Fancy Reloading Table - How attach press?

[RugerSAFan]

Greetings.

I need you fine folks recommendation. I recently purchased a rolling “kitchen island” that my best friend had made for his daughter. It didn’t fit in her kitchen, so I agreed to purchase at material cost. It’s made out of a couple of nice woods (cedar, walnut, maple, cherry, oak and mahogany) with a granite top, so not inexpensive

Dimensions: 40" wide, 21" deep, 35 3/4" tall.

After I got it home, I realized it wasn’t perfect for reloading, since items like the spice rack inside the door is narrow isn’t really helpful for non-kitchen usage. Also, no where to place knees/legs when sitting like you can with a desk.

I currently have four presses that are on separate small wooden blocks for clamping / bolting onto an old bench: Redding Turrett T-7, Redding Boss, RCBS Pro 2000, and Lee C press.

I would like to keep the “island” clear of the presses when not in use; I store the presses on a separate table. I had considered the In-Line Fabrication mounts; just hate ruining a nice top….

Any creative ideas? What would YOU do?

Thanks.
J.R.

 

[troy fairweather]

Maybe use a riser for the presses, then you can stand up.

 

[egd]

Since it's on rollers and you can change it's orientation whenever you want, maybe attach a "wing/shelf" on either one or both ends that would be level with the top. This would extend the surface out on one or both sides. Then you could mount your press to that and sit with your knees under at the "end" of the island. A piece of matching wood would keep the look of the piece intact.

 

[Walkalong]

Sweet, I would cringe a little when I drilled holes for my press, but I would.

 

[GoldieMI]

I would personally drill in 1/4-20 threaded inserts and be able to mount a micro inline fabrication quick change riser. When I wanted it "clean" remove the riser and press
if you don't want to drill it, could always get a piece of 1" thick hardwood and clamp it across the granite with handiclamps....and remove when you are done- no holes at that way.
or do up a wood box that is weighted and let it sit right on top of things...move when done.

 

[LiveLife]

rolling “kitchen island ... 40" wide, 21" deep, 35 3/4" tall

Perfect.

My primary reloading bench is rolling 36"x24" bench that is 35" tall with casters from Harbor Freight furniture moving dolly with C-H 205 single stage press and Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro mounted at the ends (Picture shows Pro 1000 mounted instead of ABLP). Even with bench empty, having presses mounted at the ends allows me to resize thicker military .308 brass without moving the bench on hard floor surfaces and narrow 24" width allows me to move the bench through any doorway, even from narrow hallway to spend time with family or store the bench into a closet when not in use.

Bench height is suitable for stand up work at bench top but for reloading, especially extended 500-1000+ round sessions, I use high back office chair with adjustable height for comfortable sit down sessions.

I even have 24"x24" castered portable bench I use for processing/reloading pistol calibers

Redding Turrett T-7, Redding Boss, RCBS Pro 2000, and Lee C press.

I would like to keep the “island” clear of the presses when not in use ... just hate ruining a nice top…. Any creative ideas? What would YOU do?

Have you considered using Lee Bench Plate? https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690251/bench-plate

I would mount the plate base on the wooden part of table and mount different presses on plates for quick swap out.

 

[buck460XVR]

Mount the press to two layers of 3/4" plywood and use wooden clamps to fasten the plywood base to the table. Better yet, sell the island and use the proceeds for a decent setup.

 

[RugerSAFan]

[QUOTE="buck460XVR, post: 11621688, member: 42855"
Better yet, sell the island and use the proceeds for a decent setup.[/QUOTE]

I have no plans on selling it as long as he's alive. That would be like a friend selling me an old car or motorcycle (or gun) at a steep discount, and immediately selling it for something else. That's not how I treat my best friend....

 

[Obturation]

Here's a video that shows a mounting system that's pretty flat but looks secure, t
Home made.

-looked good to me

 

[ballman6711]

I have no plans on selling it as long as he's alive. That would be like a friend selling me an old car or motorcycle (or gun) at a steep discount, and immediately selling it for something else. That's not how I treat my best friend....

You could always let your wife have it. Put it in the kitchen or dining area, or maybe use it as an easily movable table for cooking outside on the patio/deck. Use it as it was made to be used. Your friend wood probably like that.

chris

 

[Milt1]

My take is that's too nice for a reloading table! Put it in the kitchen and build something a little more rustic.

