Repurposing die boxes

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MCMXI

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I have a hard time throwing away powder containers and an even harder time throwing away things like die boxes that I'm not using. I have a bunch of the green RCBS boxes from ordering single dies over the years, or because I've combined die sets into one box etc. I have some burr bits and needed a box to put an action wrench in for a vendor so I decided to repurpose one of the RCBS boxes that I'm not using. It took about 5 minutes with my drill press and I ended up with a functional box that won't be living out it's days in a large cardboard box in some dark and dusty corner of the garage.

Note: The bottom of the boxes aren't perfectly flat so don't expect a perfect finish. I'm more than happy with how the box turned out and will do the same to 15 or more boxes that are "living out their days in a large cardboard box in some dark and dusty corner of the garage." :)

Poor man's mill :D
burr_bit.jpg

Before and after :thumbup:
rcbs_die_boxes.jpg
 
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Hokie_PhD said:
Nice
We both know drill presses make bad mills, but I’m pretty sure for soft plastic like that even the safety police will agree that the risk was low.

You're absolutely right, they don't do well with loads perpendicular to the axis of rotation since the bearings aren't designed for that. However, you're also right that the loading with "soft" plastic isn't that significant. A Rotozip or similar in a stand would probably be a better choice. I bought a Rotozip recently but don't have a stand for it.

Yeah, if I had a mill I could be really dangerous. It's on my wishlist with a million other tools. :)
 
You're absolutely right, they don't do well with loads perpendicular to the axis of rotation since the bearings aren't designed for that. However, you're also right that the loading with "soft" plastic isn't that significant. A Rotozip or similar in a stand would probably be a better choice. I bought a Rotozip recently but don't have a stand for it.

Yeah, if I had a mill I could be really dangerous. It's on my wishlist with a million other tools. :)

Harbor Freight has a mill that’s reasonably priced and when they have the 25% off coupon it’s a real deal.

That said, I’ve also used a Dremel on projects like this. So we use what we have until we get better tools. Of course being safe should be top priority closely followed by doing a good job.

Anyway you did good.
 
It's occurred to me that I might end up doing this to boxes that have four or more dies in them since I can't always close the lid. Once those "saddles" are removed I might be able to fit the dies in the box better. Just a thought.
 
Like Walkalong, I cut out some of the saddles so dies with the L-N-L bushings will fit in the box.

I use an end cutter (a side cutter with blades perpendicular to the handles) to reach down and snip off the saddles.

Finishing the cuts as the OP did would make a nicer looking box.
 
I hate throwing away a good box too.

I’m wondering if there’s some OCD gene that causes people to gravitate to this hobby that also manifests itself in these hoarder’s tendencies where we can’t throw away a good box.

I have 100-ish Berger and Sierra bullet boxes that I can’t bring myself to part with

How repurpose reloading dunnage. Good thread :thumbup:
 
Nature Boy said:
I hate throwing away a good box too.

I’m wondering if there’s some OCD gene that causes people to gravitate to this hobby that also manifests itself in these hoarder’s tendencies

Ha! I think you nailed it. :D Those empty powder containers are way too nice to throw away. Precision reloading takes a certain amount of OCD, particularly to do it well. I can't throw any metal away, haven't been able to for years. I always think I'll find a use for that nasty offcut … and usually I do … it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
 
I haven't found a good use for empty 8# powder kegs yet, but I fill empty 1# containers from the 8 pounders.

Hmmm. As I sit here thinking, an empty 8# keg might be used for the corn cob media that comes in a plastic bag in a cardboard box ...

Yeah, I'm a bit CDO, too (that's OCD in alphabetical order). ;)
 
I hate throwing away a good box too.

I’m wondering if there’s some OCD gene that causes people to gravitate to this hobby that also manifests itself in these hoarder’s tendencies where we can’t throw away a good box.

I have 100-ish Berger and Sierra bullet boxes that I can’t bring myself to part with

How repurpose reloading dunnage. Good thread :thumbup:
I thought I was alone. To make matters worse, I also keep the big blue boxes that Lapua brass comes in. I haven't got a use for them (yet) but still can't bring myself to throw them away!
 
I thought I was alone. To make matters worse, I also keep the big blue boxes that Lapua brass comes in. I haven't got a use for them (yet) but still can't bring myself to throw them away!

The boxes Lapua brass comes in have a divider tray that snaps in for ammo boxes. I use them all the time for my bench loads.

As far as the smaller bullet boxes, they are great for keeping small parts in. The larger ones for the 45/70 aka 458 SOCOM which are only 50 round boxes are very large. These I keep, have not found a use for them yet, but have on occasion put pistol ammo in them.
 
Way to think outside the box, or would that be inside the box? :)
I'm aflicted with the same disorder. I know some day I'm gonna need that 1" x 8" piece of expanded metal for something. I'm still trying to think of a use for the Speer TNT boxes I've got. They look like a mini 50 cal ammo can. There's just gotta be something I can use them for.
 
That's awesome. I've cut down the tabs to fit the dies with the LNL bushings on them as Walkalong did. I also use the RCBS boxes to hold the Lee dies that came in the round container.
I'm still trying to think of a use for the Speer TNT boxes I've got. They look like a mini 50 cal ammo can. There's just gotta be something I can use them for.
I have one of those and I'm using it for my cast 45 ACP bullets.

OP, if you find that you have too many of the RCBS boxes, I can use a couple or three. If you're willing to part with them.
 
WelshShooter said:
I thought I was alone. To make matters worse, I also keep the big blue boxes that Lapua brass comes in. I haven't got a use for them (yet) but still can't bring myself to throw them away!

Are you nuts?!!! How could you even consider throwing those blue Lapua boxes away. :D They're nice to look at let alone use! I probably have 30 of the big ones that .338 Lapua brass comes in, and a similar number of the smaller ones that .308/6.5 brass comes in. I use them to store fired brass, bullets, tools etc. I've got 50 or so of the Berger and Barnes hard plastic boxes that I'm hoarding. I'm using some of them but most are in a box waiting for their moment to shine.

Don't get me started on the 500,000 + pieces of brass I have. Oh God …. I think I have a problem.

Note: The one downside to the Lapua boxes is how the lids snap close. They're stackable with little indexing feet but I've pinched myself many times messing with those lids. Hard to open, hard to close …. maybe that's why I mostly look at them or put things in them that I don't access regularly. The die boxes on the other hand are easy to open and close.
 
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mstreddy said:
OP, if you find that you have too many of the RCBS boxes, I can use a couple or three. If you're willing to part with them.

Do you want them modified or as they leave RCBS? I'll happily send you three of either, or mix and match … free shipping too! Maybe this is the intervention that I've needed. :D
 
I buy my bullets in bulk of 1,000 count. They come in a large Lapua cardboard box, so I just dispense them into the empty 100 plastic boxes I have to make it more manageable carrying out into the shed. I have about twenty Lapua brass boxes out in the shed. I was originally going to store my brass in them but I have plastic draws which are easier to use than mucking around with the stack of boxes ten high.

I did notice the Lapua brass boxes have trays in them for carrying rounds to the range, but these boxes are much bigger than the MTM boxes I use and store in the safe.

I may need some ideas that other people have used them for...
 
I never had enough boxes to even put all my dies in, much less cut the dividers out!:(

But you did a swell job doing it!
 
My wife and I just made our pre-paid funeral arrangements. They want an outrageous fortune for a disposable urn. I don't have any 4 or 8 pound powder bottles, but thought that would be a pretty good use.
I want to say, "That's funny!" ... but it's actually a pretty good idea! :thumbup:
 
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