Lee auto disk/ Pro disk

[Dudedog]

I have both and like them. (Pro disk is nicer) I have the Lee adjustable charge bar and its works ok, buts gets finicky at smaller volumes (which is where I really need it). The round holes in the fixed size disks just seem to work better. I have resized them but was just wondering if anybody else would like to see a new disk from Lee with different volumes.
I am not a mechanical engineer of a industrial/manufacturing process person but it does not seem like it would be that hard for them to add a new disk, since they appear to be a plactic injected molded item.
Last time I checked the double disk kit was $11 so I would be willing to pay $7.50 for my new special disk! ok... maybe even $10. An aluminum die holder for the turrent press is $13 so I might even go as high as $13......
Disk 1 is
.3
.32
.34
.4
.43
Disk 2 is
.46
.49
.53
.57
.61
.66
I was thinking maybe something like
.33
.36
.385 or (.38/.39)
.415 or (.41/.42)
.45
.48
Those would be my six new sizes. What would anybody else like to see?
Maybe if all the loyal Lee product users (us sick deluded people) Lee might consider it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have the Lee Micro-Disk and the Double Disk kit and that gives me all the options I've ever come across needing.

Yes it would probably be nice to have disks which provide every cc opening but that would probably require a dozen disks be supplied with each measure. I doubt any company would do that because of costs.

 

[tcoz]

I definitely agree with you. When I was working up my first 9mm loads, I really wanted one between .34 and .4, so my vote would be a .37 rather than .36. I also bought the adjustable charge bar for .45 and even though it allows for "infinitely adjustable" charges, I've found it to be a little inconsistent when dropping 5.2 gr of HP38. It's worse at the beginning of my session and gets better as I go. 6.2 gr of AA#5 meters perfectly start to finish through the disk.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

My adjustable charge bar, after several thousand rounds, is very consistent with HP-38 (from about 3.5 gr to 6.0gr). I can't imagine going back to the disks. But I did feel that when new it was not as consistent. I think as graphite from the powder smeared over all the moving surfaces everything started to work smoother. I think if I ever buy a new one I'll spray everything with dry graphite lube and work it until it smooths out. One trick I used is when I adjust I always do the last adjustment to the desired setting from a higher setting, so the thread "slop" is locked. May not be necessary but I get good results.

 

[kc.38]

What I have done is take some sizes that I never use and drill them out to get the exact weight that I want. I then mark them with tape for convenience but I am not concerned as I always weigh my loads with every disk change. I should say that I weigh them about every 10 drops also.

 

[Dudedog]

I may be mistaken but I don't think Lee makes the Micro disks any more. Does anyone know where they might be available?

I was not asking for disks with every size hole in .01 increments just wondering if Lee were to make just one more disk what people would like to see.

In the sizes I would most like to see-more between .3 and .46 the adjustable charge bar works but IMO is not as accurate or consistant as a fixed size disk. Yes I can enlarge smaller holes, usually only 2 or 3 in a set of disks, yes I can fill larger holes with JB Weld or something and drill them out but it is a .
(Any favorite ways to fill up the larger holes in the disks?)

My "one new disk" would also allow enlarging the hole sizes as well for more options.
(Much easier than fill and drill)
Just a dream but who knows if we all suggested it might happen.

And yes we could call it the 9mm disk, guilty as charged.

One of the reasons I selected Universal Clays as my first pistol powder is because it's VMD worked out well with the sizes in the fixed disks for the pistol calibers I load. (9mm Mak, 9mm, .357, .45) I think it's a great powder, clean, ,meters well, nice burn speed, just not available for months.....

Agree with kc.38 weigh with disk change, weigh every 10-15.

My adjustabe charge bar seems to throw heavier as I go along so it's a pain to load 20 adjust, load 20 adjust, somewhere around 50-100 it settles down, but sometimes I just can't seem to make it cooroperate and throw say 4.4 - 4.5 grains of Autocomp. (0.346 or 0.354) by VMD calcs, your mileage may vary.

And yes I could by 5 or 6 of them and never adjust, but I like the disks with fixed round holes better.
Have tried tapping the hopper, drier sheets, hoppping on one foot, talking nice to it, cussing at it, etc.
Have not tried coating it with dry graphite, other than whats on the powder.

Note use any load data at your own risk, always a good idea to check your manual and powder manafactures data as well, don't trust me, I don't trust myself.

 

[Dudedog]

Here's the whole spreadsheet if anyone is interested. Excell, no macros.
View attachment loads.zip

Note use any load data at your own risk, always a good idea to check your manual and powder manafactures data as well, don't trust me, I don't trust myself.

