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Posted: 11/30/2012 3:14:01 PM EDT
Once upon a time, my dad turned a small solid wood desk into a reloading table. I have had this desk since I scavenged it from the basement at some point in high school. Being the smart little thing that I am, knowing I am inexperienced in this, I figured asking the guys at the gun shop who sell the supplies and presses would be a great start. Nope. The guy simply told me, "just find out what brand your dad used and buy that." 
My dad is in NM currently, and will not be returning back home to St. Louis anytime soon, so he cannot go and look at the press to tell me the brand. He is 67 and has not used the press in over 16 years, so he cannot remember the brand. He thinks it might be Patriot, but that was a shot in the dark. I'm trying to find it on Midway's site, but cannot. Nor can I find that press on Cabela's site. I would prefer to not have to drill more holes in this desk if I do not have to. However, if I absolutely must, then I will. I was just really hoping I wouldn't have to because I am going to paint the desk, put the press on it and make it up real nice for my man for Christmas. So what should I do to pull this off? I know nothing about reloading presses and my dad also cannot remember the name of the junk brand one, and felt bad that he could not remember what it was to tell me to stay away from it. Does Patriot still make reloading presses? What reloading presses do you recommend? I need more help than I was given at the gun shop because this is not my area of expertise and while I could ask my man about it, it would give away his Christmas present and there is no fun in that. I want to surprise him! Please help me! |
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What cartridges will he load for and how much does he shoot currently? I have. done fine with the Rcbs rockxhucker for 10 years Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile .45 is what he has the most brass for, but then I'm certain when we get the setup he'll be keeping the casings for 5.56, and might even get into whatever for his Mossy. I am trying my butt off to do this for him, make sure I have everything he will need to get started, set it up, make it look nice and then try to remember what he does and doesn't have. When I have been to the range with him, I have only ever seen him collect .45 brass. Now, that doesn't mean in the spare bedroom in the closest he doesn't have other stuff because I swear that closet leads to Narnia! So I am just giving you info from what I have seen. Any and all help is appreciated so I can make the best decision possible, along without breaking the bank for Christmas (since I have my little girl to do Christmas for as well). So in advance I sincerely thank you for your help! |
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Can you post a pic of the holes pattern with something for scale (ruler, quarter, etc)?
I wouldn't worry too much about holes, because you could fashion and adapter plate to fit the holes OR fashion a base plate and use 2 "C" clamps to hold the press. This is what I do. I have 2 pieces of 3/4 plywood, one mounts a Lee Turret and another mounts a Lee LoadMaster press. The plywood is drilled and mounted for each press. When I want to swap I undo the 2 C clamps and swap them out. And NO holes to worry with on my desk. You could do the same with some sort of adapter plate to match the holes of the desk to a new press. |
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Can you post a pic of the holes pattern with something for scale (ruler, quarter, etc)? I wouldn't worry too much about holes, because you could fashion and adapter plate to fit the holes OR fashion a base plate and use 2 "C" clamps to hold the press. This is what I do. I have 2 pieces of 3/4 plywood, one mounts a Lee Turret and another mounts a Lee LoadMaster press. The plywood is drilled and mounted for each press. When I want to swap I undo the 2 C clamps and swap them out. And NO holes to worry with on my desk. You could do the same with some sort of adapter plate to match the holes of the desk to a new press. I can definitely do that tomorrow, but if I do it tonight, I will raise suspicion of why I am in the back bedroom where I never go. lol Also, please ignore the disaster that the back room is, because well, he has been pulling things out and rearranging them from all of the walk in closets, and really I cannot walk into the back bedroom, I will have to climb over things. That is why I can't just simply go do it right now, it's his project, but he is aware he will have to have it finished soon so I can do his present. Anyway, I will get the pics, and post them ASAP. I was hoping to avoid adding additional wood since I plan to paint the desk and make it nice. The color he selected is of course, OD green. I was hoping to make the complete work station look nice. I'm sure being a guy, the aesthetics of it are not as important as functionality, but I want him to have both to the best of my capabilities. I have never used a drill before, but I will figure it out quickly for him. I hate the sound, it's too loud, so I'll be wearing ear pro just to do this project correctly for him! I am not sure what you mean by an adapter plate, but I am guessing it is more of a smaller plate (metal or wood) that would be under the press itself and that could be mounted/attached to the desk. I know what a plate girder is, but that is for building construction and my firefighting knowledge is not going to help me get this job done. deevil keeps saying he will build his gift himself, but I absolutely will not have that. Me doing this for him is part of the gift, the work and frustration it will undoubtedly cause me is worth it all because I love him. So for me to do something I have never done before nor would ever dream of doing, it's important. I just know that my fellow ARFcommers will have the amount of knowledge and tips I will need to prepare myself to do this project nicely. And yes, I will post pics later of the finished project when I get it done...maybe even as I go. You guys have been great...even the PMers. I really appreciate it! 
