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Welcome everyone to the TFB Armorer’s Bench! As mentioned in the little blurb, this series will focus on a lot of home armorer and gunsmith activities. In this article sponsored by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal, I decided to take a closer look at the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center. Recently, as you may well know, I have been working with a few of the reloading products that Frankford Arsenal offers. Most recently it was their Rotary Tumbler Lite and the accompanying Wet/Dry Media Separator which has been a humbling experience, and in the end, an enjoyable process. That being said, this tool is the next natural step in the process. There were a few learning curves here and there which I will cover in a “Using the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center” article soon. Let’s dive right into the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center!
TFB Armorer’s Bench: Platinum Series Case Prep Center
Welcome to our recurring series of Armorer’s Bench which is made possible and brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal who are our sponsors. Here, we at TFB hope to inform, entertain, and even inspire any would-be gunsmith or armorer out there. Ideally, with the information I provide and with the help of our sponsors, you can have some useful knowledge pertaining to the conservation and improvement of firearms technology while at the same time sharing experiences and teaching each other new tips and tricks along the way in the comments. Digging deep into what it is to be an armorer or gunsmith has significance but what is important is what those people do to show they’ve earned that title. I am happy to share my experiences and knowledge and hope it is informative!
Make your personal safety a priority:
- Practice proper gun safety. Always make sure before the firearm hits your bench that it is unloaded and safe to be handled.
- Wear the proper safety equipment. The main one would be safety glasses (decent ones) since parts are often under spring tension and you may work with high RPM tools. Other honorable mentions would be latex gloves or a respirator when working with potentially harmful solvents and oils. Also hearing protection when working with loud machinery or test-firing firearms.
- Modifications, alterations, and customizations will void your firearm’s warranty 9.5 times out of 10. Please take that into consideration before attempting any at-home gunsmithing.
- If you are unsure about proper safety practices, disassembly procedures, or warranty standards, stop, put down the tools, and consult a competent gunsmith.
Brief Overview: Platinum Series Case Prep Center
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center is the smaller/more affordable option of two mechanical case prep centers. The other one comes with a foldable stand and collet system for case trimming. I have only ever done all of my own personal case prep with hand tools, knowing full well these little babies make life easier. I had the opportunity to work with this one and I was not interested in the larger more expensive version because I already have a decent case trimmer, albeit a manual one. The larger version is more common and you will see many more reviews out there on that particular one.
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center is an appealing case prep center since it is much more compact than its competitors. This makes it handy for those with a smaller bench or poor amounts of useable space. I could not for the life of me think of something to compare its compact size to so here are some dimensions I found: 6.93 x 6.46 x 4.96 inches. It can be used on its side or standing. I prefer to use it standing so that gravity and the weight of my hand could do most of the work. That way was also convenient for working one-handed if need be.
Specifications and Highlights: Platinum Series Case Prep Center
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center comes well packaged in a cardboard box that displays all the features of the prep center. In the box are four small bags. These bags hold individual attachments which are an Inside Chamfer Tool, an Outside Deburring Tool, a Small Primer Pocket Scraper, and a Large Primer Pocket Scraper. Separately you can buy a case prep expansion kit which comes with a large and small primer pocket uniformer and also a large/small military crimp remover.
- This Center Features 4 Powered Tool Stations and Comes With (1) Inside Chamfer Tool, (1) Outside Deburring Tool, (1) Small Primer Pocket Scraper and (1) Large Primer Pocket Scraper
- Hardened High Speed Steel (Hss) Tools Stay Sharp for Thousands of Rounds
- 8-32 Threaded Output Shafts Accept a Wide Variety of Aftermarket Case Prep Tools
- 200 RPM Output Shafts Prep Brass Quickly and Efficiently
- Features a Durable Aluminum Design
Have all of the case preps tools you need in one place with the Frankford Arsenal Case Prep Center. This little station allows for 4 heads to be run at the same time, allowing for a quick and smooth preparation experience. Never let a head be out of reach, by utilizing the retention slot on the side of this efficient, compact machine for storage while not in use.
Closing Thoughts: Platinum Series Case Prep Center
In conclusion, I think this Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center is an unassuming product. It is almost definitely living in the shadow of its more expensive brother since that one has far more information available online. The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Center’s compact design is very handy for my shop set up. The cord is long enough and the rubber pads on the side and bottom make it so it would not slide on smooth surfaces which is nice when extra pressure is necessary. Besides technical know-how on how exactly the small attachment pieces are intended to work, the operation is straightforward and easy to use. I look forward to covering the exact operating experience further next week! See you then!
As always, thank you for reading TFB! Be safe out there, have fun while shooting, and we will see you next time for the TFB Armorer’s Bench brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal! Also, let us know what you think in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
Caldwell Pro Range Glasses, Clear
The Caldwell® Pro Range Glasses feature a stylish wrap-around design and are a great choice for all shooters. They feature an adjustable nose piece and temples for all day comfort. The scratch resistant lens meets ANSI Z87.1 standards and offers 99.9% UV protection.
Platinum Series Case Prep Center
Have all of the case preps tools you need in one place with the Frankford Arsenal Case Prep Center. This little station allows for 4 heads to be run at the same time, allowing for a quick and smooth preparation experience. Never let a head be out of reach, by utilizing the retention slot on the side of this efficient, compact machine for storage while not in use.
Platinum Series Case Trim and Prep Center
Frankford Arsenal®’s Case Trim & Prep Center accurately trims brass in seconds. An innovative case holder with adjustable collet and bushing system indexes the case shoulder and can be set to precisely trim brass to the exact desired length. Once the case holder is adjusted simply insert brass into the case holder as a collet aligns the case squarely with the hi-speed cutter. As the case mouth contacts the cutter it is trimmed until the case shoulder stops on an internal bushing. A series of three collets and six bushings (all included) accommodate any shouldered case from.17 Remington to.460 Weatherby. In addition to the cutter the station operates up to three additional tools at the same time. Inside and outside chamfer tools and primer pocket cleaners are included to fully prepare cases for loading. The heavy duty motor and drivetrain are optimized for durability and performance. Cutters and Chamfer tools are constructed of high quality hardened steel. A convenient built in storage box holds spare collets, bushings and tools.
Case Prep Expansion Kit
Use your Case, Trim & Prep Center to uniform primer pockets or remove military crimps
Wheeler Universal Bench Block
Made of non-marring urethane, the Universal Pistol Bench Block is perfect for use on M1911 pistols as well as other firearms such as 10/22s.
STAINLESS STEEL TUMBLING MEDIA
The Magnetic Stainless Steel Tumbling Pins are designed to clean brass cases giving a “like new” look. Unlike other media like corn cob or walnut, stainless steel doesn’t create dust and also cleans the inside of cases, primer pockets, and flash holes. Stainless steel also doesn’t damage brass and lasts for multiple uses.
Tipton POWER SWABS – PISTOL CLEANING KIT, 500 COUNT
Tipton’s new Power Swabs are an essential part of your cleaning kit. They’re disposable, fast, and easy to use, plus they provide no-mess cleaning with all your favorite solvents and oils. They also fit lands and grooves better than a patch for maximum cleaning.
