Reloading press mount... dove tail slide in..?? Help!

[MIdoublegun]

Hey guys.. Newbie here (long time lurker) trying to get started "rollin my own"... I am currently in the process building a bench. I have the frame of my bench built as an L-shape in the corner of the basement. I am trying to figure out what to use as a bench top and how I should mount my presses. I have looked through the "show me pictures of your reloading bench" thread from awhile back and got a few ideas.

I really dont want to drill a bunch of holes all over the bench top if I can help it. I know there are a few guys out there that have designed "plates" that slide in and out of the table top. I really like the idea and am trying to figure out how to go about designing the table top to incorporate the slide in style press mount, and what material to use for the table top.

Suggestions... photos... ideas... would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff.

Ps. I really enjoy the forum... many, many people here offering good advice, suggustions, and opinions..

 

[highlander 5]

If your thinking a single stage press RCBS has an aluminum plate that has holes pre drilled and tapped for their presses and powder measures. I have one bolted to a piece of 1 by 12 that I use C clamps to hold in place. Progressive presses I believe only Dillon has a mount primarily for the 550/650 presses.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Double, or even triple 3/4 plywood makes a real sturdy top. A piece of quarter inch mdf on top if you want something to absorb spills and be smooth. You can figure out how to key in your inserts quicker than I could describe.

 

[Corkster]

Check out page 3 of the reloading forum "Show us a picture of your reloading bench" in that thread somewhere...... the is an explanation and pictures of how to do the dove tail thing.

 

[Corkster]

Page 9 of the "Show us a picture of your reloading bench" #203

 

[Corkster]

Sorry! page 9 #202

 

[coyotehitman]

I thought about using 1/2 inch steel plate. Attach one 12X12 plate to the bench and permanently mount (4) 3/8" studs protruding upward from the plate. Permanently mount your presses and other accessories to an identical plate with 4 corresponding holes drilled through it. Use lock washers and wing nuts to join the two.

 

[Rembrandt]

For materials, I'd recommend a high density plastic such as PVC. It cuts, drills, and shapes as easily as wood....stronger, doesn't absorb fluids, won't scratch finished surfaces. Available in nearly any dimension. If you wanted the ultimate bench surface, do the entire top with a sheet of 3/4" PVC over a sub layer of 3/4" wood. It would work well with your dovetail concept.

Been using adapter mounting plates on loaders for years and couldn't be happier. This one was built using a table saw, router, and drill press.



Top view....


Bottom side....

 

[MIdoublegun]

Thanks for the responses guys. I appreciate it.

Nice Bench Rembrandt!! I like.

Just in case anyone else is looking to do something like this... here is what i intend on doing for the table top.

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammunition/benchs_022607/index.html

Thanks again.

Jeff

 

[Jolly Rogers]

I'm interested in the same principle press mount. I'm also getting red x's in the box for the image on page #9 post #203 and also getting generic image not available graphics from the hosting sites on the page #3 posts. Could someone repost the pictures others have mentioned in this thread? Thanks in advance.
Joe

 

[pmeisel]

Jeff, good article. I built my bench nearly 20 years ago based on Wiley Clapp's article. I used 2x4's sistered together into 4x4's for legs, rather than pipe. I forget who I stole that idea from.

The inserts work great. I had to work mine a little to make them completely interchanges. One plate holds a Lyman turret press, one a vise, one a case trimmer, one a powder measure, and I have two plain blanks.

I have moved the bench twice. It takes two strong men to lift it at all.

 

[TxBaaylea]

a source for top material

We recently built a new kitchen using cabinets from IKEA. They have laminated beech tops in 1-1/8" and 1-3/8" thickness at very reasonable prices. I am planning a new reloading bench with inserted t-tracks. That is going to require some router work however.

Vernon

 

[something vague]

Wow, I am amazed at how versatile that bench in the article is. I'm also amazed at how far we a willing to go with benches to reload some cartridges for our guns. The money spent on bench of that nature would buy me a brand new gun. But this is our hobby. I don't have a bench that extreme yet but promise that when funds are available to take on a project like that, it will be as extravegant as the one in the article as it will become a beautifull peice of furniture in my office. Good luck and keep shooting!