Hi there - if you have experience using t-tracks on reloading bench, can you share your experience? Pros, cons, learnings, suggestions...I plan to have a 168 inch long reloading bench and looking for ideas on how best to equip it...I have almost everything related to reloading on the desk with focus on reloading for light and heavy ELR matches...thanks
Anyone using T-Tracks on reloading Bench?
- Thread starter harry_x1
- Start date
My bench has T-track and I love it. It runs the entire length of my bench and has two rows of track. My Dillon 650 has I believe it’s a strong mount and that is how far apart they are spaced. I use MDF board and bolt other presses to it. I would not go back. Only thing I would do differently would be to purchase something that covers the track so things don’t fall into it. But most of the time if it happens it’s easily retrieved.
There is a thread about building the perfect reloading room. Several examples of T-track in use. I will be using T-track on my next room.
www.snipershide.com
Building the Perfect Reloading Room
Figured I'd move this thread over, in light of all the folks who posted such great stuff back on the old 'Hide. I captured a lot of it and will incorporate into the new room(s). Another snowy weekend spent in the barn attic saw the completion of all my framing and the installation of all...
www.snipershide.com
Has anyone managed to pull the track *out* of the bench top while loading? Wrestling with a stuck case, or even just during routine operations?
A lot of track sections I've seen have awfully tiny screws. Yeah, there are (usually) a bunch of them, but still. Makes me nervous.
A lot of track sections I've seen have awfully tiny screws. Yeah, there are (usually) a bunch of them, but still. Makes me nervous.
If your using MDF for your workbench surface w/T-track, consider longer screws that can go thru the top and into another underside solid wood board/plywood. Make that underside board wider than the t-track to increase clamping/spreading load of those screws/t-track. Consider using epoxy under the track for extra holding power as well.
I’m building a small 30-36” reloading bench using a solid birch wood top and zero need for underside extra support. Will be routing, glueing & screwing aluminum t- track flush.
Don’t care about being able to pull up the t-track or reusing it. Screwing into solid wood workbench surface will provide clamping power over MDF. Epoxy glue will be extra insurance.
I’m building a small 30-36” reloading bench using a solid birch wood top and zero need for underside extra support. Will be routing, glueing & screwing aluminum t- track flush.
Don’t care about being able to pull up the t-track or reusing it. Screwing into solid wood workbench surface will provide clamping power over MDF. Epoxy glue will be extra insurance.
I glued and screwed mine; they're not coming out. T-track allows me to clamp my inline fabrication base/forster coax and an area419 barrel vise as needed and then remove when not in use freeing up space on the bench. Another option is to use a "T-slot router bit" to route a t-slot into your bench top. I'm a big fan of Powertec T-track and their accessories.
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I bedded mine in epoxy resin and I've never pulled it out. My whole table which is heavy as fuck will move before the thing tries to come out.
I like the barrel storage tube.
Do you have a rack or something to store the tubes in/on?
How often are you guys changing things around on the tracks? I’m considering building a table with them but not sure how much I’d use them once I have things set in place.
I’ve been thinking about this… I need to figure something out.
My though was just use sections of PVC & drill them under a 2x4, then mount 2 of those under a table. Hole saw in 2x4s would also work, but I’d like to have ~6” of retention on the “captive” side. That way you can relocate the whole thing later if needed
The one time you need it and can do it is enough.
I push my 1050 to the back and can fit my Vice in its place.
I’ve looked at Rockler and the miscellaneous ones on Amazon. I have an 8 ft piece of Bowling Alley to make into a new top. I used the Inline Fab mounts on my press and have an Inline Fab flush mount as well.
I kinda rethinking the flush mount as it was really only for the vice. I do want to be able to take everything off and have a mostly flat surface.
Would you skip a flush mount and just do all t track?
I kinda rethinking the flush mount as it was really only for the vice. I do want to be able to take everything off and have a mostly flat surface.
Would you skip a flush mount and just do all t track?
T-track allows you to secure more than reloading related components compared to inline fabs flush mounts. imo rockler is materially overpriced compared to powertec (https://powertecproducts.com/powertec-t-track/) although I haven't priced stuff lately. powertec is equivalent-to-superior when compared with rockler quality in my experience (i started with rockler, converted to powertec). t-track also gives location flexibility whereas the flush mounts are always going to go in the same spot. my tew sents.
I have tried some of the powertec clamps and they are less than stellar quality. In fact, two of them fell apart with little to no use.
