Pedestal instead of a bench?

ScottRiqui · February 25, 2013, 10:28 PM

Anyone here using a pedestal mount for their press, rather than bolting it to a bench?

I was thinking that rather than building a big, heavy, hell-for-stout bench, I'd use a length of box-section steel and two plates, along with some floor anchors. Bulk components, tools, scales etc could be kept on a nearby regular-duty bench or in a cabinet.

Of course, since a pedestal doesn't give you much horizontal storage space, this would make the most sense with a progressive press, where all the components are held in/on the press - powder in the dispenser, cases in a case feeder, primers in tubes, bullets in a bin hanging on one side of the press, and finished rounds going into a bin on the other side of the press.

Any thoughts?

Magnum Wheel Man · February 26, 2013, 08:02 AM

My buddy ( a steel fabricator ) built one for his Dillion, even though he put a very heavy base on it, he still ended up having to concrete anchor it to his floor, for enough stability... which he was hoping to not have to drill any holes in his basement floor

so... a bench seems more practical... I think he was hoping to have his moveable to some extent, but it's not so easy now that it's bolted to the floor...

mulespurs · February 26, 2013, 08:13 AM

I built what you could call a pedestal mount for my Dillon.
I used 2" square tube 1/4" wall
and a 1/2" plate for the top. The seat is mounted on it so you hold it down and you could freestand it anywhere you want. It might weigh 75 or 80 pounds.
If you want more detail let me know.

+1k ammo · February 27, 2013, 10:26 AM

show a picture. I'm new into welding and fabricating and think that would work well.
Im thinking of moving the Dillon 650 up to spare room, but not with the big bench and would need something smaller that did not need to be bolted.

oldpapps · February 27, 2013, 02:01 PM

My first 'mounting' system was to 'C' clamp and use 1 bolt to hold my press onto the base of a really old gas pump (one of those with the glass bowl on top and the hand crank that my grand father wore smooth cranking). It was rather heavy and worked very well. I could 'walk-it' about on the concrete to get it into position.
Don't know what ever happened to it. Wish I had it now.

That's sort of a pedestal.

Enjoy,

OSOK

BigJimP · February 27, 2013, 02:31 PM

I'm not using a pedastal....over a bench / but you can certainly do it with no problem. Base just needs to be wide enough and heavy enough to be stable ----but there are all kind of mobile tool bases that you could adapt or build to suit your needs....

like some of these....for a big sanding station, or a portable planer.../ and they're moveable.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...12&FORM=IQFRBA

or you could certainly build your own - out of wood as well as steel - put really good heavy duty casters on it.

Saint Dennis · February 27, 2013, 09:41 PM

I am. I just have a single stage Rock Chucker. I bought it used. It came with a pedestal. Looks like a comercial deal. Plastic base, chromed steel pipe. Works great. Of course I've only been using it for 20 years that way, so I might change my mind after I get it broke in.

UniversalFrost · February 27, 2013, 09:50 PM

i tried to use a pedestal from frankford arsenal for reloading but was a bust...

i still use it for depriming and for other remedial tasks.

jj320 · February 28, 2013, 07:32 AM

Lee makes a small tripod stand check out their sit might give you an idea

flashhole · March 1, 2013, 06:11 PM

I've seen pedestal mounts using a 4"x4" vertical shaft with a plate welded to the top and a wall anchor bracket top and bottom for stability. Mounting to the wall was key for use.

mulespurs · March 1, 2013, 11:40 PM

The pedestal I made is out of 2"x2" x 1/4 wall tube like I said.
The base is in the shape of a tee. This tee is about 30" wide and 36" tall.
Lay this Tee flat on the floor. The mounting post for the loader is about 3' tall or so and welded at the top center of the 30" vertically. On the top of the 2x2 tube/post I welded an 8" x 16" x 1/2 plate kinda centered on the 36"tube. Mounting holes were drilled to mount my Dillon 550.
On the tail of the tee I welded an 18" or so upright to mount my seat on at a comfortable distance from the reloader mounting post.
On top of this seat post I welded another plate for a place to bolt my seat on.

When I set down to load, my weight holds the unit in place. It would freestand on any floor,
If you need more info let me know.

shootniron · March 1, 2013, 11:42 PM

First rounds I ever loaded were on a pedestal mounted press...I quickly moved to a bench. A better designed unit would have worked better than the one had.

Colduglandon · March 2, 2013, 10:18 PM

I am considering mounting a single stage press to a steel pedestal for an old bubble gum machine with a heavy metal base. I plan to do this during the upcoming week. I will let you know how it works out. Something I can take up from the basement and perform preliminary case prep.

