SO I broke my press right off my reloading bench last night and now I have a big chunk of wood missing out of it. Does anyone have an idea to remedy this in the future? Should I mount the press to a block of wood and just vice grip it on the bench or will this lead to another chunk out of it? Any ideas would be appreciated!
Bench wasn't as stable as I thought...
- Thread starter Recce21
- Start date
Use more lube, lol. - dan
Touche. I will post picks when I can, but other than reinforce the existing bench, do any of you have success just mounting the press to a piece of 2x6 and clamping it wherever?
I have my presses bolted to pieces of 3/4 inch plywood. I have that held to the bench with a large bolt with wingnut(for easy moving). Works well. I also renforced the support for the benchtop with strips of wood screwed along the sides of the desk.
Good luck.
Good luck.
My bench is also two inch planking, topped with plywood and fastened solid to the wall.
It's hard to advise anyone else, because we don't know the setup you have. But you are there, looking at it. So just do what I have stated so many times. Just use your own judgement and make it solid. Whatever it takes.
By the way, "solid," does not include a piece of plywood, no matter how heavy, being held with something like vise grips!
It's hard to advise anyone else, because we don't know the setup you have. But you are there, looking at it. So just do what I have stated so many times. Just use your own judgement and make it solid. Whatever it takes.
By the way, "solid," does not include a piece of plywood, no matter how heavy, being held with something like vise grips!
My bench top is 3 layers of 3/4 MDF glued together, and the top one is maple veneer for a nice finish, with solid maple finishing all edges/ends.
There is a 6" front overhang for mounting presses, etc, and needless to say, it doesn't move at all.
If you have several several layers on your bench top, the layers MUST be glued together.
There is a 6" front overhang for mounting presses, etc, and needless to say, it doesn't move at all.
If you have several several layers on your bench top, the layers MUST be glued together.
A few years ago, I saw a neat deal in a magazine. Each press was bolted to a piece of sturdy plywood. The plywood could then be slid into a wooden receptacle, sort of a dovetail setup. The plywood could then be tightened in with wingnuts.
I made up several crude ones, and that's what I've used since. Now that I have an actual "gun room", I plan to re-do the whole works with some nice wood, and make a better job of fit and finish. This set-up works great, as you can have more than one receptacle, plus you can also make them removeable from your table/bench.
If someone has some pics of this type of set-up, please post. My stuff is still all "stored away".
I made up several crude ones, and that's what I've used since. Now that I have an actual "gun room", I plan to re-do the whole works with some nice wood, and make a better job of fit and finish. This set-up works great, as you can have more than one receptacle, plus you can also make them removeable from your table/bench.
If someone has some pics of this type of set-up, please post. My stuff is still all "stored away".
movable
Like lister, my presses (3 of them) are mounted on 3/4 inch plywood squares which I then C-clamp to the bench when I start loading. Now, I do mount them at the corner, so the clamp is holding the BACK edge of the plywood, not the front. Takes the strain well, but I'm not loading .50BMGAI or anything he-man. Works for my MEC, Lee Challenger and a cobbled together homemade widget. The board that carries the Lee also carries the powder measure (also Lee).
Strangely, my bench grinder is set up this way, too....must be a habit of mine.
Like lister, my presses (3 of them) are mounted on 3/4 inch plywood squares which I then C-clamp to the bench when I start loading. Now, I do mount them at the corner, so the clamp is holding the BACK edge of the plywood, not the front. Takes the strain well, but I'm not loading .50BMGAI or anything he-man. Works for my MEC, Lee Challenger and a cobbled together homemade widget. The board that carries the Lee also carries the powder measure (also Lee).
Strangely, my bench grinder is set up this way, too....must be a habit of mine.
"...3/4" mdf..." Two layers together might work. The 1" thick MDF top I have broke on its very first use. Acquired a square foot hunk of 1/4" mild steel(got it for free from a guy I shot with) that's bolted to the top, then the press bolted to the steel.
No special drills are needed for mild steel. An electric hand drill works just fine. Clearance holes for a 1/4 - 20 bolt in each corner. Same thing to hold the press.
No special drills are needed for mild steel. An electric hand drill works just fine. Clearance holes for a 1/4 - 20 bolt in each corner. Same thing to hold the press.
In a more helpful vein, I have done that very thing for a portable set up that I use at the range. Used a 2x8 though. - dan
I've always used two sheets of 3/4" fir plywood glued and screwed together (for 1 1/2") on top of a 2x4 base - super strong. Additional sheets of 3/4" plywood (or 1/2" will do) are screwed onto the back and sides in order to both close it in and to provide support to prevent the base from "racking".
