Where to mount press?

[strat81]

I just finished building my reloading bench (the NRMA bench, http://www.dennymac.com/bench/) and have to decide where to bolt my press. I am right handed and the bench is currently unoccupied by anything so it can go anywhere along the 6-foot top. What do you guys think? Of course, a picture would be nice.
Some considerations:
-I'd like to bolt a vise to this bench too, either flush right or flush left, since it will also be my general work bench.
-I don't think dead center would be appropriate because it kind of kills the workspace.
-I do not have a tumbler or other cleaner to occupy space.
-I have plenty of storage on top of the bench (shelves from the plans), below (the shelf), and underneath (the floor).

And don't worry, I'll post pics of the bench one the press is bolted on. Thanks!

 

[Walkalong]

I am right handed and I have mine bolted almost all the way to the right.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Mount it according to ergonomics

Think about how you like to work, standing or sitting. think about where you want your bullets and cases as you're reloading. These questions and the type of press should help you decide where to mount it and at what height. Think about a strong mount type affair if you prefer to stand as well as the height of your bench. Ask yourself will you add other presses later and if so, what type are they likely to be?

Answering the above questions should point out where and how.

Regards,

Dave

 

[The Bushmaster]

My press is the tallest perminantly mounted item on my bench and is on the right of the bench. The next most used item is a single stage press used for resizing/decapping and is to my left. and on the extreme left is my trimmer which I don't use all that much. Between the main press to my right and the single stage press is a wide open space for all those not bolted down excessories such as powder scales and such. On two shelves above the bench is my powder and bulk bullets. Everything else is stored under the bench or in a mechanics tool box and roll-a-away behind me. I sit on a high stool to do my work (play). Some operations require me to stand, but not many. As DaveinFowerBranchGA said..."Think about how you like to work".

I'm very lucky as I have a room in my house that is deticatated to my guns and reloading (Love that wife).

Just noted that you plan to mount a vise on this bench. My bench is about 6' and there is no room to mount a vise. Unless you plan to use the vise for gun repair or other such related work I would not recommend it as you do not want to be doing any oily or excessively dirty work on a loading bench. I use my bench to do minor repair to my firearms and go to the basement shop for the heavy work. That is where my 5" bench vise and soft jaws are located.

 

[tbtrout]

I am right handed as well and have my bench set up in a flow from left to right. Empty case processing starts on the left side and finishes on the right with my press as far as it can comfortably go to the edge I have about 8 feet for reloading. I also have multiple presses for different stages. They also help to keep the kids interested and occupied.

 

[Luggernut]

I have about a 5 foot metal Craftsman bench. I mounted my Hornady LNL and RCBS Rock Chucker on the 6 foot 2x10 which get clamped to the bench for easy removal. The LNL is on the left, the RCBS is in the middle with space between for working.. AND to allow access to cabinet drawers- that was a big factor to me. Working on the right or left doesn't matter as long as you can access the press/supplies. Make sure the clamps are secure as the presses are heavy!

 

[strat81]

Some responses:
Walkalong - That is what I am thinking, maybe 18" from the right edge.

Dave - I have never reloaded before so I don't know how I like to work when it comes to reloading. I prefer to detail my car standing (rather than on a rolling mechanic's seat) but I prefer to sit when I solder stuff.

Bushmaster - I have no plans on adding other presses (we'll see how long THAT lasts!). I'm not much of a builder or hobbyist so the vise would see limited use. The reloading bench will also be my general work bench so the vise has to live somewhere. I'm sure it will be used to remove bullets stuck in my barrel from lousy loading practices.

tbtrout - I'm leaning towards a left to right work flow, but only one press.

Luggernaut - I have no cabinet doors to worry about; I built the shelves without them for that very reason. However, if I do end up getting another press, I might go the removable route.

Good responses guys, keep 'em coming!

 

[strat81]

Double post

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I bought a set of Rockler router table legs (heavy steel legs), and all-lock swivel casters, added a plywood top and two shelves. This makes a dandy reloading cart/bench that I can wheel out of the laundry room when I want to reload, clean guns, etc. They make leg & stretchers for different height and width/length benches, that are all interchangeable.

Right now, the top is 27x22, but I'm going to add a drop leaf to extend the length for cleaning rifles, etc. With stock supplies of bullets, brass & powder on the bottom shelf, and dies & tools, etc. on the middle shelf, it weighs enough to not move around at all once the casters are locked (they lock the wheel and the swivel both). Kinda small by most of y'all's standards, but it works great for me. Oh, yeah, the co-ax press is mounted in the center of one end (more for where the bench/cart is stored than anything, but there is enough room for those universal reloading trays on both sides of the press). Since it is on casters, I just spin it around to any side I need to work on/from.

Andy

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

Here's mine:

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

"Dave - I have never reloaded before so I don't know how I like to work when it comes to reloading. I prefer to detail my car standing (rather than on a rolling mechanic's seat) but I prefer to sit when I solder stuff."

