Placement of 2 Lee Pro 1000s on reloading Bench

cbabes

cbabes

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Hey,

I would appreciate some input on where to place two Lee Pro 1000s on my reloading bench. Don't think it makes a difference but one is for 9mm and the other is for .45. I notice in most pics people put them on the edge of the bench. My bench is 42" high and the top is 5' x 2.5'. I have secured it to the wall so good that I can stand on it and it won't budge.

Here is a pic. The reloading bench is the steel desk on the far left....

Thanks In Advance!

ReloadingDesk.jpg
 
Your press must be on the edge of the bench as the piston arm goes below the mounting surface.

The only way you would be able to put it anywhere else would be to mount it on a HIGH mount of some sort. However in term of ergonomics I think that would not be advisable.

Looking at your bench I would mount them side by side even with the inside edges of the drawers such that the drawers can still be open and there is room between them for your bullet bin used for the right one.
 
stormbringer said:
Your press must be on the edge of the bench as the piston arm goes below the mounting surface.

The only way you would be able to put it anywhere else would be to mount it on a HIGH mount of some sort. However in term of ergonomics I think that would not be advisable.

Looking at your bench I would mount them side by side even with the inside edges of the drawers such that the drawers can still be open and there is room between them for your bullet bin used for the right one.
Click to expand...

Thanks! What do you mean about bullet bin used for the "right one"?
 
stormbringer said:
Your press must be on the edge of the bench as the piston arm goes below the mounting surface.
Click to expand...

I knew that, just didn't know whether I should put them far away from each other. Putting them side by side won't cause any problems as long as I leave room for a bin on one side of each press? Shoud the two presses and the two spots for the bin all be between the drawers or just the two presses?

Sorry for all the questions!
 
"...as long as I leave room for a bin on one side of each press?..." Exactly. Either side of the chair space. One spot for a bin between the presses will do though. You won't be using both presses at the same time.
How heavy is that top? Is it solid wood, particle board or sheet steel? Solid wood is best. Particle board will likely break(my 1" thick particle board topped bench broke on the very first use) and sheet steel isn't solid enough. Not difficult nor expensive to reinforce though. A hunk of 3/4" plywood will do it for sheet steel. A piece of 1/4" mild steel plate will fix particle board.
 
sunray said:
"...as long as I leave room for a bin on one side of each press?..." Exactly. Either side of the chair space. One spot for a bin between the presses will do though. You won't be using both presses at the same time.
How heavy is that top? Is it solid wood, particle board or sheet steel? Solid wood is best. Particle board will likely break(my 1" thick particle board topped bench broke on the very first use) and sheet steel isn't solid enough. Not difficult nor expensive to reinforce though. A hunk of 3/4" plywood will do it for sheet steel. A piece of 1/4" mild steel plate will fix particle board.
Click to expand...

Don't tell me that! I believe the top is 1 1/2" but I don't think it's solid wood. It is very heavy and feels strong. I guess if it does break I can just put the broken piece back and reinforce it with steel plate. I put some big washers underneath. I posted the complete pic here...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301073&page=3
 
cbabes said:
Don't tell me that! I believe the top is 1 1/2" but I don't think it's solid wood. It is very heavy and feels strong. I guess if it does break I can just put the broken piece back and reinforce it with steel plate. I put some big washers underneath. I posted the complete pic here...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301073&page=3
Click to expand...

I use the same Canadian tire bench for both my 1000 and my anniversary press
Get a sheet of 1 1/2 plywood and put it in place of the pressboard. I took out the right hand drawer and placed both presses on the the right.
 
i've got both my 1000's so close together you can run them at the SAME TIME if you run a threaded rod between the two- you have to use BOTH HANDS ON THE LEVERS, but i got bullet feeders so i don't have to charge until i get to 15 or so
 
If you reinforce the top now, before it breaks, you won't regret it. All you have to do is laminate the reinforcing material(s) on top of the present surface. Contact cement, screws and bolts, and 1/2" 0r 3/4" plywood. (Or, even better, 2x 1/2" sheets, laminated.)
 