 

[LiveLife]

rolling “kitchen island” that my best friend had made for his daughter

My take is that's too nice for a reloading table! Put it in the kitchen and build something a little more rustic.

My take was since the table was made by OP's best friend, perhaps using it for reloading would show homage to the "best friend"?

When I was 23 and left LA to live on my own, I had made a kitchen drop-leaf table with 4x4 legs. Those 4x4 legs decades later became legs for 8' reloading bench I built for my "best friend" who cherished the significance of the 4x4 legs.

 

[.38 Special]

Shortly after moving into a new home I had a reloading "emergency" and needed to make a handful of rounds. I had nothing set up and didn't want to commit to making new holes in a new bench before I had decided where everything should go. I ended up mounting my vice, as I was sure where it should be, and then cutting and drilling a bit of 2x4 to mount to the press I needed. Then I just clamped the 2x4 into the vice. It was supposed to be temporary, but it worked well enough that I set up most of my other presses that way as well. It does not work very well for the really big cartridges, like the .416 Rigby, as so much force is involved during sizing. And the big progressives would just look silly, so I attach them in the normal way. Otherwise, it's been a convenient and effective way to save bench space.

 

[LiveLife]

I ended up mounting my vice, as I was sure where it should be, and then cutting and drilling a bit of 2x4 to mount to the press I needed. Then I just clamped the 2x4 into the vice. It was supposed to be temporary, but it worked well enough that I set up most of my other presses that way as well ... it's been a convenient and effective way to save bench space.

If you want to continue using the table for reloading, I definitely recommend mounting the press at the long end to better utilize leverage/weight to prevent table tipping. And if you want to use multiple presses, a removable mount system like Lee bench plate would be convenient.

By the time you have the table filled with bullets and other reloading equipment and components, press mounted at the wooden end will work well. BTW, tell the "best friend", nice carpentry work on the table.

I would however consider reinforcing the wooden top with 2x4/2x6 (Or hardwood board stock/11 layer plywood with ends covered) if you want to maintain the "nice" theme) underneath to stiffen to eliminate the "flex" that you do not want for more consistent resizing/finished OAL.

Here's close up of 11 layer plywood I used for my 2'x3' bench top reinforced with 2x4 that does not flex even when resizing military .308 brass

2x4 reinforcement under the bench top (Use seasoned or kiln dried 2x4 for stiffness - No wet/green 2x4 and nylon locking nuts)

And C-H 205 single stage press that will resize .308 brass without moving the castered 2'x3' bench even when empty (And no, you don't have to anchor every reloading bench to the wall studs or concrete floor ... It's all about proper mounting of press to use sufficient leverage/weight to resize even military .308 brass).

Notice the single stage press is mounted right at the corner of bench on top of vertical 2x4 to maximize load/force transfer and utilize entire weight of bench as counter weight. Even on smooth hard floor, castered bench does not move when resizing .308 brass yet I can move/roll the bench with just one hand force .

 

[Bwana John]

https://inlinefabrication.com

 

[.38 Special]

If you want to continue using the table for reloading, I definitely recommend mounting the press at the long end to better utilize leverage/weight to prevent table tipping. And if you want to use multiple presses, a removable mount system like Lee bench plate would be convenient.

By the time you have the table filled with bullets and other reloading equipment and components, press mounted at the wooden end will work well. BTW, tell the "best friend", nice carpentry work on the table.

I would however consider reinforcing the wooden top with 2x4/2x6 (Or hardwood board stock/11 layer plywood with ends covered) if you want to maintain the "nice" theme) underneath to stiffen to eliminate the "flex" that you do not want for more consistent resizing/finished OAL.

Here's close up of 11 layer plywood I used for my 2'x3' bench top reinforced with 2x4 that does not flex even when resizing military .308 brass

2x4 reinforcement under the bench top (Use seasoned or kiln dried 2x4 for stiffness - No wet/green 2x4 and nylon locking nuts)

And C-H 205 single stage press that will resize .308 brass without moving the castered 2'x3' bench even when empty (And no, you don't have to anchor every reloading bench to the wall studs or concrete floor ... It's all about proper mounting of press to use sufficient leverage/weight to resize even military .308 brass).