If you prefer to sit when you solder stuff, you'll most likely prefer to sit when you reload. Now you need to decide if you want to sit on a stool or sit on a chair. This will determine the height at which your press sits. And you can go from there. BTW, Sam's Club sells a real nice four legged stool for reloading at a standard height bench.

 

[Wedge]

I prefer to sit, so I built my bench at a comfortable sitting height for me, which is 30".

My press is mounted on the far right.

 

[Uncle Don]

The blue bench

Primersinmyshoe,

Your loading bench is a nice one, however . . . . being a woodworker, (by viewing your other bench, you are too) I couldn't help noticing the blue buffet - I really like it. Would it be possible to take a couple of closeups of that if it wouldn't be too much trouble? If you happen to have a tape measure and could just give me the height, width, and depth, along with the leg length, I think I'd like to duplicate that.

I know, you don't know me from a hill of beans, but I certainly would appreciate it if you find yourslef with a little time.

Don

 

[SSN Vet]

now if I was to work at that bench.......

I'd be paying a lot more attention to the calendar than my work.....

more power to you if you can "focus"

 

[Wedge]

Primersinmyshoe, you must have one of those "Basements"...

I have to make due with the corner of the "guest" bedroom. Better than being in the garage.

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

Doesn't everybody have a basement? Where do you keep all your old stuff, wash your clothes, pound nails and paint furniture, put the dog when he's all muddy?

I asked my Mrs. If I could take part of our open basement and make a little workshop. She said yes, the rest is history. What you saw in the post above is only half of it.

As far as where the press should be mounted, here's my take on that. The right side of the press is where the finished rounds are deposited. I reload 500 to 1000 at a time so using the cute little blue bin was a chore to empty all the time, so I put a big containter (the one on the bench in the picture) below the chute to catch the loaded rounds. That big box holds 1000 rounds. That's all that happens on the right side of the press. The left side of the press gets more action, the lead is on that side, as well as the primer tubes and other little things I might need. When I am working on the press, it's from the left side that I am mostly. It works for me. YMMV

 

[Wedge]

Primers, no basements in my part of TX - it is almost all bedrock where I live. So the stuff gets put in the garage, nail pounding and painting is done in the garage or on the back porch (a fun day when you have to move cars in and out all afternoon) and the muddy dog usually escapes my grasp and runs all over the house, LOL. Reloading in the garage is basically impossible from May to October so my wife and I decided to convert our guest room to the hobby room where I reload/clean guns and she sews and scrap books.

I do my reloading the same way, everything to the left of me and feeding into my right hand/press. Right now everyhting is a single stage (and if I can figure out where my digital camera cable is I will post my current set up) so I work kind of left to right and when decapping/resizing and flaring from left to right to down, where I drop the brass into another box. I do my priming after the flaring and those get stacked neatly.

 

[Wedge]

Here is a picture of my reloading press and the location of the press. As stated earlier press is on the far right. Cabinet will probably be moved up another 3 inches, not sure if I am happy with the current location.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

all the way to the right. you can grab components with your left hand and pull the press lever with ur right hand

 

[JAMES77257]

I have about a 5 foot metal Craftsman bench. I mounted my Hornady LNL and RCBS Rock Chucker on the 6 foot 2x10 which get clamped to the bench for easy removal. The LNL is on the left, the RCBS is in the middle with space between for working.. AND to allow access to cabinet drawers- that was a big factor to me. Working on the right or left doesn't matter as long as you can access the press/supplies. Make sure the clamps are secure as the presses are heavy!

+1, I clamp mine too, much more versitility.

 

[BIGR]

Same as Wedge......all the way to the right on the corner.

 

[ATAShooter]

Here's my hideout away from the wife...

 

[KHawk]

I had the same situation so I put one on each end. Turns out I use the one on the right end for Dpriming and sizing. And the one on the left for seating and flaring (on straight wall cases).

 

[donttellthewife]

Here is what I did so that I could easily and quickly move the presses for whatever my needs are at the time. The presses are mounted onto a 2x12 that overlaps the bench by a inch and a half. then those are held in place with alum. angle at the front and back. The back alum angle is mounted to the back wall permanently the front angle is mounted to the 2x12 permanently. This way there are no holes in the bench and I can use the space when and how I need.

 

[strat81]

As promised, here are pics of the results. Bear in mind, this bench has been finished for 3 days and look how much crap I have piled onto it already. It's true: Flat surfaces collect junk.

The bench resides in my basement, which is dank. It was built down there; you can see the stain on the wall under the window where the brush got away from me while finishing the back panel. For those of you who have not seen the NRMA bench in person, it is big (6 feet across, 3 feet deep). The only way that bench is coming out of the basement is with a chainsaw.

Words cannot express how grateful I am to have a group of people like you all to have helped me with this. The bench plans and reloading setup were all researched on this site and would not have been possible without THR. Thanks.