I had two issue I needed to solve at my loading bench. While using stuff I had on hand.
1st. I use a LEE turret that dumps the spent primers into the base of the unit. ( when not dumping them all over the bench) The only way to empty them out is to dismount the press.
This really irritated me. ALLOT!
I understand LEE is getting double duty from this base. It is the same base they use on the PRO 1000 press. This helps keep the cost to me low. I like the cost to me being low. So I have lived with it.
I have had a classic turret press in my basket at least 5 times but have not pulled the trigger yet. ( if you are reading this and are considering a LEE Turret, Buy the Classic cast if you can if not do what I did.)
So if I am going to use this press I need to make its use more user friendly.
2nd. I have a lube- sizer coming next month and I and sure one of my low ball bids on ebay will result in another press that needs mounting one of these days. I have seen some pics of benches that have press next to press next to press. Thats not for me I like to have room to work and wiggle if needed.
I am not in the mood to add more bench real-estate, So I need to add a quick way to change the presses out on the bench space I have. With out spending any money if possible.
1st I bolted some carriage bolts to the bench and installed a washer on top of the nut to act as a mounting platform. This is a permanent fixture. I did this at two stations.
Then I went digging in the scrap pile in the shop. Looking to see what i had on hand. (NOTE: 1/4 inch steel plate would be awesome for this use. maybe latter)
I found some 1x8 inch oak cut off ends that I had in a pile. Left over from a hay rack build I did a couple years ago. " See thats why you don't throw that crap out. Never know when you will need it"
I found 6 good ones. I drilled holes to match the bolts I have installed. I will mount my presses and sizers and any thing else I want onto these.
I mounted the presses to these boards. I set them on the washers on top of the bolts/ washers I have mounted to the bench. I did go buy 8 3/8ths wing nuts. To make mounting and dismounting by hand easy. No tools needed.
This works very very well. With my bench being bolted to the wall, there is no flex when working the press.
Of all the things I have learned so far. Having a nice stiff no wiggle/ flex install of your press is priority #1. Esp with LEE tools.
I have 4 extra of these made up so when a new press shows up it only takes a minute to change them out.
Here is how to solve the primmer issue on the LEE turret press. See the hole I cut?
Made a primmer catcher out of a ice cream bucket. Cant have too many ice cream buckets. This works very well. almost every primer that drops into the base then drops into the bucket. Unfortunately a high percentage of spent primers never get near the catch basin on the press.
A cheap fix is to use the business cards from guys trying to sell you stuff. Now 99% land in the bucket.
There I am happy now. Total cost to me. $4 for the wing nuts.