Lee Bench Plate, worth it or not?

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WestKentucky

WestKentucky

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https://leeprecision.com/bench-plate.html

I have a Lee Classic Cast, and have a Lee Classic Turret Press on the way. I very seriously doubt I will swap completely over to the turret, so I'm considering this setup for a quick change option. Has anybody used this setup? Thoughts? Worth the money or should I look more toward inline fabrication?
 
Depends on how you're intending to use it.

I have a Lee Bench Plate mounted in the middle of my bench between two Inline Fabrication Ultra Mounts...on a four foot bench

My Lee Classic Cast used to sit on the plate when I had two Hornady LNL AP mounted on the Ultra Mounts...one belonged to a friend who was waiting for his house to be finished. When he moved into his house and took his press, I moved the Classic Cast onto the Ultra Mount and installed a Lee Auto Bench Prime there. If I pick up the new Lee progressive press, it would go on the Ultra Mount and the Classic Cast would move onto the plate.

If you're choosing between the Lee Bench Plate and the Inline Fab Quick Change system on an Ultra Mount, I'd go with the Inline Fab. I like that it raises the height of the press and that it moves the leverage points away from the edge of the bench. In either case, something to consider is how you're going to store the dismounted press when not in use...luckily both the presses you're getting are relatively small, you really wouldn't want to detach and move a progressive press with a case feeder attached
 
Mount press(s) to piece of plywood. Use Tee nut anchors in bench to bolt plywood to or just use c clamps.

Cheap and leaves top of bench flush and smooth when press is not mounted.
 
I have a Lee bench plate for my classic turret and I'm happy with it. Also mounted a LnL AP on one of the boards included with the bench plate. I had to drill the board and bench for a pin to keep the board from walking out while using the LnL.
 
To me it depends on your bench setup. If you always wish to operate the press from the same position, mounts like these make a lot of sense. I would see this a second-best to having a bench large enough to leave both presses mounted permanently and moving the chair to the press in use.
 
IMG_2919.JPG
Lee benchplate and Inline Fabrication ultramount on a 4' bench. Worth it on both accounts.
I built the bench when I bought the ultramount so the height was right where I wanted. I stand while reloading.
 
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I too have a Lee Classic Turret and a Classic single stage press and I use two of of the bench plates. I store one press or the other under my bench (a Lee portable reloading stand). I only use my reloading bench for case prep and measuring and throwing powder. I'm very happy with the ability to quickly change from one press to the another. For me, they were well worth the cost.
 
I have a common plate under all my presses and a rack on the wall to store presses not being used.
I have a small bench but could never understand 2 or more presses on a bench at one time.
Let's see using #2 press, where's the scale/work light/small tools/etc I need...way over there by press #1

6x6x1/4 plates I bought at local steel yard, $4 each, cut off one corner:
index.php

index.php

That 3rd bolt way back from the bench edge, plus the side bolts back from the edge make for a very rigid press mount with no flex on either the handle down stroke or up stroke/primer seating.

Make/buy a mount that allows you to swap out presses, you won't be disappointed.
:D
 
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9mmepiphany said:
....snip.....

If you're choosing between the Lee Bench Plate and the Inline Fab Quick Change system on an Ultra Mount, I'd go with the Inline Fab. I like that it raises the height of the press and that it moves the leverage points away from the edge of the bench. In either case, something to consider is how you're going to store the dismounted press when not in use...luckily both the presses you're getting are relatively small, you really wouldn't want to detach and move a progressive press with a case feeder attached
Click to expand...

When I first started handloading I didn't just stick my big toe in to test the waters, I literally jumped right into the deep end. So things like personal comfort became an issue within the first week. I quickly discovered that I prefer to work standing up, that it is more comfortable for me and easier to keep things humming.

A friend suggested either the Ultramount or Strong mount. I did not care to spend the money but finally relented. It is for many reasons worth it though. Reasons given by 9mmepiphany are so true. Not only does it raise the height and place the press back from the edge of the bench, it raises the press so that the press is above the top of then bench. So you don't have the press interfearing with your under the bench storage. When I add new presses I calculate the cost of a ultramount to the final cost.