I have a reloading bench with Rockler T-track and hold down clamps. They are great quality and work great on securing all my stuff. If you sign up for email notification they usually offer a discount. I think I also got my stuff around the holidays last year and they ran some good sales. Your timing might be right.
I use Rockler stuff and 4 point hold downs clamps on an inline fabrication mount with my Forster coax. Doesn’t budge. Just like bolting it down.
Where did you find those clamps you are using? That is exactly what I am looking for.
how are you adding them in? making 2 parallel slots with a router or between two larger pieces of wood?
I use a Bridgeport mill table for alot of loading. No worries about heavy case forming or 50BMG case sizing or jacketed bullet sizing.
Heavy bolt down 3/4 & 1 inch thick aluminum plates for each press with 2, 1/2" bolts, mill T slots move anywhere, plus adjustable table height for each press.
Quick, easy, extremely sturdy will break any press before ever flexing.
Barrel removal and barrel extension removal and installation, 4 ft cheater bar no problem....plus it can be used as a milling machine, and super fast case trimmer, when really taking off alot of brass like a 1/2" in a second or two...get ya one.
Heavy bolt down 3/4 & 1 inch thick aluminum plates for each press with 2, 1/2" bolts, mill T slots move anywhere, plus adjustable table height for each press.
Quick, easy, extremely sturdy will break any press before ever flexing.
Barrel removal and barrel extension removal and installation, 4 ft cheater bar no problem....plus it can be used as a milling machine, and super fast case trimmer, when really taking off alot of brass like a 1/2" in a second or two...get ya one.
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I used a router attached to a track to give straight parallel grooves.
Or...you can decide what works best for you and mount your stuff on "plates" that coincide with YOUR universal decision. Inline Fab reloader mount? Check. Radial arm drill press? Check. LCD porn projector? CHECK OFF!!
I spaced my rails based on the inline fab hole spacing which I don't know that I'd do again as I mount everything (reloading press, barrel vise, mechanics vise, etc) on plates secured by hold down clamps in the tracks.
I appreciate the craftsmanship of the workbench tops with track, but I don't see the attraction for myself. I do not see the point of mounting moving machinery to a bench. The machinery will move the bench and everything on the bench. What is the purpose in that?
If I watch Gavin on Ultimate Reloader, he uses benchtops with t-track and just moving a single stage press handle will shake everything on the benchtop including cases in a block. I've read enough bench threads to also witness people attempting to build massive benches with weights rivaling a Buick and tops stiff enough to park one on -- and they still shake when machines bolted to them are moved.
A simple test is to place a glass of water on the bench and resize a case. Does the water move?
I prefer to mount my machines independent of the bench. I bolt them to the concrete slab. When I operate the machine's handle, nothing on the bench moves. If I were to be extravagant, I would isolate the slab they're mounted to from the rest of the slab using elastomer to dampen the high frequency vibrations.
Monster benches are much costlier than what I need to hold loading blocks of cases and a few hand tools like my calipers.
I also don't understand the attraction of the Inline Fabrication stands. If the bench is too low, why mount the machine on an adapter to fix the bench height? Why not just mount the machine at the correct height from the floor? The stack consisting of a bench, height adapter, and machine on top doesn't make any sense.
It also doesn't make sense to mount a machine on a plane (the benchtop) that is usually not supported under the machine, but is instead supported at distant corners. I prefer to have the support directly under the machine all the way down to the floor.
If I watch Gavin on Ultimate Reloader, he uses benchtops with t-track and just moving a single stage press handle will shake everything on the benchtop including cases in a block. I've read enough bench threads to also witness people attempting to build massive benches with weights rivaling a Buick and tops stiff enough to park one on -- and they still shake when machines bolted to them are moved.
A simple test is to place a glass of water on the bench and resize a case. Does the water move?
I prefer to mount my machines independent of the bench. I bolt them to the concrete slab. When I operate the machine's handle, nothing on the bench moves. If I were to be extravagant, I would isolate the slab they're mounted to from the rest of the slab using elastomer to dampen the high frequency vibrations.
Monster benches are much costlier than what I need to hold loading blocks of cases and a few hand tools like my calipers.
I also don't understand the attraction of the Inline Fabrication stands. If the bench is too low, why mount the machine on an adapter to fix the bench height? Why not just mount the machine at the correct height from the floor? The stack consisting of a bench, height adapter, and machine on top doesn't make any sense.
It also doesn't make sense to mount a machine on a plane (the benchtop) that is usually not supported under the machine, but is instead supported at distant corners. I prefer to have the support directly under the machine all the way down to the floor.
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