I know a man in NH that mounted a single stage press to a coffee table. His wife was complaining that she did not see him once he started reloading down in the basement. So

flashhole · March 2, 2013, 10:42 PM

You can see a nice pedestal mount in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6o0-sAkLA

F. Guffey · March 3, 2013, 05:03 PM

I have 4 presses mounted to a steel plate that is mounted to the base of a cream separate, all Herters, starting with the 6 station turret, 2 ram, super 3 and the ‘U’. I have 2 presses mounted on a H/D pedestal made for the pedestal grinder. One of the presses is a Dillon 550 B the other is the RCBS rock Chucker.

I have a steel lathe base that was made in the 1870s, no threaded holes. Mounting a press is a matter of attaching the press with large deep clamps.

I do not have a reloading bench, my walls are three feet away.

F. Guffey

BoogieMan · March 3, 2013, 06:08 PM

I used an old grinder base. Weighs at least 200lbs and works great. I ended up putting a 22x48 top on it to hold my other stuff. Adding shelves soon.

hodaka · March 3, 2013, 06:45 PM

A 2X12 bolted to the top of a Harbor Freight grinder stand ($30 I think) works for me. I've got a single stage bolted to one side, a Dillon 550B on the other, with two powder throwers at each end. Easily moves around the room and the storage tray under it is very handy in that you can hang storage bins on the rim.

overthere · March 3, 2013, 09:44 PM

Don't know if it is the same as the one hodaka is referring to but this is the one I am using:

http://www.harborfreight.com/adjusta...ion-46725.html

Also with a 2x12 clamped to the top, the press bolted to the 2x12.

The 'bench' is not particularly sturdy and I have a weight on the end opposite the press to prevent it from tipping when I full-size 308 cases.

The trays underneath can be used for holding lightweight items (emphasis on light).

All in all it works, and considering it is $28 (and you can typically find a 20% coupon for HarborFreight) it actually works pretty well.

Still wish I had a real bench but this fits within the space I have available.

SIGSHR · March 3, 2013, 09:47 PM

When I moved from a house to an apartment some years ago I used a pedestal mount for my RBCS JR. Worked fine,but after a few years I built a reloading cabinet, that held my pressand gave me a work surface.

February 25, 2013, 10:28 PM	#1
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Pedestal instead of a bench? Anyone here using a pedestal mount for their press, rather than bolting it to a bench? I was thinking that rather than building a big, heavy, hell-for-stout bench, I'd use a length of box-section steel and two plates, along with some floor anchors. Bulk components, tools, scales etc could be kept on a nearby regular-duty bench or in a cabinet. Of course, since a pedestal doesn't give you much horizontal storage space, this would make the most sense with a progressive press, where all the components are held in/on the press - powder in the dispenser, cases in a case feeder, primers in tubes, bullets in a bin hanging on one side of the press, and finished rounds going into a bin on the other side of the press. Any thoughts?

February 26, 2013, 08:02 AM	#2
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	My buddy ( a steel fabricator ) built one for his Dillion, even though he put a very heavy base on it, he still ended up having to concrete anchor it to his floor, for enough stability... which he was hoping to not have to drill any holes in his basement floor so... a bench seems more practical... I think he was hoping to have his moveable to some extent, but it's not so easy now that it's bolted to the floor... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

February 26, 2013, 08:13 AM	#3
mulespurs Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2012 Posts: 115	Reloader pedestal I built what you could call a pedestal mount for my Dillon. I used 2" square tube 1/4" wall and a 1/2" plate for the top. The seat is mounted on it so you hold it down and you could freestand it anywhere you want. It might weigh 75 or 80 pounds. If you want more detail let me know.

February 27, 2013, 09:50 PM	#8
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	i tried to use a pedestal from frankford arsenal for reloading but was a bust... i still use it for depriming and for other remedial tasks. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

March 1, 2013, 06:11 PM	#10
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	I've seen pedestal mounts using a 4"x4" vertical shaft with a plate welded to the top and a wall anchor bracket top and bottom for stability. Mounting to the wall was key for use. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

February 27, 2013, 10:26 AM	#4
+1k ammo Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 235	show a picture. I'm new into welding and fabricating and think that would work well. Im thinking of moving the Dillon 650 up to spare room, but not with the big bench and would need something smaller that did not need to be bolted.