I don't know about Lee press mounting holes but on RCBS Rockchucker and the turret press the mounting holes are identical. There are studs in the utramount so remove two nuts/washers and pop in another press. I have two studs on the wall so the press not being used is stored there while the other is mounted on the bench.

I'm right now in the middle of making new legs for my bench as I want to raise the whole thing 5". That 5" will put the base of the press at 48" off the floor.
 
Tilos said:
I have a common plate under all my presses and a rack on the wall to store presses not being used.
I have a small bench but could never understand 2 or more presses on a bench at one time.
Let's see using #2 press, where's the scale/work light/small tools/etc I need...way over there by press #1

6x6x1/4 plates I bought at local steel yard, $4 each, cut off one corner:
index.php

index.php

That 3rd bolt way back from the bench edge, plus the side bolts back from the edge make for a very rigid press mount with no flex on either the handle down stroke or up stroke/primer seating.

Make/buy a mount that allows you to swap out presses, you won't be disappointed.
:D
Click to expand...
I have some 10x10 plates and was considering something similar. I might have to just give it a go.
 
I loaded 40,000 rounds on the LCT bolted to my bench and recently got a Pro 1000 and a couple bench plates. The plate has an additional benefit with the pro 1000 in that it prevents all the spent primers from dumping out at once when you remove the press. You just shake the whole setup over the trash and the primers come out of the plate mounting holes. I bought two docking setups but I'd like another. If I have one press in my hand, I have to remove the other from its location before inserting the new press into the docking station. A third docking station would prevent this juggling. Overall I like the setup.
 
I have limited space in my basement for loading and I load on an old heavy desk. Since I don't want to block use of the drawers I can't mount on the front of the desk so I have a Lee plate on each side. I swap a Lee Classic Turret Press and an RCBS Rockchucker on one and other equipment like a Fosters case trimmer and Dillion Super Swage 600 on the other.

The Inline Fabrication products are great but the inexpensive Lee plates work well for me.
 
I have the Inline Fabrication flush mount on my work bench. I have the 550b on a strong mount on the other bench. I have top plates for Rockchucker, swaging tool, RCBS bench priming tool, and a vise. One day I will find someone with a router to help me flush that in. It works well. If I was going to have a table mount and riser mount I would want the top plates to interchange, so I would go with Inline Fab for both.
 

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I have a Rock Dock, but I have 4 presses and only two dock plates. So I drilled the bench top 5/16" and inserted a T-nut on the underside of my bench. I mounted the extra presses on a 1x8x12 piece of lumber and just bolt the unit to the top of my bench. The bolt holds the press very tight, with no movement. I also have a 4" vise that I mount the same way, no movement with sawing, hammering, twisting. Easy on, easy off. Works quite well for me...

https://www.patmarlins.com/
https://www.amazon.com/T-Nuts/b?ie=UTF8&node=16410131
 
3D03C26D-1E81-4562-A6C3-EFABE09AA798.jpeg I have the latest all metal bench plate assembly and generally I like the design and its utility. I have had a small problem with the removable bench block hold down bolts loosening up during a loading session. Annoying at best and breaks a loading event into several smaller sessions so the bolts can be snugged up. Normal lock washers are ok but are not a long term solution. Falling back on a previous life I remembered the Nord-Lock washers. Much more secure than any conventional lock washer and reuseable. They are much thicker than traditional washers so I went to 7/16 long ¼ -20 machine screws giving full bite on the mount plate without going below the bottom surface. ⅜ was too short.

Doc
 
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WestKentucky said:
https://leeprecision.com/bench-plate.html

I have a Lee Classic Cast, and have a Lee Classic Turret Press on the way. I very seriously doubt I will swap completely over to the turret, so I'm considering this setup for a quick change option. Has anybody used this setup? Thoughts? Worth the money or should I look more toward inline fabrication?
Click to expand...
I use the bench plates and swap between a LCT and a Pro1K, I have two plates and two docks/mounting thingies, and keep the one not in use stored in the dock on a different table. I have limited space (closet) for presses in actual use. I like the setup.
 
But wouldn’t it be nice to not have the press move at all throughout a loading session?

And yes I am talking about the short phillips head screws holding down the locking bar.

BTW I’m using 5/16” elevator bolts with nylock nuts to mount the basic bench plate assembly to the bench. Rock solid.

Take care,

Doc
 
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