If it was my setup:

I'd throw them both on the front of the desk, in the area where your legs go if you were sitting at the desk. That way you won't lose access to the top drawer and storage on either side, and still have room between them for a single stage if you wanted.

Just throw a strip of plywood down along that area and you have a nice re-enforced section for mounting whatever you want.

Like so...

ReloadingDesk.jpg




t-star said:
i've got both my 1000's so close together you can run them at the SAME TIME if you run a threaded rod between the two- you have to use BOTH HANDS ON THE LEVERS, but i got bullet feeders so i don't have to charge until i get to 15 or so
Click to expand...

I have flirted with this idea (my second 1000 is coming soon). I also have been thinking about some kind of pneumatic drive with a kill switch so I could just stand there and eyeball the powder loads and nothing else :D
 
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Blackthorne said:
If it was my setup:

I'd throw them both on the front of the desk, in the area where your legs go if you were sitting at the desk. That way you won't lose access to the top drawer and storage on either side, and still have room between them for a single stage if you wanted.

Just throw a strip of plywood down along that area and you have a nice re-enforced section for mounting whatever you want.

Like so...

ReloadingDesk.jpg






I have flirted with this idea (my second 1000 is coming soon). I also have been thinking about some kind of pneumatic drive with a kill switch so I could just stand there and eyeball the powder loads and nothing else :D
Click to expand...

if you try to do three there's too much flexing in the 3rd position- even if you power both the outside levers- 2 is just right- besides all i have is 9mm and 45- if i had a 40 that would be a different story-
 
6gm6 said:
I use the same Canadian tire bench for both my 1000 and my anniversary press
Get a sheet of 1 1/2 plywood and put it in place of the pressboard. I took out the right hand drawer and placed both presses on the the right.
Click to expand...

I am not using my Mastercraft work bench for the presses, I am keeping it for a tool/work bench. The steel desk to the left is my reloading bench. I have already installed the presses.....

ReloadingDeskCompleteSmall.jpg
 
Blackthorne said:
If it was my setup:

I'd throw them both on the front of the desk, in the area where your legs go if you were sitting at the desk. That way you won't lose access to the top drawer and storage on either side, and still have room between them for a single stage if you wanted.

Just throw a strip of plywood down along that area and you have a nice re-enforced section for mounting whatever you want.

Like so...

(PIC REMOVED)

I have flirted with this idea (my second 1000 is coming soon). I also have been thinking about some kind of pneumatic drive with a kill switch so I could just stand there and eyeball the powder loads and nothing else :D
Click to expand...

LOL..Your photoshop looks identical to what my reloading bench looked like when I finished installing the presses.
 
I have my 3 mounted way closer together... just enough so you can wedge a plasitc bin between them to catch the loaded rounds.

btw a pneumatic press has been in the back of my head for a while but I know the lee pro1000 wont be able to handel it... you might be able to rig up a hornady or dillion though...
pneumatic pro 1000 = ammo crusher... unless its extremely slow then it might work but it would probally be faster if you operate it.

incase your wondering how the pro's do it - Automatic loader

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3eWob1V1-Q
 
I have two also, but I went with a different approach; I attached one to the table with bolts and wing nuts and I just swap them around as I need one or the other. Doing it this way reduces the clutter on my bench.
 
COREY said:
I have two also, but I went with a different approach; I attached one to the table with bolts and wing nuts and I just swap them around as I need one or the other. Doing it this way reduces the clutter on my bench.
Click to expand...

it's not clutter- it's artwork- i have a microwave bench reinforced with 2x6 on which sits 2 lee 1000 and a turret- OTHER SIDE- a DILLON 550 AND ANOTHER 1000- the dillon is set up for 308 and the 1000 is set uf for 223- you just rotate the bench ( it's on wheels) for pistol or rifle- i've seen guys with lazy susans use a similar set up- you just rotate till you get the one you want
 
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