Notice the single stage press is mounted right at the corner of bench on top of vertical 2x4 to maximize load/force transfer and utilize entire weight of bench as counter weight. Even on smooth hard floor, castered bench does not move when resizing .308 brass yet I can move/roll the bench with just one hand force .

I think you may have confused two different posters with one another. In my case, anyway, the bench runs the full length of a garage wall and is bolted to the studs. It's not going anywhere...

 

[GBExpat]

What would YOU do?

*I* would keep my reloading operation well away from that nice granite-topped kitchen island and get/build something else for my presses.

 

[LiveLife]

I think you may have confused two different posters with one another.

Oops, I sure did. I thought your last post was from OP. Apologies.

But the content of my post is still applicable to OP using a rolling table for reloading as dimensions of our castered tables are similar.

• OP: 40" wide, 21" deep, 35 3/4" tall.
• Mine: 36" wide, 24" deep, 35" tall.

 

[JJFitch]

Google: "80/20 extruded aluminum T bolt mounting brackets, reloading presses"

This is a system of rails that can be bolted on or in depending on application. Once installed t-bolts are used to secure equipment to the rails. Very "clean" looking and functional.

My next project!

 

[edwardware]

I'd put that in the house, and build a bench; it's very nicely finished, and I think the wheels disqualify it.

A bench should be bolted down like you expect to tie a horse to it, or equivalently heavy. That's neither.

 

[LiveLife]

Google: "80/20 extruded aluminum T bolt mounting brackets, reloading presses"

This is a system of rails that can be bolted on or in depending on application. Once installed t-bolts are used to secure equipment to the rails. Very "clean" looking and functional.

My next project!

Pretty neat and I may check it out for my next portable castered bench for combo Dillon 650/550 bench.

 

[LiveLife]

I'd put that in the house, and build a bench; it's very nicely finished, and I think the wheels disqualify it.

A bench should be bolted down like you expect to tie a horse to it, or equivalently heavy. That's neither.

No, no, no.

What if a reloader does not have enough space to dedicate to an anchored/bolted reloading bench? What if one doesn't have a garage?

House is a reloader's castle. Why restrict yourself to hot/freezing garage? A castered portable reloading bench allows you to reload anywhere in/around the house to spend time with family in the comfort of HVAC or while sipping iced tea in the back patio with wife.

And no, not all reloading bench has to be bolted down.

And C-H 205 single stage press that will resize .308 brass without moving the castered 2'x3' bench even when empty (And no, you don't have to anchor every reloading bench to the wall studs or concrete floor ... It's all about proper mounting of press to use sufficient leverage/weight to resize even military .308 brass).

Notice the single stage press is mounted right at the corner of bench on top of vertical 2x4 to maximize load/force transfer and utilize entire weight of bench as counter weight. Even on smooth hard floor, castered bench does not move when resizing .308 brass yet I can move/roll the bench with just one hand force .

I replaced my 6 foot and 8 foot reloading benches in the garage with this going on almost 10 years without any regret.

 

[Average Joe]

I found an old 5 draw dresser in the garbage, brought it home, mounted a 3x4 sheet of plywood on the top of it. Works nicely, has toe kick, and I have my presses mounted on their own plywood bases, just move them over and clamp them down with C clamps. Works for many different operations. The draws are great for storing all your reloading stuff.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I replaced my 6 foot and 8 foot reloading benches in the garage with this going on almost 10 years without any regret.

What do you have your Dillon 750 mounted to? I can't imagine using my LNL-AP on a rolling table that light, even with locking casters. I'd be chasing it all over the house.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I'd be using that table the OP has for parties on my back patio, for entertaining , drinks and things. I would take the center shelf out of it and put a beer tube in there for ice, that didn't have holes in the bottom of it. and would have my presses mounted on something rock solid. I definitely wouldn't drill holes in granite and mount a press to it without wood on top and bottom where the bolts are tightened up on it.
Bolting the presses up direct to the granite would be a good way of breaking the granite.
Granite is like cast iron, it has fantastic compression strength, but flexing will cause it to break very easily. Shear stress will break it very easily. It can be drilled but not with conventional tooling.
Wrong table for the reloading application in my opinion.