Press mounting ideas needed-no holes

[onlybrowning]

Setting up a new reloading bench and need some help with mounting a RCBS Rock Chucker without putting holes in my bench. I’ve got one of the Harbor Freight Yukon woodworking benches and a nice hardwood L-shaped desk. The Harbor Freight bench is assembled in a way that makes mounting the press in a traditional way with bolts tough because it has a lip on the underside that is in the way. The desk is way too nice to put holes or T track in. So, I’m thinking of using a stand of some kind with clamps to hold it in place. Does anyone have pictures or descriptions to help with mounting a press to either of these without needing holes drilled?

 

[UnckleBob]

When it gets really hot in Dallas, I move my reloading activities indoors. I mounted one of my presses to the cutting board below. Any thick scrap piece of board can work. If I had a 2x8 laying around, I probably would have used it and cut it to the exact length I wanted. Then, I clamp the board to my work desk when I am using it. When I am not using it, I put it in the garage.

To eliminate nuts and bolts sticking out the bottom, I countersunk a hole large enough to fit a metal washer (more surface area so the nut doesn't dig into the wood) over the nut, then a lock washer, and then the nut snugged up against the lock washer. The nuts haven't needed to be retightened in the four years I have had it he press mounted to the board. The board sits flat on my bench.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007ZGN8Q?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5

 

[JFK]

How thick is the top of the harbor freight bench? If you can’t get at the bottom of the bench to through bolt it I’d lag bolt an inline fabrication mount (either raised or flush mount) to the bench top, then put your press on that. Four lags into hardwood is going to be plenty strong.

 

[onlybrowning]

Right after posting I took another look at spacing on the Harbor Freight bench and it looks like I can get mounting bolts on it in a spot to not block the drawers, and be behind the lip. It’ll definitely need some reinforcement for me to be confident in it though. I’m thinking a small piece of 3/16 or 1/4 in steel will work well. The next step will be securing it to at least the wall, which are metal studs. I’ve always secured my benches to the cement floor as well, but I don’t want to mess up the carpet in this room.

 

[wildernessrimfab]

he Harbor Freight bench is assembled in a way that makes mounting the press in a traditional way with bolts tough because it has a lip on the underside that is in the way.

I had a similar issue with mounting my Coax press on a wooden bench with a middle slide out drawer that was somewhat in the way. I wanted to mount the press directly over the leg of th bench while maintaining functionality of the center drawer. I made an adapter plate out of scrap 1/4 steel plate which spread out the thru bolts enough so they were surrounding the metal leg if that makes sense. The plate is visible (painted black) in the photo below. The bolts that hold the press onto the plate (inner pattern) are below the plate and I had to clearance drill the top of the bench with a forstner bit. The larger bolt pattern goes all the way through the plate and the bench top. This was 4 years ago and I have had zero issues and wouldnt change a thing.

 

[sndmn11]

I have a 2'2' piece of thick butcher block that I have my press screwed to. I can use it anywhere and it is solid due to the big "heavy" base.

 

[BBob]

I have all of my presses mounted to rectangular steel or aluminum plates that extend out to either side of the press and they get clamped to the bench with two C-Clamps.