Press mounting ideas?

[nomad 68]

Just finished the top for my bench. I laminated two pieces of 3/4 plywood and topped it with an inch of maple flooring..Been wondering about wether threaded metal inserts in the top would be strong enough. Making the press easily removable would be nice but I want it to be solidly mounted. Any suggestions?thanks

 

[Varmit]

I wouldn't go with the inserts, bolt it right through the whole top, there is a lot of force there.

 

[kingdarb]

/agreed. There is alot of leverage. You want to bolt it right through the bench.

 

[nomad 68]

Thanks guys. I figured the inserts wouldn't be strong enough.

 

[yomomma]

If you are handy.....mount it to a steal plate. make a bracket to accept the plate.

Something like this http://www.lsstuff.com/patmarlin/press.html

Seen them made of wood too

 

[Boomer]

When I built my bench, I had become frustrated with flimsy bench tops, and holes that sloped out from heavy press use. So what I did was to inlay a piece of thick flat steel, actually a piece of cutting edge from a snow blower (3/8" X 6"), to which I welded a pair of grade 8 bolts with the heads cut off to hold the press. A piece of quarter inch plywood acts as a gasket between the press and the steel, and 4 half inch carriage bolts secure the steel to the bench.

 

[Fire306]

I'm not sure what they are called, but I use a press in metal insert that presses into the wood from the bottom side. It has a flange on it that won't allow it to pull through.
Predrill the bench top, press these into the bottom, so the top of the bench is clean and obstruction free, other than a drilled hole.
When I need the press, just set it in place, wind the bolts down into the predrilled holes and I'm ready to go.

 

[terry_g]

I made a plate out of 1/4" x 4" steel that has 3 nuts tack welded
to it and screwed it to the underside of the bench topwith wood screws.
The bolts go through the press and benchtop and screw into the welded nuts.
It's very solid.

Terry

 

[TedNugent]

I bought 2 mounts from inline fabrication for my rockchuckers, very sturdy and accepts a variety of different configurations. Very happy with them.

 

[Trinimon]

I bought 2 mounts from inline fabrication for my rockchuckers, very sturdy and accepts a variety of different configurations. Very happy with them.

+1. I don't have a whole lot of workbench space to mount two presses so I picked up the quick change bases so I can rotate between my single stage and progressive presses.

The drawback is that if you wanted access to the entire workbench surface, this probably isn't what you want 'cause the base will still be mounted to your bench.

 

[LordEvilPepper]

I use bolts in the bench and use wingnuts to hold on the press... takes but a minute to remove the press.

 

[BattleRife]

I used threaded inserts for my powder measure stand, but not for presses.

The Hornady progressive sits on a steel tall mount bolted to the bench top.

Lighter presses and the lubrisizer are mounted to square pieces of 19mm plywood, which can be bolted to the bench at a station that has a matching 4-bolt pattern.

 

[mudgunner49]

I used a piece of 3/8" steel 12" wide and as long as the depth of the bench bolted together on top of the bench, then bolted the press to that. I have an RCBS Big Max on one end of a 60" bench and the Dillon 550B on the other - no bench flex...

 

[rodauto]

I had a welder fabricate a plate with angle iron welded to the top edge that bolted to my bench then I made up inserts that bolted to my presses, unused ones are mounted to a shelf/holder on the wall. Quick change about 5 seconds!

Rodney

 

[pearcetopher]

you know partner I purchased one of those lee precision tripod press mounts and it work like a charm,

however I have a cheap stack on gun case and I realized it would probably be beefy enough to mount a press on the top
as a plus the press would be at shoulder height making standing while reloading very easy as I wouldn't have to bend down

just food for thought

 

[hoytcanon]

You have plenty of rigidity with 3/4" X 2 plus hardwood... just bolt right through... you will not need a steel plate... just use a large washer on each bolt.

 

[sunray]

'C' clamps will do, but 1/4" bolts and washers will be better. There isn't as much force being applied as it appears. The thing the bolts are going through is more import at than the bolts or their size.
I suspect your 1.75" of solid wood and plywood will be fine. Particle board is completely useless though. My bench started with a bit over an inch thick slab of that and broke on the very first use. Fixed it with a square foot of 1/4" hunk of steel.

 

[nomad 68]

Going to thru bolt it on. Seems from pics that I've seen of other benches that I may have overbuilt the chit out of this thing lol.

 

[rookie wildcat]

My bench top is a door. Solid-core hardwood commercial door. 2" thick. Holes drilled for 5/16" T-nuts on the underside. 5/16" bolts secure each press in its location.

 

[H4831]

With that heavy, strong base you have, with a sharp drill just drill holes the same size as the holes the press and iron bolts will hold it absolutely solid, and it will stand up to all the abuse you can give it on the handle.
My judgement of it, based on experience.