for a great deal compared to what the asking prices are now for these.
As I was tumbling some dirty bullets I accidentally knocked the old hopper off. When I picked it up off the garage floor I saw that it had cracked in several places making it unusable. I did a quick search and found that RCBS who bought Ohaus's stuff did not have parts for it anymore. The usual search of fleabay and such also turned up no luck. As I dug deeper I found a few threads from people who used a Mec shot/powder bottle to craft a new hopper.
I quickly put up a WTB ad hoping someone would have a spare. I had a few people who were looking for me. As I waited to hear back I went to Lowes and picked up some fittings. I took the thrower with me to check fitment. I ended up buying a a 1 to 3/4 copper reducer that fit. I also bought a plastic reducer as I had planned to glue the bottle to the fitting so it didn't fall out. I can't remember the sizes, but it fit the copper like a glove.
The next day the wife and I took a trip to our Kmart that is closing down. I took the plastic fitting just in case I found a bottle that fit as another user suggested. As we were walking down the grocery isle the wife and I were testing the fit and throwing drinks in the cart. When we got home I had drank the Aquafina bottle to try first. it was almost a match. I went to the garage where I hacked about a 1/4in off the top where the cap screws in. I also had to sand down the threads and the wider lip at the bottom of the cap. When it was all done it fit like a glove. My wife gave me some E6000 and I proceeded to glue the bottle into the fitting making sure to also add glue to the inside in case of any gaps. Finally I cut the bottom of the bottle off just before its widest part so I could have a lid to cover my powder. In the end I think it looks quite professional like it may of been an option for a larger hopper.
Of course the final result.
I bought an Ohaus 7200 Duo Measure Powder Throw off of here a few years back and fell in love with it the first time I set it up and used it. Where ever I had my powder dialed in at it would throw a consistent charge time and time again even if I had to take a break of a few weeks due to lack of supplies it still held where it was at. I also got it for a great deal compared to what the asking prices are now for these.
As I was tumbling some dirty bullets I accidentally knocked the old hopper off. When I picked it up off the garage floor I saw that it had cracked in several places making it unusable. I did a quick search and found that RCBS who bought Ohaus's stuff did not have parts for it anymore. The usual search of fleabay and such also turned up no luck. As I dug deeper I found a few threads from people who used a Mec shot/powder bottle to craft a new hopper.
I quickly put up a WTB ad hoping someone would have a spare. I had a few people who were looking for me. As I waited to hear back I went to Lowes and picked up some fittings. I took the thrower with me to check fitment. I ended up buying a a 1 to 3/4 copper reducer that fit. I also bought a plastic reducer as I had planned to glue the bottle to the fitting so it didn't fall out. I can't remember the sizes, but it fit the copper like a glove.
The next day the wife and I took a trip to our Kmart that is closing down. I took the plastic fitting just in case I found a bottle that fit as another user suggested. As we were walking down the grocery isle the wife and I were testing the fit and throwing drinks in the cart. When we got home I had drank the Aquafina bottle to try first. it was almost a match. I went to the garage where I hacked about a 1/4in off the top where the cap screws in. I also had to sand down the threads and the wider lip at the bottom of the cap. When it was all done it fit like a glove. My wife gave me some E6000 and I proceeded to glue the bottle into the fitting making sure to also add glue to the inside in case of any gaps. Finally I cut the bottom of the bottle off just before its widest part so I could have a lid to cover my powder. In the end I think it looks quite professional like it may of been an option for a larger hopper.
Of course the final result.