Opinions on bench and mounting update w/ pics 4/4

[ROLEXrifleman]

Ok, picked up 2 of these:

http://www.sevilleclassics.com/products.php?pid=95

Need your opinions on the bench itself and opinions on how you would mount

4 or 5 Dillon 550's
1 Lee 50bmg
1 Wilton 4.5" vise

Do ou think this set up will hold up to all the up and down of the presses? The BMG press is gonna be the tuffest on it. Should I putit on any sparticular spot of the bench? Middle or the ends??

TIA and ALL opinions are welcome

 

[Cigarcop]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

If you can bolt your bench at the rear to the wall with large "L" brackets or similiar it won't move, thats what I did and my shit won't budge.

It would also help if you made a shelf for the bottom and stored some things with weight on it.

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

I've never been one to drill holes in my basement walls as I'm a chicken shit worry wart when it comes to that. I have this strange feeling that the walls gonna crack and leak gallons of water every time it rains! The house was built in 64' and is a cinder block design. What hardware would I use and how bad does it mess with things?

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

It looks good. I would mount it to the floor, also. When sizing, you can easily move a 130 lb bench. I have about 18"-24" between my presses, and it is enough room to manuver. I put more space between them for a single stage, and a little less for a progressive.

 

[Cigarcop]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ROLEXrifleman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've never been one to drill holes in my basement walls as I'm a chicken shit worry wart when it comes to that. I have this strange feeling that the walls gonna crack and leak gallons of water every time it rains! The house was built in 64' and is a cinder block design. What hardware would I use and how bad does it mess with things? </div></div>

My home is the same and built in 46, if you got water 3.5 ft up you got more problems than worrying about the bench moving!!

 

[lightman]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

I don't blame you for not wanting to drill into your basement walls.I would go with the shelf,and store the heavy stuff there.My bench top is made from 2x10s,and I put another 2x10 under each of my presses,front to back,to add another layer and tie the three 2x10s together. Pete

 

[THUNDERBOLT68]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

<span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="color: #3333FF">I know a guy in texas that builds benches strong enough here are pictures PM me for info</span></span>

 

[jkkfam89]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

ram set a 2x4 to the wall and then bolt or screw the table to it! then enjoy your work!

 

[1911.it]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

Those look like pretty stout benches. I would put the 50 BMG near one end of the bench with 2 550's spaced along the rest. Put the other 2-3 550's and the bench vise on the other bench. Bolt either bench to the floor only if you think you need to after using them for a while. Bolting something to the floor or wall is a PITA as you probably know from doing same with your safe. My 550 and Forster Co-Ax are mounted directly to a freestanding Gorilla bench and it is plenty sturdy for my purposes.

 

[flashhole]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

My bench is about the same witdth. I mounted the presses to a 5/16" steel plate that straddles the legs and bolted the plate to the bench. I like the island set up. It's plenty heavy and doesn't move around. On your bench you might consider adding a shelf on the bottom also. The extra weight adds stability.

 

[Kinsman]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

I just built my bench using 4x4 legs on the front, and anchoring the back to the poured concrete wall with Tapcon screws.. The Tapcon does require drilling, but once installed will take over 600 lbs to pull out. My bench 7 1/2 feet long x2 is anchored to the wall with 4 3/16 Tapcons.
The top is 7/8 in marine plywood,glued and screwed to the table frame. On the front of the table where the presses mount, I have a vertical 2x6, with a horizontal 2x6 glued and screwed to it. The table top is glued and screwed to these 2x6's. The whole top is covered in white Formica.
After mounting the presses ( four) no matter how hard I pulled and pushed the presses, it would not flex.
I highly recommend the Tapcon.....
Rolex,
If you use the Tapcon and coat them with a sealer, you would have no leaks

 

[ScottyS]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

Rolex, maybe you saw this before, but if not:

I screwed 2x4's to the wall studs and then screwed the benches to the 2x4's. Probably could do the same in your basement as others have suggested.

