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Skeeter55 said:
Curly-Nohair said:
After working in a printing plant and seeing the results of mishaps where a person left hands in the machine due to ignorance, I can see why they do that.
Indeed. And I wonder if the electric version isn't inherently more dangerous in this regard. Once you initiate a cycle with the electric it will try to finish the down stroke unless you somehow signal it to stop, which might be hard to do with your hand or hands stuck in the machine. Am I correct in thinking that with the hydraulic version all you have to do stop it is lift your foot? It might be tricky to come up with a foot pedal for the electric version that would work this way, though I think it could be done. :idea:
The original Automate allowed you to start the cycle and remove your hands from the buttons, toucing either button would cause a reversal. Current production requires that you hold both buttons until the press reaches the bottom of the stroke. This is clearly safer, I have not checked to see if the machine will cycle with one button held down all the time, with tape, for example. I do not have the MEC version.
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
Great replies and good information. I've bid on a Spolar on E bay ......going to see what happens.

The MEC 9000 looks like a lot of press for the money too. But given the opportunity to go for the BEST I might as well go Spolar.

FN in MT
 
I'm sick of ebad. The couple of time I bid on something I wanted, someone with one of those special programs was able to keep the bidding open past the close time and "steal'' the item from me. Watch how someone snatches that Spolar loader... I watched as 2 min left on item went more than 9 min... and e-bay claims to know nothing about it... :roll:

When time should have been up, I was the high bidder, but did i get the item... NO.

Bel_dad
 
I have owned them all. If you are only going to have one loader no question the Spolar is the way to go. It is a joy to use and you cannot truely appreciate the machine untill you load .410. It makes as good a .410 as on any single stage only faster.

My next favorite is the PW. I happen to own also a Platinum 2000 with a hydraulic unit that I have owned since that model came out. I keep it just set up to load 20's and it is a great machine that I can load 600 to 700 shells an hour depending how hard I want to work. It works perfect and makes a very pretty reload. The taper on the PW is better than any other loader on the market in my opinion. Whats intresting is I have never found the PW hard to adjust or get use to.

Then the Mec 9000 a nice machine for the money. But has gotten pretty expensive as of late. I probably would by a used PW 800plus or Platinum 2000 for a little more money than a 9000. I owned one and worked fine but killed my shoulder and just did not give as consistant performance as my PW or Spolar but still a good machine.

In the big picture if you are loading 12's or 20's they all worked pretty flawless. Its the .410 where the likes of Spolar can't be beat or try a single stage for the .410

Good Luck

Al
 
bel_dad said:
I'm sick of ebad. The couple of time I bid on something I wanted, someone with one of those special programs was able to keep the bidding open past the close time and "steal'' the item from me. Watch how someone snatches that Spolar loader... I watched as 2 min left on item went more than 9 min... and e-bay claims to know nothing about it... :roll:

When time should have been up, I was the high bidder, but did i get the item... NO.

Bel_dad
My guess is that, you were not refreshing your screen by using the ctrl-N keys or the refresh button . If you do not refresh the screen the clock will not decrement. There is no magic software that freezes the clock. There are sniping sites that offer that service, but most are a "for fee" service.
 
You guess wrong... was refreshing plenty... refreshed right up to 2 min to go, then the clock stopped... 9 min it said 2 min to go. My guess is they bombard the server with requests so it doesn't shut the time down until they want it to. not that I know that much about computers, but I know what i saw, and know the time was up... I was counting down, and refreshing like crazy!

Bel_dad
 
bel_dad said:
You guess wrong... was refreshing plenty... refreshed right up to 2 min to go, then the clock stopped... 9 min it said 2 min to go. My guess is they bombard the server with requests so it doesn't shut the time down until they want it to. not that I know that much about computers, but I know what i saw, and know the time was up... I was counting down, and refreshing like crazy!

Bel_dad
Dang, never seen that happen, but now I know you knew about the refresh. I didn't for my first couple of auctions, DOH! :oops:
 
Frank, you can get the same electric gizmo for the spolar and the spolar can load close to 600 WITHOUT the electric motor. You will be money ahead with the other units but you will be free from the clatter and bang of the cheaper units, particularly the MEC, it is just not in the ball park. I have owned all 3 brands and they will all make a decent shell. All three are adjustable for different loads but most people if they are loading for skeet, want to get them adjusted right and leave it be. If you buy a spolar they will set up each gauge for the shell and load of your choice. You can, of course adjust it to something else, it is not difficult. The spolar has a vibratory motor that settles the shot and powder drop tubes and I have never had any shot hang up in them. I can not say the same for MEC or PW. The primer tray on the Spolar will hold 300 and the best you can do on the others is 200. It is just a far better built machine.