Moderator, to the best of my knowdlege the info contained is not copyrighted. If you see anything that is/might be please kill it for me ASAP. Thanks

 

[GT1]

I may be mistaken but I don't think Lee makes the Micro disks any more. Does anyone know where they might be available?

Lee broke their mold and evidently it cost some huge sum to make another and they have declined.

Someone has reverse engineered a way to make the micro disks and they are selling knock-offs on the bay. They look like a good product from what I can tell.
Same party is also producing blank standard disks and selling them there for those that might try drilling their own.

 

[Dudedog]

Bummer, just cant see how the molds should be a huge amount of money, toss the chunk of metal in to a CNC machine....if a cheap AR is $1000 can't see how a mold would be more than that.
(I expect to here why)
(and I know they would need more than one but still if sales justified it)

Will look for the knock off micro disks and blanks, do recall about how much?

PS would hate to turn Blue or Green!
Drink Blue koolaid Yeh!
Makes me think of the Movie Medicine Man with Sean Connery and the lady drinking the yoco bark.

 

[GT1]

There is another discussion or two here somewhere about Lee not making a new mold for the micro.

The ones listed right now are around $20 plus shipping, blank full size was $10 something plus shipping.

 

[1SOW]

Like tho OP, I make my own holes. If #49 is .1 gr short, I redrill and label it 49.1

For any given caliber, the holes used are pretty limited. , so with a $5 disk it's easy to make 3 additional holes/drops. They can still be used with any powder using the chart as a reference. I can load 9mm from 3.6 to 4.4 grs in .1 gr steps with VV n320. Works well.


My method is to VERY slightly counterbore from the bottom of the disc hole and check the drop. Repeat until very close, then sand with fine carborundum on a dowell until the drop is right on.

 

[RealGun]

Not yet another thread about the nonexistent micro! Come on guys.:banghead:

 

[Lost Sheep]

There is another discussion or two here somewhere about Lee not making a new mold for the micro.

The ones listed right now are around $20 plus shipping, blank full size was $10 something plus shipping.

Do you have a name or the manufacturer, or better yet, an internet link, please?

Thanks.

Lost Sheep

p.s. I have been working on a design for a "disk" with removable/replaceable disk cavities. One could change cavities (about a 1" square piece with a hole in it, much smaller and cheaper than an entire disk) without disassembling the measure-or even emptying it. But so far, it is a paper and pencil operation only.

P.P.S.
Found it!
Micro-DIsk $21.50
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUSTOM-CAST...d=100012&prg=1014&rk=3&rkt=3&sd=331083027451&
Blank disk (with pilot holes) $10.50
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUSTOM-CAST...d=100012&prg=1014&rk=1&rkt=3&sd=331083027451&

 

[Lost Sheep]

Bummer, just cant see how the molds should be a huge amount of money, toss the chunk of metal in to a CNC machine....if a cheap AR is $1000 can't see how a mold would be more than that.
(I expect to here why)
(and I know they would need more than one but still if sales justified it)
.

I suggested to Lee Precision back in May 2012. I got a very nice email back from John Lee (or from Steph on his behalf?) stating that a set of injection molds cost about $15,000 and that Lee Precision did not think there would be enough of a market to recoup the cost.

The same reasoning seems to be behind their decision not to replace the damaged molds for the Micro-disk (the half-height one, not the Micro-Adjustable Charge bar)

 

[RealGun]

Whatever works for you, but I think the point of this system is to settle for the closest yield to the desired charge. Trickle charge rifle loading precision is just not within the scope of this mode of measuring.

 

[RandyP]

There is also the option of buying some JB Weld and filling a spare disk, sanding it nice and flat and then drilling out the holes to whatever size you want to try? A Harbor Freight mega drill bit pack is pretty affordable.

Yes, I do have the micro-disk and use it for my .380 reloads. Also am an exclusive user of Win 231/HP-38 which meters very well through my Lee gear. I did make up my own chart that lists each disk hole size and the weight of my powder of choice each one throws. I still scale verify before a reloading session, but my chart is a great starting point.

 

[Schwing]

Here's the whole spreadsheet if anyone is interested. Excell, no macros.
View attachment 193108

Note use any load data at your own risk, always a good idea to check your manual and powder manafactures data as well, don't trust me, I don't trust myself.

Moderator, to the best of my knowdlege the info contained is not copyrighted. If you see anything that is/might be please kill it for me ASAP. Thanks

Thanks for posting this!