As far as mounting locations, as you can see I put the presses, vices, tools, etc on uniform templates that bolt to embedded nuts epoxied into the bottom of the table. With my electric drill I can relocate any press or tool in 30sec. I placed the mounting points on the outsides of the benches (2 per bench), to be close to the legs and also to not block access to both high and low shelves. Stability isn't a problem, I used 1" plywood with 3/4" countertop with Formica on top of that, plus 2x4 ribs. No hiccups sizing 50bmg with the Ammomaster on the left.

More info, model drawings, etc here: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...350#Post1677350

 

[desertHK]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ScottyS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

</div></div>

Now, that's a sign of a serious reloader.

 

[bugman]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

I didn't want to mess with my cinder block wall either. So, I used 2x6's to frame out the cinderblock wall.....used a metal bottom plate on the cement floor. secured the mounting plate with a actuated nail gun that uses .22 blanks (borrow or rent one). Your cement floor is poured at least 4 inches thick and the nails are only 2 inches, so no problems here. after the mounting plate is done, attach the 2x6's to it and to your floor joists above. Now. get some L brackets and use these to secure the legs of your bench to the 2x6 wall frame-out. Should be solid as a rock and there will be no forward tip of the bench when you crand that 50 cal press to resize.

 

[nhm16]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

I've got one of those too as a dedicated reloading bench in my home office/man cave.

Not wanting to drill into the nice top, I mounted my two Lee presses onto countersunk bolts onto high quality 3/4" plywood, and c-clamped them to the bench. The interface is rock solid, any movement or play stems from the fact that I too did not bolt the bench to the wall or the floor. I like it because I can move the presses around or remove them when I need the bench for something else.

Also note that the underside of the benchtop has a groove about 1.5" from the front edge along almost the entire bench. I'm not sure why. I sure my clamps clamped behind that groove, and not in front of it, so that the top doesn't get unduly stressed.

If you're going to mount a Dillon with a strongmount or something like that, then you probably have to drill into the top regardless.

 

[Clark]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

I like to use a press mounting board and C clamp it to the bench.

The Rockchucker can take allot of handle force [not infinite, I broke one], so I put it end wise on the end of the board, so it is harder for the handle force to lift the bench or twist the C clamps.

As presses come into or go out of favor, there are no holes drilled in the bench, only the board.

Presses that did not make the cut and conspicuous in their absence:
Dillon 550B
Lyman All American
Lee reloader presses


Then if I want to reload at the range or on vacation, I take the board of pressed and the C clamps.

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

Well.... I debated about finishing off the basement area where I will be working and decided I just don't want to. I like the charecter of the basement as is and will be going for a more "bunker" feel.

I already installed 2 racks and began transfering my things from the misc places I had them stored. I iwll also be running 2 work tables, 1 rolling table and 4 other rack systems not as big as the two pictured. Pics here are of the start, getting some power around the work area along with lights. still working on it, but will post pics as work continues.

starting from scratch, you can see the 1st box mounted

conduit added and more boxes:

where the outlets will sit in relationship to the benches:

oulets and 4 gang box on teh right side:

can lights above:

and all the wiring the right way ( I think!):

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

Layout looks good, but I'd use insulated wire for the grounds in the boxes. When you put the outlet in the box you can get a short.

 

[Clark]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

I have done handloading at the range and in front of the TV.

But now people watch TV on their computers, not on their TV sets.

So I moved a press in front of the computer so I could watch recorded episodes of Robot Chicken while I size some 380 brass.

 

[Kinsman]

Re: Opinions on bench and mounting

Rolex

I have basically the same type room and shelves that you do. About 12 x 16 ft, with shelves in the same location. Poured concrete walls. I'm installing a "L" shaped bench with about 14 ft along the front. I'm not putting in as many outlets, because the bench will be dedicated to reloading and gun cleaning. The one outlet that I didn't think of is the one below the table. As soon as my new knee is able, one will go in.
You're looking good
I agree with the ground wire from each receptacle back to the breaker panel.