You asked about the spolar vs the PW, I would recommend the Spolar in a heart beat, particularly since you are sharing the cost. The 410 loads like a dream on it with no shot flying all over the place, try and find someone with a 9000 that says that with a straight face.
 
Said with a straight face, I have never, while loading 410 on a 9000, had ''shot fly all over the place.''

Has every shell on my 9000 been perfect... no. There was a learning curve. I am a new loader, and started with a progressive machine. :shock: Sure loads great now.

I'm sure a Spolar is a great, great, machine. If money were no object, I would probably buy one. I started with a more expensive machine than the 9000, but came to see the value of the lesser priced machine.

Bel_dad
 
Bel_dad,
With a straight face, I have had that experience and that is why I looked for something else and got rid of my 9000. I now load 410s for a friend who formerly was doing them on his 9000 and he was happy with the MEC on all of the other gauges but far from it on the .410. The MEC drove me nuts, and granted it may have been a short drive, but it was not a pleasant experience to load with that machine. I am happy yours is working well, particularly since I probably steered you in the wrong direction to begin with.
 
You've never steared me wrong...

How long ago was your experience with the 410-9000? I'm wondering if they have changed the specs on the power piston... as what ever trouble I have with the 410, none of them relate to the auto indexing and shot being slung.

Presently I am having some migration problmes using WC820. It seems like it has gotten worse latey. I'm using a PC baffel... i wonder if I have upped the spring pressure to much and for some reason when it comes back it's causing powder to be knocked loose?

The other problem i'm having is occasionaly the powder tube catches the side of the shell and tears it, or folds down the crimp creating a problem. I wished the powder tube had a bit more taper to it so this couldn't happen. I'm thinking of taking this one out and trying to add more taper... The WC820 is so fine, I'm pretty sure I could get away with a smaller tube and perhaps that would help.

All in all... loaded 300 410 today... did have a couple of shells that I had to reclaim, but all in all it was pretty easy. I don't have all that much experience with this loader... or loading at all for that matter.

Best to all,
bel_dad
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
Gentleman,

Thanks for all the help. We decided to order the Spolar with the appropriate conversion units and the spare parts kits. Now we are in the components "HOARDING" mode.

FN in MT
 
Al T said:
I have owned them all. If you are only going to have one loader no question the Spolar is the way to go. .... It makes as good a .410 as on any single stage only faster.
So that answers one of the questions I put to Spolar via email. My real question is how is their customer service? They flunked my first test in that they never responded to my email, but I'm learning to expect that nowadays. Anybody have any experience with Spolar's customer service? Are they as arrogant as the $1500 price tag would seem to imply?
 
Skeeter55 said:
Al T said:
I have owned them all. If you are only going to have one loader no question the Spolar is the way to go. .... It makes as good a .410 as on any single stage only faster.
So that answers one of the questions I put to Spolar via email. My real question is how is their customer service? They flunked my first test in that they never responded to my email, but I'm learning to expect that nowadays. Anybody have any experience with Spolar's customer service? Are they as arrogant as the $1500 price tag would seem to imply?
If I had sent an email to a company and they failed to reply, I would consider calling and asking why I should do business with them. If they are bad about replying to somebody that may spend their money, how will they treat a customer that is not likely to spend another big chunk of change.
That said, I have read on this board that they treat owners rather well.
 
Call them they are great people. But on service I don't know because in 3 years I have not even gone through a set of wad fingers. It just works perfect.

Far as an arrogant price goes. I worked as a machinest for many years and I would not make it for $1500. It is that nice.

Good Luck

Al
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
Just for informational purposes.....current wait for a new loader is 4-5 weeks. And we ordered BEFORE the orders from the Grand and Skeet nationals were in.

FN in MT
 
When I called and inquired about the Spolar (end of 2006) they were 3 to 4 months out!

Customer service is great. She returned my emails as well as very informative and pleasant on the phone. She even sent me her husband's favorite load for all the gauges!

Maybe they are at the grand and have not answered their emails?
 
Al T said:
Far as an arrogant price goes. I worked as a machinest for many years and I would not make it for $1500. It is that nice.
Oops :oops: Poor choice of words I guess. Sometimes when someone is at the expensive end of the market their product comes with an attitude. (I'm thinking of my local BMW dealer.) At any rate, you're right. We are far too spoiled by cheap consumer goods and have no right to complain about quality and/or jobs going off shore if we're not willing to pay skilled people well for their time. $1500 aint all that much I suppose. (Now if I can just convince my wife.) :wink:
 
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