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Posted: 7/4/2008 8:40:03 AM EDT
| Here's my situation. I rent my house and have no garage. No spare room to set anything up in. I'm looking for a portable reloading set up I can move. I was looking at mounting the press I'm ordering (Hornady LnL AP) on a 2x4, and maybe bolting it or clamping it to a Black and Decker workmate or junior workmate. Is this a viable set up? If not who has suggestions. |
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I heard of people who use the "workmate" method of re-loading. Add a couple of C clamps and a plank of sturdy wood to mount the press on. Then, clamp the whole she-bang to the workmate's surface. Though I would wonder IF the workmate might tip over from the weight or the handle pulling (that's a lot of force used for re-sizing). ______________________________________________________ Another solution may be the Midway one........... www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=155024&t=11082005 I've used it....and there are times when I fear that it'll tip over, so I place my feet on the stand base. ______________________________________________________ There are two pics of "small space solutions" in this thread....... ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=246599 ______________________________________________________ IF you have considered the LEE hand press.........(BTW, I recommend a press over the hand press for a first timer)......... Anyway.......IMHO.......the best LEE Hand Press Thread (also, click the links)......... ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=246782 ______________________________________________________ Just my .02. Aloha, Mark |
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Don't get me wrong........I'm not doggin' the "workmate" or the LEE hand press. _____________________________________________________ The "workmate" may work for you. But, being that I haven't done it that way.........I can't say. However, I do own a HF "workmate." And I have used it with wood working projects. Sometimes, it feels like it may tip over (depending on the amount of overhang). Note: There isn't a sturdy base to put your feet on to steady it. However, there are metal cross braces. Though, I'm not real comfortable with puttin' my body weight on it to steady the bench with "project" on it. I figure, I may end up bending the cross braces. Perhaps, a genuine "Workmate" is better suited? ______________________________________________________ Perhaps, someone else with REAL WORLD experience with the "workmate" will chime in and make comments about possible: bench flex and/or tipping issues, while re-loading rifle rounds. Hey, pics would be nice too.  ______________________________________________________ Aloha, Mark PS...........press weights vary and so does the amount of force that one expends while pushing down on the handle to re-size cases. As I mentioned, I have used the Midway Portable Stand. I've used it to re-load straight walled pistol cased ammo with a LEE M1000. And, I've mounted my Rock Chucker and done .308 Winchester on it. Though, as I mentioned before, there were times when, I feared of a possibility of tip over. |
| This is what I use for my 550 and it works pretty well 550 Cabinet |
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A folding bench like a Workmate has something going for it that many people don't think about: the front edge of the bench is behind the front feet. That means that if your press is mounted on the front edge, when you push down on the handle, your leverage is going in a direction between the front and back feet. It won't tip over, but it will probably bounce a bit. That soaks up some of your downward energy, but the tradeoff in terms of space may be worth it. C-clamp the holy crap out of the wooden slab you mount your press on, so that it is as close as "one with the Workmate" as possible. I did something similar with a $10 knockoff I got from Pep Boys, but I went farther. I took off the regular (particle board) work surface/clamping surfaces, and bolted a 2X4-framed plywood work surface in place on the work surface tracks. When it's unfolded and standing on the floor, it's solid as a rock on the "working" side. I've loaded quite a bit this way and it works fine. |
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I have been using a cheap "Work Mate" clone I got at Harbor Freight for $12.95 and it works great for my "Lee Classic Cast Turret" and my "Lee Reloader" single stage. No tip over problems but it is completely portable so I can move it around if need be. I can even stow it away (oh heaven forbid) if mandatory. For me, it is a great set up that is working. I have both presses mounted on my "Work Mate" clone. It is a matter of what ever works for you. |
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At one time I had a reloading setup off a trailer hitch. This worked well for some lunch time reloading. There are tables that mount off the hitch, and then I C-clamped the 550B to that. It worked great. I've since setup my office to process .223 brass (during lunch), and have moved reloading to once again in the garage for now. |
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I reloaded for over a year in an apt on a Home depot shelf. They split in the middle so I bolted the press to a shelf and set the upper half next to to store bullets, brass, dies, primers. www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100095394&N=10000003+90401+502362 I had to run a couple sheet metal screws into the sides to keep the shelf/table top secure. After I moved I then moved the top up on the bottom section and used the shelf in my garage. |
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This one is more work but, it's presented here, for someone who may want to try the build......... Home Made Portable bench plans www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/portablereloading/index.asp Aloha, Mark |
That looks interesting, but I always seem to have big can/box/tray, or two, on my right of stuff to process and a big can/box/tray on the left to receive the finished stuff. I would have a hard time working with only that amount of counter area. Maybe you could make it a little larger? or a second bin on the other side? |
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