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Posted: 4/8/2013 7:47:12 PM EDT
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So I am looking around to try to find some sort of system so that I can quick change a few presses. I don't have an enormous amount of space. I run a Lee Challenger Press as my dedicated depriming station, Forester Co-Ax for all my other reloading needs and a MEC 600 Jr. for shot shell work. Looking at something along the lines of the Lee Bench Plate ( Bench Plate - Lee Precision ) but would like something a little more sturdier. Don't like the idea of the press attached to wood. Trying to make it as sturdy as possible and remove any possible flex from the bench. Anyone have any other advice? Not much of a metal / wood worker just want something that I can buy and bolt down on the bench once and be done with it.
Any advice? |
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The Lee mount is *very* sturdy with no movement using the Lee metal mounting plate. Unfortunately, that plate is pre-drilled for Lee presses, and (eg) Hornady presses don't fit.
The wood blocks are less "sturdy", flexing unlike the metal plates. Unfortunately, a LNL AP (eg) won't fit because the wood blocks (and the metal plates, for that matter) are a bit too short. So - if your presses would fit in the limited area available, drilling new mounting holes in the steel plates would give you a secure mount. |
| That's the thing that I don't like about that Lee mount is that it is only for "Lee" preses. Having a MEC and a Co-Ax causes me some issues. Looking for something that I can buy "specific" plates for the MEC, Co-Ax and the Lee and just mount them to some sort of holder that is attached to my bench. Im trying to keep the setup as clean as possible and then when I am done I can remove the press and store it on a shelf. |
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Rockdock
I have 2, one inside and one in garage. Works great and very sturdy. Use mine for 2 presses, trimmer and Lyman 4500. |
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I bought a Dillon strong mount, and then a piece of steel, it's either 3/8's or 1/2 inch. Drilled it so it bolts on top of the Dillon strong mount. Then I drilled it to accecpt my star lube sizer, my RCBS single stage, and my MEC 9000.
I have a welder, plasma cutter, and a couple of metal cutting bandsaws now. So for the price of the Dillon strong mount, I'd just buy some 1/4 " thick steel, cut some trapezoidal like shapes, welded some angle iron to 'em, and then put the same 3/8 or 1/2 inch steel across them. |
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Quoted: I mounted my presses on 3/4" plywood using T-nuts. I use big C-clamps to hold them to the bench. Simple, cheap and effective. This doesn't sound very sturdy to me. I have mounted all of my presses, including my RCBS Ammomaster for reloading 50 bmg to 2x10's. Then I do the same and use C-clamps to hold them down to my workbench. Infinite mobility, and it doesn't make holes in my workbench. |
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Quoted:
Rockdock I have 2, one inside and one in garage. Works great and very sturdy. Use mine for 2 presses, trimmer and Lyman 4500. That RockDock is exactly what I am looking for. I just can not get the my emails returned so that I can buy what I need. |
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+1 I made a base board out of plywood about 18"x18" and drilled it for my square deal and mec 600jr. I put t-nuts on the underside and hex button head bolts. Use the largest size bolt that will fit through your press. I screwed an alluminum angle on the front edge that creates a channel to slide over the front edge of my bench. This makes it stiffer. Then I just take two drywall screws at the back edge to keep it from sliding around. I have two benches, one in the house and one in the garage that it works with. It does not flex at all. You can buy cut pcs of plywood at Lowes or Home Depot and they will usually cut it down if you need it smaller. Use oak or birch plywood as its got a much harder surface and the t-nuts will stay put better. The alluminum angle or channel can be gotten there or a local hardware store. This channel causes less permenant damage to the bench. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow. I plan on adding patterns for my Redding Boss and Mec grabber.
Good luck |
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I ran across this and it really caught my eye!
Inline Fabrication Ultramount 
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Quoted:
I mounted my presses on 3/4" plywood using T-nuts. I use big C-clamps to hold them to the bench. Simple, cheap and effective. +1 on the wood and t-nut idea. I took it one step further, after mounting my press and also my vise to separate boards I then made separate mounting holes in the boards and put t-nuts in my workbench so I can use either my vise or reloading press in the same anchor points on my bench. Even though the bench is 8' wide the space gets taken up fairly quickly. I will post pictures later when I get home. I thought about making a metal mounting plate but wood is much lighter and it costs much less. |
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Here are a couple pics of what I was trying to explain earlier. If you want more info let me know. This was also pretty inexpensive, the hardware was about $10 and I had the wood laying around from previous projects. Excuse the mess I am still in the middle of building my bench.
Bench with press and vise attached. 
Bottom of board ready to have press mounted with t-nuts counter sunk. 
