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How to Use a Metal Lathe to Trim Case Brass

Often when reloading ammunition, you must trim the end of the brass casing with a lathe. Case brass is very thin and usually will only require a short amount of trimming. An engine lathe is a good tool to use since it spins the brass in a spindle and has a fixed tool that allows for precision trimming.

Things You'll Need

  • Cutting tool
  • Turret wrench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Position the cutting tool in the lathe turret and ̶0;thumb̶1; tighten the turret bolts only.

    • 2

      Rotate the carriage dial counterclockwise to move the turret toward the spindle. Stop when the cutting edge of the tool touches the spindle. Flatten the cutting edge of the tool against the face of the spindle and then tighten the turret bolts with the turret wrench. This positions the cutting tool flush with the spindle so you can make a straight cut across the face of the brass. Move the turret away from the spindle.

    • 3

      Place the brass into the spindle jaws and tighten the saws enough to hold the brass, but not enough to deform the brass in the jaws.

    • 4

      Set the spindle speed to 60 rpm via the spindle speed levers. Turn the lathe on.

    • 5

      Advance the carriage toward the brass until the cutting tool rests just in front of the brass. Rotate the cross slide dial until the cutting tool intersects with the edge of the brass.

    • 6

      Move the carriage forward slightly until the edge of the cutting tool touches the brass. Take a reading on the carriage dial and move the carriage back away from the brass and stop the lathe.

    • 7

      Measure the overall length of the brass with a pair of dial calipers. Subtract the actual length from the length you need to obtain.

    • 8

      Turn the lathe on, move the carriage back into the previous position and move the dial forward until you reach the adjusted length. For example, if the dial reads .050 inch and you need to move an additional .015 inch to reach the correct length, advance the dial to .065 inch. Move the carriage away from the brass and stop the lathe.


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