Drill motor trim tool?
- Thread starter NY Yankee
- Start date
Larry in wyoming
Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2021
- Messages
- 622
My Lyman trimmer came with a cutter designed to be driven with a drill motor.
MarshallDodge
Member
The Lee trimmers are inexpensive and can be drill powered.
You need one of these
and then one of these for the particular cartridge case
You need one of these
and then one of these for the particular cartridge case
AJC1
Member
The Lee trim tool does exactly that. If your talking 223 then there are a lot of options
Even guaird makes one.
rfwobbly
Member
Agreed. The basic Lyman trimmer has 2 accessories available: Carbide cutters and a Drill Motor adapter. My 1970's gray model has been fitted with both.
► Note: The gray model came with metal bushings and with added lubrication can work with a drill motor just fine. The orange version seems to have plastic bushings and your results may/may not be as good.
► Note: The gray model came with metal bushings and with added lubrication can work with a drill motor just fine. The orange version seems to have plastic bushings and your results may/may not be as good.
AJC1
Member
You didn't wip out a piece of oil bronze and make an upgradeAgreed. The basic Lyman trimmer has 2 accessories available: Carbide cutters and a Drill Motor adapter. My 1970's gray model has been fitted with both.
► Note: The gray model came with metal bushings and with added lubrication can work with a drill motor just fine. The orange version seems to have plastic bushings and your results may/may not be as good.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I use a cordless drill. With a 1/2 inch chuck. No need for an adapter.
DustyRusty
Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2020
- Messages
- 292
J moris, what is that vintage looking motor thingy?
Is it this thingy?
Is it this thingy?
PWC
Member
I use these. When I bought these Lee tools, the case length gauge came with the tool. Now you buy the cutter and lock stud as a unit, usable on all cals. and the case length only for the cal. case to be trimmed. 38 yrs, never saw reason to try to do 100's at a time. Slow down, relax and enjoy the hobby. Lock stud, cutter, and case length gauge are from Lee, as well as crimped primer removal tool. Imagination will automate
Last edited:
irishlad
Contributing Member
Mini drill press and Giraud Tri-way trimmers work great for me.
WFT2 is also a good trimmer that can cover a lot of ground for a reasonable price with how it's designed.
I also have a manual Lyman which works well for oddball calibers I don't have electric trimmers for which a drill or cordless screwdriver can easily be added to.
I also have a manual Lyman which works well for oddball calibers I don't have electric trimmers for which a drill or cordless screwdriver can easily be added to.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
I use a WFT for .223/5.56. I sort of chringed a bit at the cost but it was money well spent IMO.
Trimming .223 still isn't "fun" but it is no longer a chore.
I don't even bother to measure .223 anymore before trimming, I just run it thru the trimmer, if it needs to be trimmed it gets trimmed, if not it doesn't.
Trimming .223 still isn't "fun" but it is no longer a chore.
I don't even bother to measure .223 anymore before trimming, I just run it thru the trimmer, if it needs to be trimmed it gets trimmed, if not it doesn't.
Click_Here
Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2022
- Messages
- 138
Even with a WFT I still can't make myself do more than 100 at a time. I feel like my life is wasting away at the bench. 
MarshallDodge
Member
I do the same. Set for 1.759, just below max case length.
I believe the little Lee trimmers are closer to 1.750
theotherwaldo
Member
I use the Lee system, but I pre-check all of the brass of each type with a little gauge that I designed.
The gauges are made from a pair of furniture repair plates - the ones with one hole at each end and are about 4" long - held at a set distance apart by 2 stove bolts and 3 nuts and locked with lock washers.
One end of the gauge is locked at the minimum case length and is marked with a minus sign in whiteout, the other is set at max with a "+".
Each gauge is then marked with the cartridge type.
This minimizes brass handling, since most brass falls somewhere in the middle and doesn't have to go in the trimmer.
BTW, I trim all of my AR brass to .223 standards - saves time... .
The gauges are made from a pair of furniture repair plates - the ones with one hole at each end and are about 4" long - held at a set distance apart by 2 stove bolts and 3 nuts and locked with lock washers.
One end of the gauge is locked at the minimum case length and is marked with a minus sign in whiteout, the other is set at max with a "+".
Each gauge is then marked with the cartridge type.
This minimizes brass handling, since most brass falls somewhere in the middle and doesn't have to go in the trimmer.
BTW, I trim all of my AR brass to .223 standards - saves time... .
Last edited:
That motor has enough torque to remove some fingers if the case jams in the cutter.
irishlad
Contributing Member
It just spins the case, just like it did with the cordless hand drill I used before. The mini drill press for me is way better than the hand drill. Most folks wear a glove when doing it. It works great for me . YMMV. Choice is a good thing.
Last edited:
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,211
Its a worm drive automotive power window motor that has had a piece of barstock tacked to the drive shaft after I drilled and tapped it 5/16-24. They have a lot of torque but are on the slow side RPM wise. When I say “a lot” of torque, I use them to reset the 3/8” steel plates on my racks.
Auto reset targets
www.youtube.com
Auto reset plate rack
www.youtube.com
The other one I posted is just an industrial gear motor with a 1/2” Chuck on it.
Last edited:
irishlad
Contributing Member
This works well also and very portable and fast.
Larry in wyoming
Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2021
- Messages
- 622
Normally, if I find a working motor or whatever, I save it for projects like this. I just replaced the operating system for the window in my truck and the motor was still good. And I threw it away!
Sigh....
Sigh....
GBExpat
Member
Several years ago I bought a WCT (World's Cheapest Trimmer, like a WFT but, y'know ...) when faced with having to process a couple thousand 5.56 milsurp cases.
I mounted an old 3/8" drill motor to the 4" vise on the left end of my original 8' "gun bench", turned on some tunes, donned some gloves and waded in. I forget how long the process took, but that WCT is a slick way to quickly accomplish the task.
A coupla days later when my hands reliably worked again, I completed the processing of that brass.
Note to Self: Never again trim 2000 cases in one session ... or then Chamfer & Deburr them all 2 days later in a(nother) single session. WHEW! Hands not Happy.
=============
As an aside ...
Nice to see a drill motor referred to as a drill motor. IME, that is rare.
