Go to MidwayUSA website, find the FA depriming tool, scroll down to the Q&A, you'll see plenty of people with the same problem and answers to fix.

 

Thanks, I ordered a couple of the Lee decamping pins the guy said would fit. Does not look like there is any hope of a replacement for the plastic collet but it is still working. This should get me back in operation at least for a while. I have a buddy with a lathe, maybe I can get him to make me a metal sleeve to replace the collet. Won’t be adjustable but maybe it will work. Sure seems like a lot of companies lately that have no customer support and won’t provide parts that wear out or break.

 

Curious as to why the outfits like MidwayUSA and Amazon are drastically dropping the prices on just about all the FA stuff, like the M press down to $125, the hand primer down to $35, etc. Reviews have not been very positive for quite a while (quality issues). Have a feeling things aren't going well at FA - they announced their 10 stage press about a year ago, silence ever since.

 

I’ll tell you one thing, if the hand primer tool is coming down in price, you should grab one!
I did as a recommendation from one of our forum members and they work great.

 

I paid $42.99 for mine and now Midway has them for $29.75, so I guess they are going down. Yes it does work but I really wish I had not spent the money if I can’t get parts that are going to break and wear out as quick as they seem to be. Seems like i am going to go back to depriming on my press.

 

The hand priming tool is built too robust to “break” by seating a primer. Pins for de-primers break all the time. That’s a normal thing. Why you can’t get parts sucks though, but if a Lee pin fits, go with it....

 

My concern now is that I can’t get replacements for the plastic collets or the plastic bottle that catches the primers. My main medium collet is looking pretty raged and there does not seem to be any replacement for it.

 

That would stink if a proprietary part is unavailable.
No one would “make” one either for a cost effective margin.
I imagine the primer bottle is standard thread though. You should be able to get around that.

 

I wish the primer bottle had threads. It is just a friction fit. It has a habit of falling off and spilling the whole bottle of primers on the floor if I let it get much more than half full.

 

WTH..........
It sounds more and more like it was engineered by Lee.....

 

Find a piece of tubing that would fit.
Run it into a bucket!🙂

 

I did try the tubing idea but the connection is so short I could not
get it to stay on. I finally did drill the frame for a set screw. Will see if it will hold or whether it will just break the plastic cup.

 

Mine has been fine. But, Nothing wrong with having a backup. I’d rather not resort to using my press for depriming as it defeats my purpose of keeping the crud away from my presses, dies and bench.

 

Hmmmm, get a threaded brass reducer from Lowe’s that fits. The set screw will seat inside of the threads and you can attach a hose on the end. You may need two to step it down to a hose bib, but you can see where I’m going......

 

Just in case the set screw mod doesn’t pan out… $29.79 from midway..

Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Depriming Tool

The Frankford Arsenal Hand Deprimer is made of robust die cast aluminum and features a Universal Collet System. In just 4 easy steps you can deprime...

www.midwayusa.com

 

😆 And then there’s that! Just get a different tool.
Sometimes I’ve shoved more money at a project than it’s worth.
Then again, there is a principal involved! I shall not be beaten!!

 

Yep it is cheaper than I paid at Midway. Right now it is working and I have to admit it is more convent than doing it on the press. If I break the primer cup I will give the brass reducer a try. I have a new primer pin from Lee and the med collet has not given up yet. Looks a little ragged but is still working. Thanks for the help.