What mounting bolt size for Lee Classic Cast?

[dmproske]

What diamater bolts did you use to mount the Lee Classic Cast press?

 

[carbine85]

I used 5/16 carriage bolts on my RCBS with large flat washers under the bench for the bolt to press up against.

 

[ants]

I use 1/4" for all three Lee presses. Always use washers. They've been rock solid for years.
I use 5/16" for the Lyman Lube Sizer. It moves more.
Nothing else is permanently mounted.

 

[The Bushmaster]

The largest bolt that will fit the holes and can be acommidated by your bench...Use flat washers between the nut and the wood.

 

[D. Manley]

I use 5/16 on my LCT, Dillon & single-stages. Table stability is more important, though. A long time ago I had a press mounted on a somewhat "flexy" surface and snagged a piece of 3/8" steel plate about a foot square and used it underneath in lieu of washers...worked like a charm.

 

[jfh]

1/4" with washers, as suggested before, is the correct size for mounting the Lee presses.

A plausible alternative to the washers/nuts juggling routine when (re) installing presses is to use T-nuts on the bottom side of the benchtop--i.e., those nuts designed to be countersunk into the bottom. I did this on a previous bench and they worked fine. IIRC I also used a lock washer, but this time installed between the bolt head and the flat washer.

Jim H.

 

[ranger335v]

"What diamater bolts did you use to mount the Lee Classic Cast press?"

Take a ruler and measure the holes, probably 3/8".

If your bench top is thick, get a length of "All Thread", threaded rod, and some washers and nuts from your local home center big box store instead of using bolts. Just cut the rod to the lengths you need to secure the press.

You will find it easier to install if you bore your bench holes a tad larger than the rod diameter, like for 3/8" rod use a 7/16" bit, etc.

 

[NCsmitty]

You use the largest bolts or threaded rod that will fit the press holes. Why marginalize bolt size with a press that has that much leverage?

NCsmitty

 

[bullseye308]

On my Loadmaster and Reloader presses, I used 1/4-20 carriage bolts with double washers under the table held on by solid wingnuts. Don't use the cheap hollow wingnuts, get the solid ones. Figure 1" above the table, and 1" below plus the thickness of the table and you can get 1/4-20 carriage bolts just about anywhere. I got mine at Lowe's cheap.