New Bench Can't Mount Press

[jmorris]

3" lip would make it worse not better. You want support not overhang.

The reason he needs a 3" overhang is because the linkage on the press, when the ram is all the way up goes back under the edge of the bench.

I got around this problem by making a truss structure for my bench. There is only 1/8" overhang so there is no flex in the steel top but the linkage of the presses that usuall need overhang goes back in between gaps in the WW pattern.



I also used steel mounting plates for the turret press/powder measure, 550 and 650s so I didn't have to drill and tap every bolt pattern into the bench itself.

 

[moonman16]

InlineFabrication has the solution to your problems.

Their ULTRAMOUNTS are Great, I think they are TWICE the MOUNT a Dillon Strong Mount is.

They are available in different heights, ( 9 5/8" Standard, 6" and 4" are available.

Have a look at their ERGO HANDLES also, Nicely made and work very well.

I also use his SKYLIGHT LIGHTING KIT, it puts good light where you need it.

He also manufactures CARTRIDGE AND BULLET BINS to fit.

 

[wally247]

Don't over complicate it. Use some lag bolts.

 

[dickttx]

"Edit: Well, I checked this out and I don't feel like there is enough support for the press with the amount of room to mount. It appears to be just one row of butcher block supporting the press which I feel would split off under the load of the press."

If your butcher block is like mine it is pressure glued and has a threaded rod with washers and nuts horizontally every 20", so it should not ever break off.
But, as several have stated, use long lag screws where you can't access bolts to attach a washer. But be sure to drill your hole the proper size for the lag screws and put a washer
and lock washer on top of the press. I used 1/2" bolts on mine.

The photo shows where the rods are.

 

[HKGuns]

Wow,

Lots of great ideas and suggestions in this thread. Thanks to all of you. I ordered an LNL UltraMount and will see how that will work. It seemed the cleanest alternative given the situation and my not wanting to butcher my new bench. (Pun intended)

Off Topic, what's the engraving on your beautiful bench?

Thanks and it reads "Protect the Second Amendment"

Thats easy, take the press back, get one that fits. Silly question..........

Silly question eh? How about useless post back at you? I've had the press since 2003 and I highly doubt Hornady is interested in taking it back. Why even respond to the thread if that is all you've got? Thank goodness for all of the good people here that responded with great options.

 

[Elkins45]

The reason he needs a 3" overhang is because the linkage on the press, when the ram is all the way up goes back under the edge of the bench.

I got around this problem by making a truss structure for my bench. There is only 1/8" overhang so there is no flex in the steel top but the linkage of the presses that usuall need overhang goes back in between gaps in the WW pattern.



I also used steel mounting plates for the turret press/powder measure, 550 and 650s so I didn't have to drill and tap every bolt pattern into the bench itself.

OK, you just posted that to make us jealous, didn't you?

 

[jmorris]

No, just sharing ideas. Turned out very ridged despite only being 18" wide, made from 3/4" box tubing and able to move and setup by a single person. Wish I had a bench like it a few decades ago. The truss structure is hard to beat if you are going for maximum strength and light weight.

 

[moonman16]

jmorris has and makes some NICE STUFF!

 

[ElvinL]

Lag bolts or the 'Ultramount' by Inlinefabrications.com as suggested already. Either should do the trick. I have the Hornady LNL AP and the Ultramount is the bomb. Raises everything to a more user-friendly height for standing or sitting reloading. Mounts more solid than without.

 

[HKGuns]

Got it mounted after breaking the heads off two cheap ass lag screws and having to extract them. Finally found some stainless lag screws that held up.



Thanks very much to all who helped.

 

[Jcinnb]

My press is mounted on a 2 x 8 that is screwed into bench, and then the bench is screwed into the wall studs. The press is bolted onto the 2 x 8.

The 2 x 8 is the width of my bench, pluse about 3 1/2 inches. Works fine. Good Luck

 

[GarySTL]

Looks great! I'm sure you're going to love it.

 

[Elkins45]

Hmm....I'm liking the idea of having the press closer to eye level. How sturdy is that thing?

 

[judgedelta]

press mount

Here's a simple mount I made out of 2 X 4's closer to eye level as I like to work standing up.

 

[judgedelta]

press mount

Here is the 2 X 4 mount.

sorry about that, I am photographically challenged...

 

[HKGuns]

Hmm....I'm liking the idea of having the press closer to eye level. How sturdy is that thing?

Pretty darn sturdy. Surprisingly so......

 

[judgedelta]

bench mount



This is made out of 2 X 4's with a piece of 2 X 8 on top. It is solid with more wood on the inside. It is really sturdy; works even with rifle cases (hard to size)

 

[rsrocket1]

Sorry for coming in late to the party. I wanted to mount my LnL AP as stiffly as possible because any flex or movement on the mounting is not good.

I mounted the press to a 2" x 6" plank. I drilled holes in the pattern of the mounting bolts, then used a router (just a Dremmel tool with the routing bit) to enlarge the hole so that a big hex head bolt would fit in it with a fender washer underneath. This made the bottom of the wood fit flush to whatever I needed. I then cut the wood so that it fit the width of my table plus enough overhang for the press to clear the table for the whole movement of the handle.

I then mounted the 2x6 board on the table and anchored the back to the wall studs of my house with angle brackets, yes through the drywall and into the studs. Now all the force loads are perpendicular to the attachment points except where the angle brackets attach to the wall studs, but the torque distance is so long (3+ feet) that the shear force is very small on the screws, although I used 1/4" bolts to attach the brackets to the wall studs.

Zero flex, no torque, no shaking while loading. I liked this so much I did the same with my single stage press with a 2x4. This made a big difference in eliminating the flex when resizing rifle cases.

 

[1in9twist]

Got it mounted after breaking the heads off two cheap ass lag screws and having to extract them. Finally found some stainless lag screws that held up.



Thanks very much to all who helped.

Ahhhh....Veddy niice! I am glad you like the Ultramount, glad we could be of service. I like that bench set up. Engraving is a great touch. Dan

 

[BCRider]

I'm too late to offer this but it may help out someone else or help you out for next time.

Some furniture wax or even a bar of soap rubbed over the threads on the lag screws will reduce the torque friction enough that you won't have to worry about busting the heads off.

To my eyes the lever looks awfully high if you're sitting while using the press. My own setup uses standard standing height tops at 35 inches off the floor. But since I like sitting during long reloading sessions I set my own machines up so they mount directly to the top more or less and hang over the side. The reloading area is set up with 5/16 T nuts set 6inches back and 6 inches between. So I mounted the presses to a 3/4 plywood plate then screw the plate to the bench using the bolt pattern. The presses are shimmed or not from there based on my reach to the lever and viewing angle into the loading area

The moral of this story is that depending on how you work your press don't feel trapped by the wrong height mount.

If at some point you want to use that overhang you can harden up the area using a couple of options. First would be long draw bolts and nuts extending back into the edge. Another option would be a 12 inch length of 3x3 angle iron screwed well to the top and support.

 

[Maj Dad]

A late footnote to BCRider's soap/wax suggestion: in hardwood, you almost have to drill a pilot hole, or you can twist a screw off. Softwoods aren't as much a problem, but pilot holes are still the tidier approach.