Idano,
"How high do you have your press mounted from the floor?"
42 1/2" from the floor. The "strong mount" is 13" tall. Mine is setup for me to sit on one of those four legged barstools Sam's Club sells, as my knees are shot from stuff I did in the Service once upon a time. After looking at mine from a standing perspective, you'd probably be fine with the same height as mine, though a bit taller would be desireable.
Bob,
"Nice looking mount. Do you think you lost much stability/rigidity with this approach?"
I didn't lose any. The basic frame has 1" thick oak stock and the rear has 1/2" stock used across the frame to create ridgidity. Look close and you can see the back support. I could stand on this thing and it wouldn't wiggle and I'm 6" and well over 200 pounds.
"It looks like I would need about 9.5" of height for the ram to clear the bench top but you went a little higher. Was that just a personal preference or did you find that you needed the press that high?"
I went 13", but that's simply where I needed it height wise for me to sit on a stool in a "semi-standing" position and be comfortable operating the press. You could go shorter or longer. Depending on your situation, height, etc., you want to try and get the setup as ergonomic as possible. And like Idano said, height is a consideration with a casefeeder. I don't run a casefeeder, but then, I'm not competing and reload as much for accuracy as for quantity nowadays.
Some relavent information:
1. I used scraps of rough cut offs (was oak, but any of the harder hardwoods such as maple would do) I got from a local hardwood retailer. They were only finished smooth on one side, so I turned this side outward. As you can see, doesn't matter much what the inside of the frame looks like.
2. If you do it, use both glue and deck screws, pre-drill the deck screw holes. This will get you the ridgidity you desire.
3. Hardwoods are outrageously expensive at home depot, so take the time to locate a hardwoods vendor in your area if you can.
4. Make sure and put a back on. This is what provides side to side ridigidity.
5. Place the verticals so they are between the base and the top, as this puts the wood supporting your press, not the screws. See second pic.
6. I've had this setup about 6 years. Hasn't failed me yet and shows no signs of wearing out or getting loose.
7. You can also make this out of 3/4" birch plywood like you get from the woodworking stores to do wood shop cabinet projects. Avoid the Home Depot birch plywood. It's not nearly as good a stuff generally, though some guys can get good birch plywood at their home depots, usually up North, not here in the Atlanta area for sure.