C Clamps and reloading..

[Afy]

I live for the most part in a studio smaller than most single hotel rooms.

How on earth do I mount a RCBS rock Chucker.without doing it permanently.
My counter tops are particle board... and since I rent I do not want to drill.

Also considering my bed folds into the wall... I have absolutely no space. Thus will C-clamps do the trick? Or do I spend 60 Euros to learn the hard way?

 

[WayneConrad]

I've seen the pictures here. If you search, you should find it. Someone will come along with a link, I'll bet. I believe you mount the press to a small board, using lag screws, as though the board were a bench. And then you attach the board to your countertop using the clamps.

 

[rcmodel]

I wouldn't recommend C-Clamps.

Rubber-jaw wood clamps would work though without tearing anything up.

Mount the press on a 2 x 10 or something long enough to reach across the counter top. Countersink the bolts in the bottom, and cover it with carpet or rubber sheet.

Then clamp it down.

You need strength in the direction of handle travel.
(IE: front to back, not side to side.)

BTW: I reloaded rifle & pistol, cast & sized bullets, and loaded 12 & 20 ga shotgun out of a GI foot-locker for two years.

It became a living-room coffee table with a nice table cloth on it between loading sessions.

Where theres a will, there's a way!

rcmodel

 

[cdrt]

I did something along those lines with my RCBS Junior press, since I didn't have a lot of counter space. I mounted it to a heavy piece of wood and then clamped it down, when I wanted to use it.

I do the same thing now with my Star presses, since I have two of them and not a lot of space. Each has it's own stand made out of plywood that I can clamp to the workbench. And it allows me to store them where they don't gather a lot of dust, etc.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I have several loading tools mounted to 10" x 10" x 1" plywood squares, which I clamp to my bench with large "C" clamps. A couple of them are reloading presses, and as long as the counter you mount to is strong enough, and solid enough, this arrangement will work just fine. One thing you might do though, since you mention particle board counters, is to use a piece of plywood under the counter and clamp that in, too. This will spread the force of the clamp over a larger area and be less likely to damage the counter top.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Afy]

I can not mount to anything... no bloody place.
If I strech my arms I reach either side of where I spend most of my time. Plus I have no tools...

 

[tkendrick]

I loaded for years by simply clamping my press to a table top. A little padding might be needed if you are mounting on a nice table or something you don't want marred, otherwise, no problems.

 

[sqlbullet]

I use three of the aforementioned wood clamps with the rubber heels. One is an Irwin clamp, don't remember the brand on the other two.

I don't have a mounting plate. I put a clean rag (or a paper towel many times) over the counter in question to protect it from scratches and then a clamp on either side of the rock chucker. The third clamp holds the powder measure when I use it too.

 

[LB7_Driver]

I have a couple presses bolted to plywood and I use C-clamps to hold them in place when I'm using them - just like ReloaderFred describes.

This works quite well.

 

[skinewmexico]

I screwed mine to a cutting board, and use c-clamps to hold it to the counter.

 

[frogomatic]

I had a similar problem. I resolved it by making a replacment centerleaf for the kitchen table, and mounting the press on the new leaf.

 

[dwhite]

Lee Hand Press

The Lee Hand Press was my solution. Fits in a box under the bed. Handles all my reloading. Easy to use. Portable. I can do 50 .40 S&W rounds in an hour. I load maybe 300 rounds per month at most. .38/.357 about the same time per 50.

I bought mine for less than USD 20 at Cabelas. I've been very pleased with it.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[PCFlorida]

When I lived in a small apartment many years ago I mounted my SDB to a Black & Decker Workmate. I sat in front of it and rested my feet on the rung along the bottom to keep it steady. It worked great.

I have a lot of room now, don't need to do that anymore.

 

[P-32]

I was in the Navy and moved alot. No since in building a nice bench. I "C" clamped for a lot of years. Now at least my press is bolted down but I still move my equipment into the house for loading......warmer or air condiditoned.

 

[Flash!]

I mounted my Rock Chucker on a 1 1/2 foot long 2 X 6. Then I used two large c clamps to attach the 2 X 6 to a table.....been there three years now with no problems.....

I also mounted my powder dispenser and my case trimmer the same way.... no problems...works fine...lasts long time....

 

[Mt Shooter]

I held my press down with C clamps for many years, used the kitchen counter top. Made a lot of rounds that way.

 

[pruav]

I have my press mount to some 2x4 and plywood. I would c clamp it the the kitchen table when reloading. It worked ok but the kitchen table was wobblely.



Now I have a bench to bolt it to.

 

[74sharps]

I have a folding work bench that I use to clamp my press and such to. If you put a 2X6 over it you can put screws or bolts to hold the press, powder measure and trimmer. When you're done reloading remove the 2X6 with the equipment attached,Fold the bench up and put it away.

 

[Schleprok62]

I got one of those Workmate knock-offs from Harbor freight for like $8.00 and just mounted a 18" x 24" piece of 1" plywood to it. bolted the press to it using wingnuts, it breaks down for easy closet storage...

 

[qajaq59]

I had a similar problem. I resolved it by making a replacement centerleaf for the kitchen table, and mounting the press on the new leaf.

All the suggestions are good, but this idea is rather clever.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I bolted my press to the top step of a 3-step step stool !

 

[primlantah]

when i first started reloading i spent all my money on tools and supplies... not a good bench. First few batches were made with the press c-clamped to a kitchen chair... of course after the chair began falling apart(didn't take long) i got a heavy duty shelf and only assembled the top half... serves a a bench with 2 shelves for storage. This makes the process more enjoyable.

 

[Soybomb]

I don't know how set you are on a rockchucker but I decided to make a compact reloading setup myself and went with a hand press. I haven't used it enough to say I love it but I ran like 700 cases through it yesterday, resizing, depriming, belling and so far have no complaints.

The entire setup fits in a 50cal ammo can with the exception of the scale and bullet puller. The set of lee dippers is not pictured. I can do my 3 favorite calibers here including fixing military brass.

 

[Zak Smith]

I use C-clamps all the time.

 

[Afy]

I am really relived with all the replies...
Was worried for a while because even the C Clamps cost about $48 each at current exchange rates... (30 euros each)
I must take some pictures soon of my entirely bizzare collection of components and powders et al... shell holder's are running me to the tune of $20 each wth shipping...