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Posted: 12/24/2011 10:16:46 PM EDT
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Hi there reloaders I'd like to tell you about a product I was recently introduced to. It's called "Shellplate LED Light System" by ––->Inline Fabrication<––-. I've been reloading for about 10 years now and it irritated me to lean over and check to see whether or not the casing was charged with powder or if a primer made it into the pocket without actually removing the casing from the shellplate. The fact of having to squint my eyes to see if what should be happening is in fact happening, I could add another light over the bench, but that really becomes a hassle and the light really never makes past the top of the press to where I reall need it to be. Well, this gift showed up on my door step and I couldn't wait to see how it worked.
http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5696.jpg So first things first, I followed the instructions and wiped my press down with IPA around the area I planned on placing the LED strip and stuck it to the front inside brace of the press. http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5697.jpg The kit came with a smaller piece of 3M dual lock, but I didn't find a need for it other than some cable management to keep it clear from the press handle. http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5702.jpg The product has a roller/wheel type lamp switch, some thought went into the placement of the switch as it was placed near the light so it wasn't a hassle at all to turn the light on and off. Now for the truth, LET THERE BE LIGHT! http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5703.jpg This little sucker really puts off some light, but it wasn't going in the direction I needed it to go...hmmmm, what could be done. Since it came with the dual lock velco type material I easily removed it, bent the strip about 1.5" from the top and then remounted it. In the instructions Dan states he designed the LED light stip with a metal band just for this type of forming. It made a pretty big difference and it now puts the light where I want it. Underneath: http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5706.jpg Left side: http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5700.jpg http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5704.jpg Right side: http://garretts.homeserver.com/picturepale/img_5708.jpg The above photos do NOT do this product justice, you can see the inside of the press is very well lit, the LED strip can be bent and formed to really any reasonable shape and it provides ample light for powder charging at either station two, three, or four when it's bent and and shining down just as it supposed to do. I completely recommend this product if you need more localized lighting at the press. Dan is a great guy to do business with and I strongly urge you to try it. |
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Useful, I don't like the idea of having to plug something in just to get light, benches tend to get crowded and cramped, the wire would be something else that would just get in the way. It does look like it illuminates well though. Here's my KISS shell plate lighting sytem, works for Dillon 550B and 650's. You need a mini maglight and some vinyl tubing    |
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That is pretty slick. (Oh, and IBTL on the rather blatant sales pitch)
I was also looking for a way to illuminate the shellplate to be able to see the powder charge in the case. I tried various things, mostly flashlights taped and ziptied to various places. Finally my dad gave me one of those Giant magnifying glasses on the swiveling, adjustable arm deals. Important part is it had a two-setting BRIGHT halogen bulb in it. It was from his workbench. So, that works great, and has the benefit of being able to be moved around, and the magnifying glass has been really handy in a few cases. (It's very large, like 6" dia, and probably a 10 power or so.) |
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OP, why did you feel it was necessary to bold all of your text? My eyes are bad and I cant see what I'm reading, is setting bold against the rules? And BTW guys, I'm let you know what a great product this is because I'm completely happy with what it is and what it's claiming to do. It's really no different than someone building an AR with a new trigger, or handgaurd, or sight, etc. and reporting on how happy they are with a manufacturer's product, right? Or is that lines blurred as well? |
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I also have one of the lights the OP posted about. It's well built and really helps with seeing powder levels inside the cases prior to seating a bullet.
When I get back from vacation I'll post pictures of it installed on my press. I think it's a more than worthwhile addition for a progressive press and helps improve your awareness during the loading process. |
| This is one of the best safety tools you can have on your press. 45 and 40 are pretty easy to see down inside once you charge the case but 357 is a little harder as the case is taller and thinner. This light has allowed me to look down inside much easier to check on lighter target charges. I love my powder cop die but nothing beats a visual check yourself. I recomend this light to anyone who loads on a progressive. I use a Hornady but I'm sure the same holds true for the blue and green flavor too |
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OP, why did you feel it was necessary to bold all of your text? My eyes are bad and I cant see what I'm reading, is setting bold against the rules? And BTW guys, I'm let you know what a great product this is because I'm completely happy with what it is and what it's claiming to do. It's really no different than someone building an AR with a new trigger, or handgaurd, or sight, etc. and reporting on how happy they are with a manufacturer's product, right? Or is that lines blurred as well? No bold is not against the rules just very unusual. Couple of people here use larger font instead of bold. It's ok to post about a product you like. It's not ok if you are selling that product and post about it. |
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I don't reload in the dark, so I don't see why I would want one of those. My room is pretty well lit but I think something like this would be handy. I'm not sure if this specific product would work on my classic turret but a light that illuminates inside the houseing of the press would be very beneficial for giving a quick visual on the powder loads. |
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My reloading bench is very well lit, but its difficult to see the powder in the case since its sitting in the shadow of all the stuff above it, I've been thinking about some kind of special lighting for this for some time, this isn't cheap but it works well and is unobtrusive. |
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I don't reload in the dark, so I don't see why I would want one of those. My reloading room is one of the spare bedrooms upstairs. It's just not very well lit, and hanging a bunch of florescent bulbs isn't really an option. "use ya nods" 
I've been trying to findangle up some lighting in my safe using the same hardware, lots of little projects I should be doing while on leave, just finally got my bike winterized. |
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Excellent addition. I already bought one of his roller handles. Good solution as I was thinking about drilling/tapping the top of my press to drop a standard bore light into a tube threaded into the tapped hole. This is really a elegant solution.