February 27, 2013, 02:01 PM	#5
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	My first 'mounting' system was to 'C' clamp and use 1 bolt to hold my press onto the base of a really old gas pump (one of those with the glass bowl on top and the hand crank that my grand father wore smooth cranking). It was rather heavy and worked very well. I could 'walk-it' about on the concrete to get it into position. Don't know what ever happened to it. Wish I had it now. That's sort of a pedestal. Enjoy, OSOK

February 27, 2013, 02:31 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I'm not using a pedastal....over a bench / but you can certainly do it with no problem. Base just needs to be wide enough and heavy enough to be stable ----but there are all kind of mobile tool bases that you could adapt or build to suit your needs.... like some of these....for a big sanding station, or a portable planer.../ and they're moveable. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...12&FORM=IQFRBA or you could certainly build your own - out of wood as well as steel - put really good heavy duty casters on it.

February 27, 2013, 09:41 PM	#7
Saint Dennis Member Join Date: March 31, 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 97	I am. I just have a single stage Rock Chucker. I bought it used. It came with a pedestal. Looks like a comercial deal. Plastic base, chromed steel pipe. Works great. Of course I've only been using it for 20 years that way, so I might change my mind after I get it broke in.

February 28, 2013, 07:32 AM	#9
jj320 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2013 Location: hobart,in Posts: 119	Lee makes a small tripod stand check out their sit might give you an idea

March 1, 2013, 11:40 PM	#11
mulespurs Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2012 Posts: 115	Reloader stand/pedestal The pedestal I made is out of 2"x2" x 1/4 wall tube like I said. The base is in the shape of a tee. This tee is about 30" wide and 36" tall. Lay this Tee flat on the floor. The mounting post for the loader is about 3' tall or so and welded at the top center of the 30" vertically. On the top of the 2x2 tube/post I welded an 8" x 16" x 1/2 plate kinda centered on the 36"tube. Mounting holes were drilled to mount my Dillon 550. On the tail of the tee I welded an 18" or so upright to mount my seat on at a comfortable distance from the reloader mounting post. On top of this seat post I welded another plate for a place to bolt my seat on. When I set down to load, my weight holds the unit in place. It would freestand on any floor, If you need more info let me know.

March 1, 2013, 11:42 PM	#12
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	First rounds I ever loaded were on a pedestal mounted press...I quickly moved to a bench. A better designed unit would have worked better than the one had.

March 2, 2013, 10:18 PM	#13
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	I am considering mounting a single stage press to a steel pedestal for an old bubble gum machine with a heavy metal base. I plan to do this during the upcoming week. I will let you know how it works out. Something I can take up from the basement and perform preliminary case prep. I know a man in NH that mounted a single stage press to a coffee table. His wife was complaining that she did not see him once he started reloading down in the basement. So

March 2, 2013, 10:42 PM	#14
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	You can see a nice pedestal mount in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6o0-sAkLA __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

March 3, 2013, 05:03 PM	#15
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	I have 4 presses mounted to a steel plate that is mounted to the base of a cream separate, all Herters, starting with the 6 station turret, 2 ram, super 3 and the ‘U’. I have 2 presses mounted on a H/D pedestal made for the pedestal grinder. One of the presses is a Dillon 550 B the other is the RCBS rock Chucker. I have a steel lathe base that was made in the 1870s, no threaded holes. Mounting a press is a matter of attaching the press with large deep clamps. I do not have a reloading bench, my walls are three feet away. F. Guffey

March 3, 2013, 06:08 PM	#16
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I used an old grinder base. Weighs at least 200lbs and works great. I ended up putting a 22x48 top on it to hold my other stuff. Adding shelves soon. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

March 3, 2013, 06:45 PM	#17
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	A 2X12 bolted to the top of a Harbor Freight grinder stand ($30 I think) works for me. I've got a single stage bolted to one side, a Dillon 550B on the other, with two powder throwers at each end. Easily moves around the room and the storage tray under it is very handy in that you can hang storage bins on the rim.

March 3, 2013, 09:44 PM	#18
overthere Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2012 Posts: 290	Don't know if it is the same as the one hodaka is referring to but this is the one I am using: http://www.harborfreight.com/adjusta...ion-46725.html Also with a 2x12 clamped to the top, the press bolted to the 2x12. The 'bench' is not particularly sturdy and I have a weight on the end opposite the press to prevent it from tipping when I full-size 308 cases. The trays underneath can be used for holding lightweight items (emphasis on light). All in all it works, and considering it is $28 (and you can typically find a 20% coupon for HarborFreight) it actually works pretty well. Still wish I had a real bench but this fits within the space I have available.

March 3, 2013, 09:47 PM	#19
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	When I moved from a house to an apartment some years ago I used a pedestal mount for my RBCS JR. Worked fine,but after a few years I built a reloading cabinet, that held my pressand gave me a work surface.