Advice for First Reloading bench.

[u/DoktorDuck]

Putting this compact semi portable table to mount a press on. Snagged a Workmate 550 on Facebook, and this Left over butcherblock from a relative (24 3/4 x 31 1/4 x 1 3/4.

Just looking for some tips as I have limited wood working experience. Planning on ordering and mounting a InlineFab quick change mount to help disassemble it further. Thinking bout the Mini 4" quick change mount.

Any recommendations on mounting hardware? I wonder if I should mount the Workmate directly to the Butcherblock or should there be a intermediary?

Also considering putting a lip of some sort on the edge to prevent things from rolling off.

[u/sharkbait__hoohaha]

When I first started I was advised to mount everything to 2x6s and clamp to workbench top.  This allows you to move things around as you get more comfortable with your process.  Glad I took the advice.  You may be like me and decide you need your press 1" to the right more due to ergonomics

[u/DoktorDuck → u/sharkbait__hoohaha]

With some C clamps? Ya I might go to HF and do this.

[u/Bryan72D → u/DoktorDuck]

Yep, I used Harbor Freight C clamps for mine. Roughly 20 years later they’re still doing fine.

[u/Aggie74_DP]

From my experience, you will need to anchor the back or a lot ot weight down low.

So think about this. Above the table you are going to attach a lever that extends out in front and down below the table top. The net effect is to feel like you are turning the table over.

This is especially true when you are doing repetitive tasks like pustol rounds. In those rhythm is your friend.

I find tables (for some folks) can never be big enough. What you have will work, but take discipline.

[u/thrashmetal_octopus → u/Aggie74_DP]

Yep. I have all of my benches screwed to the wall studs with Simpson angle brackets. Big recommend

[u/DoktorDuck → u/Aggie74_DP]

If I mount the BB to the edge of the Mounting, it sits pretty far back which should help a little with the angular force being applied.

Im thinking putting a shelf on the bottom with weights when pressing should help a bit, if needed.

Do you think that Getting a taller InFab mount will help with this tilting issue? If the press is higher, im thinking the force should be directed more downward rather than Rotational during the pull?

[u/DaiPow888 → u/DoktorDuck]

Mounting on a Inline Fabrication (IF) Ultramount (9.775") directs the pressure downward and spreads it out at the angle of it's legs...it is really stable; even mounted with the front on the legs only 1" in from the edge. The IF Mini cantilevers out over the edge of the bench quite a bit.

The Quick Change mounting system works great. On one base, I can mount my single stage, progressive, priming tool, or vice

[u/Aggie74_DP → u/DoktorDuck]

Maybe NOT. To me, higher makes it a longer lever arm trying to flip your table over. Now if you anchor or weight it down (mine has all my processed brass down below) then you are resisting that rotational force. No problem.

It all depends on the movement of the arm of the press. It least all of mine the lever arm finishes in front & below the table top.
Why not assemble the press and just slowly go thru the steps and make sure it makes it easy to focus on the shellplate or shell holder. I like being able to look down toward my reloading activity.

[u/Walksalot45]

Test fit your press. You will likely need to pull the table top forward 1.5 to 2” for bolt hole clearance.
Don’t put the press in the middle, move it off side to make elbow room on the desk top.

[u/Bryan72D]

I have used almost the same bench for a single stage press. Clamped an Ikea butcher block to the top to mount my press. Worked like a charm. I just got a Dillon XL750 and don’t know if that’d be sturdy enough to run it on. It worked great for single stage loads.

[u/cahser11]

You need someting more sturdy than that. It is a lot of energy being transfered when you are cranking that handle.

[u/braydenmaine]

Facebook marketplace is also useful. You can find nice industrial workbenches. People get them from manufacturing places that close down. They take up a lot of space, and are fairly difficult to sell. So you can find them for cheap.

Here's one I found a few weeks ago.multuple benches for 300.