AGAIN!!!!!!!!! *update*

That's crazy. Must awful poor cast they are using. My buddy bought a die and it was making the brass off center. He called them and they basically told him to try it again. He threw it out.
 
That's nuts!! I have a Lee press and it works great and have never even thought something like this could happen to it...it feels really solid. I have a set of RCBS dies and one of the setscrews was stripped. I sent an email, got a response in two days and received a small baggie of setscrews and brass bushings a couple of weeks later. I was pretty happy with their customer service, but will think again before buying anything else. I'm also satisfied with Lee...perhaps that should be your next press.
 
Is that press mounted as far back on the bench as it will go or is it hanging off quite abit? Looks like all the force is being applied on the rear screw?
 
PitBull1973 said:
RCBS is made in China. They have the worst casting . You are better off with a Redding or Lee which both are made in the US
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Actually only some RCBS products are made in China. Many of their products including at least some presses are still made in the USA. The Rockchucker actually has a made in the USA label on the box.
 
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The way you have that mounted is totally irresponsible.
At least put a steel plate under it to support the overhang.
My goodness, some of you folk.
 
Luke has that right!
That is the worst press mounting I have ever heard of. It looks like a 1 x 4 is fastened on the bench, with the press mounted on the end that over hangs the bench.
Actually, no reason why RCBS should honour a warranty on that.
 
kamlooky said:
The way you have that mounted is totally irresponsible.
At least put a steel plate under it to support the overhang.
My goodness, some of you folk.
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while I admit in the first picture how I had it mounted was wrong. I wouldn't say irresponsible but perhaps naïve, hence why I had nothing negative to say about RCBS the first time around. The second time however I think I had it mounted rather well. if this product requires a steel plate perhaps it should come with one.


some of you folks
 
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Expendable Nate said:
while I admit in the first picture how I had it mounted was wrong. I wouldn't say irresponsible but perhaps naïve. the second time around I think I had it mounted rather well. if this product requires a steel plate perhaps it should come with one.


some of you folks
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How thick is the wood it's bolted to in the second picture out of curiosity?
 
Picture on page eight is also wrong.
It has to be mounted the way it was intended to be, with a solid base under the main pressure point on the press.
 
Expendable Nate said:
its as far back as it can go. it has a very small base
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I was thinking "NO WAY!" But you're right. The RCBS Partner design simply does not allow for a "deep" positioning on the edge of a work surface. And in fact it's pretty much set up for failure. It's a pretty piss poor design. The way the link arms join the base prevents it sitting back far enough to avoid the very problem you have gotten.

If I'd been the one designing that press and knowing it would need to be set with such a small mounting area I'd have extended a vertical web back off the rear of the vertical stanchion and used a bolt on either side for a total of four hold downs.

I know it's 20-20 hind sight at this point but if you get this press welded or brazed back together I'd suggest you mount it over a "U" shaped cut out in the lip of the bench or on a really good solid over hanging sub plate with that same "U" shape. The sides of the cutout will extend forward and support the press from the front instead of from the rear. And the "U" will provide clearance for the link arms for the ram.

In fact if you were to make up such a sub plate so that it extended out far enough to support the very front edge of the base you could use what you have now even without fixing the broken rear arm. Just make the "U" shape as narrow as you can get away with and still not rub the arms. Clamp it down with the two remaining bolts and make up a two finger clamp of either steel or even 3/4" good quality plywood and run bolts down to aid in clamping from the rear. It'll be makeshift but at least you can keep on using the press.

To ensure that this sub plate is stiff enough and strong enough use two layers of good quality 3/4" plywood glued together to form a plate which is 1.5" thick. Don't just screw or nail it together. Use glue. Otherwise it can slip at the joint line.
 
H4831 said:
Picture on page eight is also wrong.
It has to be mounted the way it was intended to be, with a solid base under the main pressure point on the press.
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well I suppose they should provide better instruction with a beginners press. its reasonable to assume that almost 5 inches of wood, would be sufficient for reloading pistol calibers. my next press which I think will be from Lee will be mounted better I scrounged up a piece of steel I was going to use for weight in my tac vest but it should do the trick.
 
H4831 said:
Picture on page eight is also wrong.
It has to be mounted the way it was intended to be, with a solid base under the main pressure point on the press.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Looking around on the web this appears to be pretty much how a Partner press is generally mounted. He may have missed the most support possible by 1/8 to 1/4" but something of that sort should not result in snapping off the end on a correctly designed product.


Nate-
I know you likely want to toss it out of frustration. But while it's got this built in weak point from bad designing the rest of it can serve your purpose. Do consider making up a more suportive mount with the fingers that extend up forward under the sides of the base as I'm suggesting. An afternoon's effort and it'll be strong and reliable.
 
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