ETA: Bought one |
| With a case feeder and the powder measure in the mix, "decent lighting" can become "not enought where you need it." My loading room is an extra bedroom with a tiny overhead light. I have a couple of directional lights on the bench area, but they don't lit the inside of the press sufficiently without shining in my eye or casting very distracting shadows. I ordered the LED light last night, and I'm looking forward to being able to see the details I want to see. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I don't reload in the dark, so I don't see why I would want one of those. My reloading room is one of the spare bedrooms upstairs. It's just not very well lit, and hanging a bunch of florescent bulbs isn't really an option. This is where I could see this item being very handy. |
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Quoted: Quoted: can you post a few photos, please? And the adapter, how did you wire it?I got a 4" 6-LED strip of Cool White 3528 SMDs from eBay for $3.65 total and hooked it to one of the 12V adapters I had. Works like a champ on my Load-Master. Sorry for the delay. These were taken in darkness with LED light only, except for one that details the layout. The 117vac to 12vdc adapter is running @ 300ma. The LED strip is pre-wired with two wires. If it doesn't work in one configuration, switch the wires. In order to bend the the strip, I cut it in half, attached jumper wires, the heat-shrink and mounted it with the built in adhesive. Now, I don't have to use my somewhat clunky, external high intensity light to get the desired effect.      |
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Quoted: Very niceQuoted: Quoted: can you post a few photos, please? And the adapter, how did you wire it?I got a 4" 6-LED strip of Cool White 3528 SMDs from eBay for $3.65 total and hooked it to one of the 12V adapters I had. Works like a champ on my Load-Master. Sorry for the delay. These were taken in darkness with LED light only, except for one that details the layout. The 117vac to 12vdc adapter is running @ 300ma. The LED strip is pre-wired with two wires. If it doesn't work in one configuration, switch the wires. In order to bend the the strip, I cut it in half, attached jumper wires, the heat-shrink and mounted it with the built in adhesive. Now, I don't have to use my somewhat clunky, external high intensity light to get the desired effect. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/402225_2859148488442_1551542045_32731609_1521665429_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/405526_2859136608145_1551542045_32731600_530624323_n.jpghttps://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/403210_2859144208335_1551542045_32731607_1496306071_n.jpghttps://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383335_2859137768174_1551542045_32731603_1222642782_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/405526_2859136608145_1551542045_32731600_530624323_n.jpg http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i419/mitchelldillon91/Picture095-1.jpg |
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Quoted:
Excellent addition. I already bought one of his roller handles. Good solution as I was thinking about drilling/tapping the top of my press to drop a standard bore light into a tube threaded into the tapped hole. This is really a elegant solution. ETA: Bought one How do you like the roller handle? I saw that on the site the OP listed and thought that might be a good idea. |
So I ordered on the 27th. I got the shipping notification the next day, and it arrived today.  Opening the package, I found this.  Inside was the invoice, which I set aside, as well as instructions.  Nobody reads instructions, so I read them. Let's get into the actual system.   The cord is about four feet long, and about 18 inches or so from the light is the switch.  Instead of double sided tape, it has a 3M product which I cannot remember the name for. Similar to velcro, it presses together and locks the light to the press. It comes with an extra piece of this material.  As you can see, it's very bright.  Let's get to the press. It's even worse when I'm actually standing in front of it.   Let's get it installed. After running the ram up all the way, I realized I couldn't push the light up over the shell plate, so I will have to angle it as far as it will go. I bent it, and test fit it until I got it right.   Once I had it right, I removed the sticky side of the tape, and pressed the whole thing into the press carefully, then ran the ram up to make sure I had the installation right.  Next, to neaten up the installation, I zip tied the cord to the bottom of the frame, and the routed it around the case feed plate, and zip tied it to the case feeder's cord.    So, how does it work?     At a cost of $29 shipped, I am very pleased. |
| Mine showed up in the mail on Thursday, and I finally got a chance to install it today. DoubleARon's pictures could easily have been mine. It was quick and easy to put in, and it throws a LOT of light where I need it. Looking forward to some more time off and spent in my loading room! |
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Got myself a set of LEDs and a new handle for Dan the other day..
I have a RCBS rc 1 and really had issues of having to bend slightly to get the full stoke of the original handle.. Now not so much. I can stand straight up with no lean.. Also seems to give more power and speed. I have a set of Leds also and now have no shadow .. I like these upgrades and wanted to share.. 
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I don't reload in the dark, so I don't see why I would want one of those. I have four lights above my bench and a swivel light/magnifying glass, that I can set above my press and I still can't see inside the cases consistently. Especially on 223. I have a case feeder and just sit in the position where I can look in the case as I load the bullet. I currently hold a flashlight above the case to check. I prefer to see every single powder charge inside of the case before I put the bullet on in my progressive. Every single one. My wife and kids fire these rounds and I will take the time to triple check. I am stoked as I have been looking for something like this. I will be ordering one. Not sure what the pile on early in the thread was about. Thanks for the post OP, I have bad eyes also. |
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why not just use a mirror to peer inside the charged case? You still need light to see into the cases. I've found that if I put up enough lights around the press to see everything I want to, there is too much glare pretty much everywhere. Targeted light fixes that nicely. |
As promised, I've included some pics of it installed on my Dillon 650. I actually have a newer model now because I accidentally broke one of the wires by hamfistidly pulling on the power cord where it attaches to the light bar to get the velcro to unattach from it's backing (I wanted to experiment with the light in a different spot). 
I got ahold of Dan at Inline Fabrication and explained what I'd done. I ended up mailing back my light and for a very nominal fee he sent me the new and improved model that has pigtail mounts that lets you run multiple lights: 
The metal backing on the lights cleanly forms to the curves of your press: 
And of course it lights up the shellplate even with no other lights in the room: 
I'm very happy with how much useful light it throws. |
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