Reloading bench construction help (low ceilings)

[Spark]

I've decided to get into reloading since I'd like to shoot a lot more for the same amount of money. After doing a bunch of research, I settled upon the Dillon XL650 and purchased it with accessories for 9mm, .40 and .45.

So, I've mostly assembled my bench and am at the point where I want to check clearances before I do final tightening & lag everything down. I start unpacking the XL650 box and while flipping through the instructions I notice that it says that I need a minimum of 44" overhead clearance from the top of the bench. Crap. My ceilings in my basement are 78" tall.

So, I do my math and it appears that the bench top can be no taller than 34" off the ground. I don't know if that 44" includes the strong mounts ether - subtract some more for the strong mounts and I think I'm friggin hosed.

Am I doing the math wrong or do I need to find another place for my reloading setup? Or is it just going to be neccessary to have a reloading bench that is 29" off the ground?

 

[Chief-7700]

If you wait for a while, I will go down and measure mine.
Chief

 

[Chief-7700]

The top of my bench is 29 3/4" off the floor, since I like to load sitting down.
I also have a XL-650 with the strong mount and have just enoug room to remove the casefeeder, if needed, since I have an 84" ceiling.
Chief

 

[hotwheelz]

Im gonna guess this is without the strong mount I dont use one and its about 30" without the case feeder. Good luck sounds like it is going to be tight.

 

[Chief-7700]

Attached is a picture of my reloading space under construction with the 650 mounted on the bench.
Chief

 

[Spark]

Thank you for that info. I'm a little confused still - Dillon's website says that the XL650 is 38.5" with the casefeeder installed, and the strongmounts add 6" right? So that'd make the entire machine 44.5" right?

How much vertical space do you need to remove the casefeeder?

 

[Chief-7700]

I would think that you could always cut the casefeed's black holding post down as well as plastic tube down. Granted the casefeed will be running more to fill up the shortened machine fill tube. I always run my casefeeder on low.
Chief

 

[RugerGuy]

I'm having this problem as well. I've only got 2" or so between the ceiling and the top of my casefeeder. I'm going to cut my post down a couple inches so I'll have room to put brass into the hopper. I've been told this'll do the trick.

 

[snuffy]

I would think that you could always cut the casefeed's black holding post down as well as plastic tube down. Granted the casefeed will be running more to fill up the shortened machine fill tube. I always run my casefeeder on low.
Chief

Cut where? If you cut the center of the angled portion, then the feeder wouldn't line up. There isn't enough material on the top or bottom to cut off so you could shorten it up.

 

[woodfiler]

low ceiling

my ceiling is 77". real old house, anyway, the bench height is 35.5 and the
height from the bench top is 44.5. with the 650 mounted directly to the bench i have plenty of room to remove or reassemble the casefeeder.

I'm of the opinion you do not need the strong mount, just bolt it up
correctly

i like sitting to reload.

wood

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

I'd get a set of C-clamps and clamp the press on your bench first, then measure to see what clearances you have or will need. Cheap way to make sure you're not either overbuilding or set up two inches too high.

If you're too high, an option a friend of mine with a basement did was to build an extension on the edge of his reloading bench that was just low enough to give him clearances/tolerances he needed.

Good luck and post a picture or two when you get it figured out and set up.

Jeff

 

[snuffy]

From replies here and on the post on TFL, it appears as though there's some differences in the post that the case feeder is mounted to. Perhaps a call to dillon would confirm this? Or are some of us using rubber rulers? Mines 34 1/8 inches above the bench to the top of the feeder. The press is mounted directly to the bench.