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I wouldn't get too upset about drilling new holes , chances are you can use at least some of the original holes and most of the ones you can't use will be under the press.
I have not heard of patriot brand reloading stuff,there was some odd stuff but it would have been more than 16 years. Most small gun shops have crazy markups on reloading gear, I sugest Midway (midwayusa.com) Off the top of my head some of the major brands are Lyman,RCBS,Hornaday,Lee and most have "starter sets" that have a press and most of the basic goodies you would need to get started The Lee kits start about $125 and although the press is ok some of the other stuff like the powder measure and scale are pretty cheezy. Useable but not great quality. What I recomend is the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme master kit for about $290. This is one of the absolute top grade single stage presses with great powder measure ,scale and other accesories |
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I wouldn't get too upset about drilling new holes , chances are you can use at least some of the original holes and most of the ones you can't use will be under the press. I have not heard of patriot brand reloading stuff,there was some odd stuff but it would have been more than 16 years. Most small gun shops have crazy markups on reloading gear, I sugest Midway (midwayusa.com) Off the top of my head some of the major brands are Lyman,RCBS,Hornaday,Lee and most have "starter sets" that have a press and most of the basic goodies you would need to get started Well I know when I started using the desk, and I am uncertain of how long my dad went without using the reloading table. I don't recall in my 30 years of life ever seeing my dad reload, so he likely has not done it in...oh...26 years at least. I really do not believe he did it in our home in St. Louis, but maybe he did when I had went to bed as a child. I do know my dad is 67 years old though, so if there is a discontinued line by Patriot, it's possible. However, it has been a long time, and he's in NM, not St. Louis right now to look to be 100% certain of the brand, but he was taking a shot in the dark at it. If I don't have to drill any holes, that would be fantastic, but if I must, I will. I don't see this as being a fun project to do, but it will make me happy to see his face when he gets to walk into the room and take the big bow off of his reloading table. Any holes that won't be used, I will be filling. I know deevil prefers solid wood to be stained, but if I have to plug the holes it will be obvious with a stain. I'm going to do my best to make it look spiffy for him. |
| If the stained part doesn't work out and the table gets painted there is something to be said for a reloading table that is light in color. White or light gray is my preference . How about legs and table edge stained wood with just the top painted a light color? |
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Your Dad is remembering it as a "patriot"? Maybe it was a Pacific which was purchased by Hornady. You could ask what color. The early ones were grey I believe then after Hornady purchased them red. OMFG!!! I'm brain fried from a very stressful 2 weeks of work. Anyway - WAS WRONG! IT IS A PACIFIC NOT PATRIOT! You are BRILLIANT! If this weren't the interwebs, I would hug you for your awesomness! Hmm...never thought to ask my dad what color his press was, I will have to do that tomorrow. As for the stain/paint topic...the desk was once painted long ago, so the wood has some weird white streaks in it now. Also, in high school being a bored dumb kid, I scribbled things in purple ink (gee, purple, who would have imagined that?!  ) and some in Sharpie. So, I have to sand it. But I will post pics so you guys can help me decide what will be best to help it look nice and still work.
ARF, you are amazing. Just saying. It needed to be said. With that, I am going to take my exhausted, drained, stressed and now hopeful little body to bed. Good evening everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will be posting those pics of the top of the desk (at least) tomorrow with approximate sizes of the holes in the top. Again...you guys are amazing! 
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As for the stain/paint topic...the desk was once painted long ago, so the wood has some weird white streaks in it now. Also, in high school being a bored dumb kid, I scribbled things in purple ink (gee, purple, who would have imagined that?! ) and some in Sharpie. So, I have to sand it. Caution - Sharpie markers bleed through latex paints and may bleed through oil paint, too. You will need to remove the Sharpie ink (with solvent soaking) or seal it under some shellac. Sanding is unlikely to get the Sharpie marker out because it is a dye that soaks into the wood. Seal it in or soak it out. If you have white paint trapped in the pores of the wood, you can get it out with paint stripper and a tooth brush. |
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