Realistically how "solid" does your bench need to be?

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Nan_wpg

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I ask because I'm kinda bummed out. I bought a metal bench frame and counter top from menards.

Even after bolting the lower portion to the wall I'm still able to lift the bench off the ground.

Will this be detrimental to the upstroke of the press? I'm not worried about the downstroke as the press will be right over the legs.

I just had in my mind a solid non movable bench.
 
I can't fasten the legs to the ground. It has the round screw things so you can level the legs independently.

The frame weighs about 75 lbs and the countertop I'm guessing 50 lbs?

I could beef up the countertop with some 3/4" ply for some heft and weight.

I'm tempted to just chuck it and use steel threaded pipe and floor flange that can be tapco'd into the concrete floor.
 
Put shelves under it and store 500lb of bullets and ammo on them.
The more stable the better but plenty of people load by clamping a press to a desk or kitchen table. Upstroke should be fairly mild as long as you lube inside the case necks.
 
vagrantviking said:
Put shelves under it and store 500lb of bullets and ammo on them.
The more stable the better but plenty of people load by clamping a press to a desk or kitchen table. Upstroke should be fairly mild as long as you lube inside the case necks.
Click to expand...
^^^ This. Put a lower shelf on it and weight it down.
 
My bench is 2'x4' and the top is 2 layers of 2x12 on 4x4 legs, probably 200lbs of bullets sitting on it and it will still flex a bit sizing lol.
If I did it again I'd go all steel, lagged to the concrete floor and wall.
 
Nan_wpg said:
I can't fasten the legs to the ground. It has the round screw things so you can level the legs independently.

The frame weighs about 75 lbs and the countertop I'm guessing 50 lbs?
Click to expand...

Man, add to that the weight of the press and everything else you store on the bench and you have a 150 lbs bench. And you're worried your one-hand lifting action on the press will move it and affect the cases somehow? :sok2

I think you're overthinking it. There's almost no strength on the upstroke, you're just drawing out the cases from the dies. Remember that guys have reloaded perfectly serviceable rounds from a portable press on their kitchen table. :)
 
If you are diligent with lube you will be fine......the recommendations here. Am I the only one not sizing arty brass here? Check out the lee hand press, you don't even need a bench. Downstroke is where you need beef aslong as you are doing it right.
 
what press are you intending to run? Single stage would be ok, add a bottom shelf and load it down with bullets for weight. If you are intending to use a progressive, you may need to add some cross bracing in addition to a bottom shelf.
 
The plan is a lee classic single stage.

I'd prefer not to put,a,lower shelf. I,will if need be but my stool, and rolling tool box are a perfect fit underneath.
It's a more efficient use of space than a lower shelf.
 
Nan_wpg said:
The plan is a lee classic single stage.

I'd prefer not to put,a,lower shelf. I,will if need be but my stool, and rolling tool box are a perfect fit underneath.
It's a more efficient use of space than a lower shelf.
Click to expand...

Everything happens on the down stroke of the lever right? If that's the case, you should be ok for reloading pistol rounds. Some rifle rounds take a fair bit of effort, so you could always set up a hutch along the back edge of your work bench and load that down with brass and bullets.
 
My bench is a 2"x2" steel frame, with a lower shelf. 3/4" wood pine on the top and bottom. I have a Rockchucker press and it's bolted to the front edge right on the 2x2. Not sure how heavy it is, but it does not move. I also put reloading components on the lower shelf, makes it handy there and adds more weight.
 
Lee Reloading Stand.

ReloadingStandIllustration.jpg
 
I have no idea if it's all on the downstroke. Never reloaded. I'm guessing the upstroke isn't that big a deal.

If it ends up being an issue I can always cut a 2 x 4 to wedge the bench top to the floor joists.

As a previous post said, I'm probably over thinking this
 
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