While I never use unpublished load data, I like taking a look at loads other people have worked up. As long as they are within published data mins/maxes, I will give them a try and have had some good luck and wasted less in supplies vs. trying to work them up from scratch.

 

[sexybeast]

Yes, I do have the micro-disk and use it for my .380 reloads. Also am an exclusive user of Win 231/HP-38 which meters very well through my Lee gear. I did make up my own chart that lists each disk hole size and the weight of my powder of choice each one throws. I still scale verify before a reloading session, but my chart is a great starting point.
__________________

I tried my micro disc once and could not depend on it. I was trying to load 32acp and the charges were all over the place. Forgot what powder I was trying. I just got some 231/hp38 so this is good to know and I will try it again.
One concern for the microdisc is that its adjustable. Anyone have major issues with it slowly changing? The swing for 231 in 32acp is only .3gr so it has to be something I can trust.

 

[Rule3]

I have the micro disks and charge bar, never use them. They will be valuable collector items some day

The easiest way to make your own calibrated disc IMO is to buy another set and take a size hole that is just a tad to much, drill a hole in the side and put a set screw in it. You can screw it in or out to establish a load you want. Crude but have read others do it. Might not work well with some powders.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I may be mistaken but I don't think Lee makes the Micro disks any more. Does anyone know where they might be available?

I was not asking for disks with every size hole in .01 increments just wondering if Lee were to make just one more disk what people would like to see.

In the sizes I would most like to see-more between .3 and .46 the adjustable charge bar works but IMO is not as accurate or consistant as a fixed size disk. Yes I can enlarge smaller holes, usually only 2 or 3 in a set of disks, yes I can fill larger holes with JB Weld or something and drill them out but it is a .
(Any favorite ways to fill up the larger holes in the disks?)

My "one new disk" would also allow enlarging the hole sizes as well for more options.
(Much easier than fill and drill)
Just a dream but who knows if we all suggested it might happen.

And yes we could call it the 9mm disk, guilty as charged.

I never said you wanted more than one disk, I was eluding to the fact if they do make the one disk you want what about the disk I want and the different disks my neighbor and the guy around the corner and in the next state want? My post was short and did not mention you at all.

If you make one additional disk everyone will expect them to make the disk they want too. Then if they don't they anger a whole group of reloaders and lose business. That's all I meant when mentioning they don't want to make all those disks!

 

[Rule3]

Heck I have been asking LEE to make a roller handle for their CLASSIC turret press for years. But Noooooo. They make it for the lesser Delux one so go figure???

As to the discs I have learned to adapt. If it throws 4.8 and I want 5.0 well that's OK with me.

 

[Potatohead]

My adjustable charge bar, after several thousand rounds, is very consistent with HP-38 (from about 3.5 gr to 6.0gr). I can't imagine going back to the disks. But I did feel that when new it was not as consistent. I think as graphite from the powder smeared over all the moving surfaces everything started to work smoother. I think if I ever buy a new one I'll spray everything with dry graphite lube and work it until it smooths out. One trick I used is when I adjust I always do the last adjustment to the desired setting from a higher setting, so the thread "slop" is locked. May not be necessary but I get good results.

Yes,mine is doing much better than when i was using it at the beginning now that I think about it.

OP,
I definitely wish they had made more sizes in the disks.

I also wish I had a 3 hole turret press.

 

[Dudedog]

My IP was inquiring what sizes people would like if there was 1 new disk. Just was wondering if I could get a sample of what people would like to see. So more like what everyone would want not just me.

Ok I can maybe believe $15,000 for a mold (made by goverment toilet seat manafacturers), but a $10 a disk that would require selling at min 2000 (production has to cost something but it appears Custom Cast can make 2 blanks for $10) so if production cost is $5 ea then they would have to sell 3000 to break even. (hope my math is correct here)
I would think they could survey the sizes people would like, and get close enough to make some people happy enough to sell 3000, but I have no idea how many powder measures (auto disk / pro disk they produce a year) or how many other people use them, but 3000 does not seem like alot.


Will have to try the setscrew trick on some of the larger disk holes to see how it works for me. Thanks for that idea.

A long time ago in the dim and distant past in a galaxy far far away when there was a selection of powders available to pick from you could always pick a powder that worked well with the sizes available for what you were loading. (one of the reasons I liked Universal)

Anyway it was just a dream,
back to drilling, filling:banghead:

 

[Dudedog]

Your welcome Schwing, glad to help.

 

[Lost Sheep]

RandyP and DudeDog (posts 6 and 16) I would think Hot Glue might be easier than JB Weld. Faster, at least. Or, a high-temperature hard wax.

Lost Sheep