Double Y Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 I bought a set of flat dies for my 50# LG with the KDS system. I really like how they fit and work, but I also wanted a set of drawing dies. I found these pieces in the scrap yard. They are 4 inches long and have a diamater of 2 inches. They have a hole down through the middle for whatever purpose they served prior and were flat on one quarter. The holes may be handy at some point...just not sure for what purpose yet. The pieces spark test like high carbon, but are totally unknown to me. I welded them to 3/8 flat to attache to the KDS bases. I actually picked up several of these pieces, so if they are just mild and wear quickly, I can rebuild and am not out much. I really like the KDS base system and like how the flats have indentions for set screws when you put tooling on the dies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 KDS? .........Looks like an improvement to me over strictly dovetails. It's nice to be able to fab your own dies in short order w/o a mill or shaper imho.... B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Sculpture Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Way too steep for drawing, may be able to do some cool sculptural stuff though. I have around 3 or 4 degree from center to edge of the die for drawing, this allows for blending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 You may be right Danger, but I haven't tried them yet. Had to make a trip to the back cracker to be put back in shape. I will give them a shot and then see what adjustment they need. I may be able to use the flat die on the bottom and then the drawing die on the top for a more gentle draw. I like these KDS pieces because it is easy to build your own dies and tooling. Either way they will get used....in their current form or after some re-working! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Greetings John, What does kds stand for? I have been using this system for a long time and called it the Jim system... Same as Big Blue.... Jim Your round dies are too aggressive.. BIG SQUISH.... HARD TO TAPER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Sure they're pretty agressive but what the hey, they can sit on a shelf till they're the PERFECT dies for THAT Project. What I'd do differently is cut them in half lengthwise so they weren't so tall. Been working on a similar die system for my LG. I'm down to the drilling and tapping on the dovetails. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Sculpture Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 I've seen them called sculpturing dies, for severe isolation and spreading material really fast. They are radius in the long dimension as well though, the sharp corner can be an asset or not. Such extreme radius have been know to spit stuff back at you, so be aware to have as much hanging off the back as you do the front. Being able to bolt on whatever is a great advantage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted April 9, 2013 Author Share Posted April 9, 2013 I may take them to the grinder and widen the radius but I will try them for a bit to see how they run. Like I said I picked up several of these and have some to play with. I appreciate the comments and warnings, I can use all the help I can get. Like Frosty said even if they sit on the shelf for a great while, they may be just the ticket for something down the road. They are a bit tall but I have room to adjust the pitman. They are not significantly taller than the flat top dies that came with the bottoms. Mostly I wanted to test building a set of dies for the KDS bottoms. KDS is the name Little Giant has on the dies. Something Die System...maybe? They fit nicely in the key way and it was pretty easy to build the other pieces. Check out their website for the details. I have been stewing on this little project in my mind this winter/spring. I have been laid up with a torn up knee and have had more time to think then to build....always dangerous around my camp! I will give them a shot soon and report back. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin W Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 They are handy. I've made up a couple or three sets now and many spring swages. I bolt the s. swages to the bottom ( trying to keep the height near the bottom dies height )and let the top die do the hitting. I find the drawing dies Sid makes too steep , but you will have fun with that round set. the threaded kit really does make a LG a more versital hammer. Kwik Die System ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Cool! I Like the KDS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Did you purchase the KDS bases? This is the idea I have been putting into effect for my Champion 65...but my existing dies are many times larger. Here you have a system that may easily adapt my current ones. Thanks for showing Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonjic Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 what a nice simple idea ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Ive been wanting to order a set for our #50..I hate changing dovetail dies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rberry1911 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Would it be possible to make the bases out of old worn out dies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted April 10, 2013 Author Share Posted April 10, 2013 If you have a way to flatten the old dies perfectly and then can drill and tap the hardened die...then you could probably use the old dies. These bases are the same size top and bottom. The top die that was in my 50# originally is much smaller than the bottom die. It would be difficult to use the old top die for the base. I saved my pennies for a while and bought these and am very happy with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefarm39 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 The "K" in KDS just indicates the die is for the 50 Lb. hammer. Serial numbers for the 50s use a K prefix, 25s are prefixed with an "H", and 100s are "P". DS just means Die System, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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