RCBS Primer pocket swager question

[tcoz]

The bench mounted swager is always pictured and demonstrated having been bolted to a bench. My reloading "bench" is actually a very nice heavy duty desk in our guest bedroom so I'm not able to bolt anything to it or do anything that will damage it. Is it possible to use the swager without in some way attaching it or is there too much force involved in using it?
For those of you wondering what I do with my press, it's attached to a stand away from the desk.
Thanks for your input.

 

[GW Staar]

It does have to fastened down to use it.

In your case you could use a 3/4" piece of plywood maybe 2' wide x12" and use "T" nuts in the bottom recessed flush (spaced to fasten the swager to), cover the plywood bottom with felt, bolt the tool to it, and finally, clamp the assembly to your "bench" with "C" clamps.

I say 2' wide so you can clamp on either side of your work area....getting the clamps out of the way.

Hint: angle the tool on the board so that the range of motion of the handle, and the case insertion is comfortable......IOW's it doesn't have to be mounted straight across. Think ergo.

 

[rg1]

Very little force involved. You could bolt it to a wood plank and use it in your lap or lightly clamp the plank to your desktop just to keep it from sliding around. Some felt or other material to protect the desk under the plywood or plank.

 

[tcoz]

Mounting it to a plank and clamping it to the desktop was my first thought but the desktop doesn't overhang the sides so there isn't any way to fasten "C" clamps to it. The sides and ends of the desktop are flush with each other.

 

[Sunray]

Isn't hard or expensive to pad a clamp. Wood is likely scratch though. Piece of 8 oz or so leather or thick cloth will not.
Oh, and you want to mount it so you have the use of both hands.

 

[rg1]

I bought the RCBS Bench Swager just for a backup to the press swaging tool. I've actually used the tool unmounted to anything and in my lap and just holding the unit by both handles. It works ok unmounted.

 

[tcoz]

I bought the RCBS Bench Swager just for a backup to the press swaging tool. I've actually used the tool unmounted to anything and in my lap and just holding the unit by both handles. It works ok unmounted.

It might not be practical if it was my primary swager and I was doing 300-400 at a time though. I think I'll pick one up and try it out unmounted then if it doesn't work well, I'll figure out some way to mount it. Maybe just mounting it to a piece of plywood and not clamping the plywood to the desktop would be ok. Larger surface area might hold it stable enough.

Thanks everybody.

 

[rsrocket1]

I have an old cast iron Pacific Reloader C style press that I use for swaging. It is bolted to a section of 2x4 and I C-clamp it to my Black and Decker Workmate when swaging. Everything gets put away and takes very little space in the closet when not in use.

 

[Paddy]

Find somewhere else to do the operation maybe the porch or hey how about the bathroom counter. Multitasking

 

[fguffey]

tcoz, I do not have a reloading bench, I have stands, most are pedestal type.

I can bolt presses to the stand or I can clamp presses to the top, and I have clamps, lots of clamps.

F. Guffey

 

[jmorris]

I am with Paddy, find something to clamp it too. Not like you have to leave it there, just use it and put it back up.