Press secured to table, no tools required. I also mounted my vise to a board with the same bolt pattern so either piece of equipment can go in either location. 
At first i was skeptical about only securing the equipment to the bench with 2 bolts but I have really beat on the vise to test the mount and have never had anything move. |
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Quoted:
I ran across this and it really caught my eye! Inline Fabrication Ultramount http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ultramount-for-the-Hornady-Lock-n-Load-AP-LNL-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqV,!o0E8VTCT!KdBPQzK9td1!~~60_35.JPG I have one of these and actually prefer it to the Dillon Strongmount. You can also get different top plates to fit different presses and still use the same base. |
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Quoted: I just received an e-mail from Pat (Marlin) yesterday and I e-mailed him in the morning: That RockDock is exactly what I am looking for. I just can not get the my emails returned so that I can buy what I need. I apologize for not being able to get back to everyone's emails here consistently. Along with a busy past month- escrow finally closed on my mountain home and I still had equipment and items up there from last year's move to get out by the 15th. I have had to slow up production some to get through this move (with help) and be done with it. The good news is I just picked up my 4th CNC lathe to increase production cover any breakdowns. I will be caught up on all production soon and hopefully start being able to keep stock. All machines are now back online, and I will be hooking up my new one right after my last stuff is moved. I know everyone is anxious to get their ROCKDock and Checkmaker dies and start making gas checks, and I'm shipping out orders as fast as possible. I'm working on new calibers including 4 versions for 22 cal. I've just had to step up with some more machine capability to meet the demand, and being email based, I needed a better computer system. I will get back to everyone's specific questions and requests as soon as I can here. Thank you for your kindness and business. Happy shooting, Pat |
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Quoted: Here are a couple pics of what I was trying to explain earlier. If you want more info let me know. This was also pretty inexpensive, the hardware was about $10 and I had the wood laying around from previous projects. Excuse the mess I am still in the middle of building my bench. Bench with press and vise attached. http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b593/rocus1/76DF220E-B309-492C-8527-B3A4B02C2CFD-62615-0000259A094BB60F_zps3a20c5c4.jpg Bottom of board ready to have press mounted with t-nuts counter sunk. http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b593/rocus1/8D6C5A84-8775-429B-8930-A0E76F3E55A4-62615-00002599D83FB0CE_zpscc6b0898.jpg Press secured to table, no tools required. I also mounted my vise to a board with the same bolt pattern so either piece of equipment can go in either location. http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b593/rocus1/3EBA4C28-D9F5-4DA3-A2A5-9EC3E01ED4C7-62615-00002599F9B1FEA7_zps949cfdfe.jpg At first i was skeptical about only securing the equipment to the bench with 2 bolts but I have really beat on the vise to test the mount and have never had anything move. No offense, but that doesn't look strong at all. I'll stick with my 2x10's. I countersink holes in the bottom and use 3/8" hardware, so it will mount flush to the bench.  |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Here are a couple pics of what I was trying to explain earlier. If you want more info let me know. This was also pretty inexpensive, the hardware was about $10 and I had the wood laying around from previous projects. Excuse the mess I am still in the middle of building my bench. Bench with press and vise attached. http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b593/rocus1/76DF220E-B309-492C-8527-B3A4B02C2CFD-62615-0000259A094BB60F_zps3a20c5c4.jpg Bottom of board ready to have press mounted with t-nuts counter sunk. http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b593/rocus1/8D6C5A84-8775-429B-8930-A0E76F3E55A4-62615-00002599D83FB0CE_zpscc6b0898.jpg Press secured to table, no tools required. I also mounted my vise to a board with the same bolt pattern so either piece of equipment can go in either location. http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b593/rocus1/3EBA4C28-D9F5-4DA3-A2A5-9EC3E01ED4C7-62615-00002599F9B1FEA7_zps949cfdfe.jpg At first i was skeptical about only securing the equipment to the bench with 2 bolts but I have really beat on the vise to test the mount and have never had anything move. No offense, but that doesn't look strong at all. I'll stick with my 2x10's. I countersink holes in the bottom and use 3/8" hardware, so it will mount flush to the bench. http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c392/imtheflash/weapons/reloadingbench-1.jpg:original I didn't want to have to go buy a whole collection of c clamps in order to use my equipment, that would just be another thing to find a home for when not in use. The bolts that secure the mounts to the work bench are 3/8" like you are using. Different strokes for different folks I guess. My main purpose of this was to make it easy to remove the equipment that needed to be mounted to a bench to have more available work space, I was never concerned about the strength of the bench it is pretty solid already. |
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