Mount on bench or mounting "plate"?

[Shrinkmd]

Once my Hornady LNL Classic comes, I need to mount it to my bench.

Do people prefer to drill their bench top (Sears 5 ft Craftsman, so it's some composite top, no real wood) for permanent mounting of press, powder measure, etc, or do people mount to a board, and then clamp that onto your bench? How thick a board do people use, and what type of clamp is best?

I'm getting more mechanically inclined one project at a time, so bear with me...thanks!

Also, if permanently mounting, for a right handed person, approximately where along a 5ft bench would be an optimum placement for the press?

 

[fguffey]

Shrimkmd, I do not have a bench, I use stands, but with limited space and strength attaching equipment to a board and using 'C' clamps works by mounting all equipment on its own mounting board, I would suggest a plate between the clamp and mounting board, the plate will distribute the crushing effect of the clamp and prevent the board from splitting, this allows all tools to be put away when not in use.

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

Shrinkmd,

sorry about that,

F. Guffey

 

[Walkalong]

I have my Projector mounted to the far right of my bench. Everything else is mounted on "plates" of one sort or another, like this Forster trimmer, or RCBS trimmer, drilled to match holes drilled in my bench top to mount via bolts or bolts and C clamps. This wooden "plate" has a press and a powder measure atatched to it. It mounts to the bench via two bolts and a C clamp. It is dusty from sitting on top of the safe. Wiley is keeping a close eye on it.

 

[gdcpony]

I use a hand press, but the case prep and powder measure are all mounted to a left over stair tread. I take it with me and load as I shoot if I need to. A couple C-clamps and you could have a press on it too always ready to go.

 

[Iheartguns]

Shrinkmd -

With the repetitive pressures required to operate the press, I'd be extremely concerned about ripping the bolts out of composite - unless it's a very dense composite. Even then, I'd hesitate. I think you'd be much better served with a length of 2x6 with 1.25" lag bolts that you clamp to the bench. Or clamp the press directly to the bench using C-clamps or bar clamps.

Play with it - and figure out what works best for you. The beauty of not permanently mounting is that you can move it as your preferences and/or equipment needs change.

Andy

 

[Jim Watson]

Friend of mine has all his presses - Rockchucker and MEC in all four Skeet gauges - permanently screwed to the same size plates. The plates mount to the bench with bolts and wing nuts, all the same pattern, so he mounts five machines with one set of 4 holes and changeover is a couple of minutes.

I have a little more room so I just spread stuff out.

Near but not right at the right hand end of the bench works. Leave a space on the right end for a cartridge block so you can pick up a case on one side, process it, and transfer it to the other to keep things straight.

 

[oneounceload]

I took a sheet of 5/8 plywood, cut in half and doubled the thickness. That was then screwed to the worktop - I use a gorilla storage rack in 2 4' sections - gives me real wood to screw the press into and it won't flex and break like particle board

 

[Historian]

I am a right hander and found that the best mounting place is slightly to the right of where I place my stool. Pick up brass with left hand, insert into shell holder, pull with right hand, remove with left. I have permanently mounted my press (single stage) on a plate screwed into a 1" thick wooden brench. My powder charger is mounted slightly to the left of where I sit so I can hold the brass with my left hand and throw the handle with my right. This leaves a nice space in front of me for my scale, reloading block, bullets, caliper and other moveable items that I might need. My trimmer is mounted on the bench a few inches behind my press. It's a little awkward to trim but it works for me.

Historian

 

[AF_Reloader]

I'm using a Craftsman 3-drawer bench (you can see them on their website), and since it's a little crowded with my 12ga and 20ga 8567s mounted, I use a RCBS Accessory Base Plate:

Accessory Base Plate

It's nice to be able to mount my trimmer when I need it, then swap out to the CaseMaster and the Uniflow, etc etc. Saves me a lot of room. The Rockchucker press itself is mounted just to the right of that plate, directly to the bench, since that thing is heavy enough that I don't want to be moving it all the time.

 

[ranger335v]

I prefer to add a stiffener UNDER the bench top, screwed and glued in place.

I'm right handed and it's more comfortable for me if I operate the press lever with the right hand and manipulate cases with my left. By placing my press to the right end of the bench I have plenty of room for other things, including loading blocks, to the left of my press. I block my presses up enough to allow me to fully depress the lever without bending over at all. My back appreciates it!

An inexpensive (Lowe's/Harbor Freight) swiveling machinest's vise, 3-4", on the left end is handy of itself. Mounting trimmers, concentricity gages, etc., on small wooden blocks allows me to clamp mine in the vise and do it quickly.

A sturdy set of "book shelves" above the bench top, with one shelf about nose high, makes a good place for a beam scale and trickler as well as for component storage. Putting your powder measure/mount on the bench top, just to the right of the scale and to the left of the press, provides a good flow path for powder work. Depending on the width of your top and the depth of your shelveing, you may want to add some extra width to the scale shelf to allow for a shorter reach.

 

[ranger335v]

1234567

 

[Shrinkmd]

Sounds like portable is the way to go. I have plenty of sheets of plywood leftover from knocking down the old shelves to make room for the new bench setup. Maybe I can mount the press to one or two of those glued together and then clamp that in place.

Or, can Hornady equipment be installed on the RCBS mounting plate? Any suggestions on what to purchase to do this?

Thanks!

 

[Oldcoyote]

2 X 6
carriage bolts thru countersunk holes
C-clamps

 

[R.W.Dale]

I made this from 1/2" steel plate

 

[Wilburt]

My question is if your using plates to mount your press and it is wood and not steel.... How are you mounting your press to the plate. Well you have to countersink the holes and bolt them down but how thick should the plate be to give a secure hold to the press.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I went to a carpenter shop and scrounged a 30"X1' peice of 1" plywood to mount atop my bench ( 5/8" wood planlking top with 1/4" plywood top) and secured it with 8 thru-bolts. I have single 2 presses in tandem. I form brass wildcats no problem.

 

[Rembrandt]

Mounting plates can be made any number of materials....steel, aluminum, wood, plastic, etc. Made mine from 1/2" thick high density plastic, doesn't scratch the bench surface, easy to drill & cut, and won't rust or absorb fluids. As noted previously, bolts would need to be either counter bored or counter sunk to make the bottom flush. Mounting to a plate is a handy concept when you're short on bench space and have a number of presses. Good luck.

 

[rfwobbly]

I mount all my presses on plates. I have several benches and can move the presses from bench to bench depending on the weather and other needs. I can also remove them when I need more bench space. I started out with plates because my first reloading setup had to be taken apart each night to get it off the one table I owned in college. I've always stuck with the system ever since.

So far I've tried 1/2 plywood, 1/4 and 3/8 aluminum and 5/8 fiberglass sheet. They all work good.

 

[easyrider604]

do people mount to a board, and then clamp that onto your bench? How thick a board do people use, and what type of clamp is best?

I bolted my 550B (and the Lee Classic Cast) onto a 2" x 4" x 18" block.

Then C-clamped (use 2) to the bench.

 

[Wilburt]

Good to know.... Thanks