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New to Reloading - Advice on Setup

prufrock28

Hi All. I just started reloading with a small Classic Lee Loader in 45-70 and it's been a great experience. I've been wanting to reload for many years and finally now have the time in retirement. I recently ordered a Forster Co-Ax press and really need advice on how to setup my space and setup the press. First, my space is pretty small - just a nook in a room over my garage. The intended bench is a small sewing machine table, 36"x 24", so not a lot of working space. The table support is quite heavy and solid but the table top is thinner then I'd like. Table height is 29".

Lot's of questions as a new guy:

1. Best way to make the table top fit for press mounting, maybe 1/4" plate underneath?
2. I have a feeling that I'd like to sit while operating the press, but of course don't know what I don't know. Sit versus stand thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

-Doug


IMG_3666_jpg.jpg
 
Here's my thoughts:

You're right, a non permanent mount that doesn't cut into the table is a good idea. You "could" get away with C-clamps and have the press mounted on a pice of plywood or scrap board. No need to get expensive until you know your sitting / standing preference. I like inline fabrication mounts, but I've had my progressive mounted to a 2x6 clamped to a table for years. I like the ease of take-down and multi-use of a non-permanent storage and only recently drilled into my bench for permanent mounting.

Biggest problem with small spaces is storage. Plan out your reloading equipment in phases:

IE brass prep, what do you need; what is in the way.
I found a cheap hand-press and universal decapper to be very valuable for this step. What's most efficient for you when cleaning, sizing, priming, trimming, oh and case mouth flaring. Trimming and cleaning can be messy!

Next phase to look at is powder charging and bullet seating. If you go thru the motions of having your press mounted for the above, does that location make for easy powder charging / bullet seating? This step can get really messy if you are right handed with a right hand press mount and a left hand powder measure. I can't begin to tell you the number of times I've elbowed my press with a tray of 50 charged cases in hand.

I'd recommend that you fashion a hutch for your table too, vertical space is great for placing scales at eye level and keeping the mess controlled.

Looks like you're off to a great start! That sure is a nice sewing table, be sure that it's good and sturdy!

In your searching here, you may find a few of us made reloading set-ups on a black and decker workmate so they can travel to the range with us. A small space works just fine as long as you stay organized.

-Mac
 
Press Mounting:

You don't want the press to flex when using so if that tabletop is strong enough to accomplish that you should be fine. If not, you can reinforce with 1" plywood or one of the various metal plate mounting options.

Is the under-structure stable enough to prevent tipping the table when the press is under load? If not, you could either bolt the bottom to the floor or wall.

Standing or Sitting:

I prefer sitting since it creates less fatigue and fatigue is something you want to avoid in reloading.

Additional Comment:

Try to avoid being too cramped on the top of the table with too many items. If you can erect some shelving it can take the pressure off having too much clutter on the tabletop. In my experience, avoiding clutter is a good way to prevent mistakes.
 
I like to stand while reloading, I like the flexibility of movement but I have a larger bench with a higher surface.

That said it is taxing if you're doing it for hours on end and I do have thick rubber kitchen sink type mats to stand on. So you're probably wondering why I don't get a stool? Simply because my work has me sitting all day and that's not good for humans especially as we get older and need pressure on our bones daily. Since I don't walk as much as I should, I stand while reloading. Every little bit helps. Besides as I get uncomfortable standing it reminds me to take a coffee break and move about some too.

Oh and be really careful when it comes to reloading. It can suck you in without noticing you've accumulated and grown it into something never thought possible ;)
 
Welcome to the forum Doug. Way back when I had a cubby space about the size of your nook. Somehow I got everything in that tiny area and used it for several years. I prefer to stand but sitting is fine and better suited for some. The two most important features of all the benches I have used is one, anchored to the wall (wall stud), and two a non flexing top. After that is a matter of arranging the top to make it the most convenient within the limitations of all the processing from start to finish. I've never used a Co-Ax, so I would need it and set it on the top somewhere. Then simulate going through the steps, from brass prep, sizing, priming, charging, and bullet seating. With the new press it probably will not be long before you will get a powder measurer and scale if you don't already have them or have them coming. You may find you have the space to work all that it, or maybe you want to arrange some type of Co-Ax clamp so the press can be removed and out of the way during certain steps in the process. Good Luck with it and enjoy the venture!
 
Like @tred1956 mentioned, I'd highly recommend the Inline Fab quick flush mount system...especially in small places so you can remove the press and use the bench for other stuff without the need to work around the press.

I'd be a little concerned with that table bring sturdy enough for the press though. You don't want flexing and movement, so I'd recommend buying or building a more stout bench. Or make that one stronger with some supports and a few layers of plywood on top.

What I'd do is anchor 2x4's to the three walls then simply run some 1x3 oak boards across, end grain up...like a butcher block. No legs required and will maximize the space and the 3" thick top will be plenty strong. It would be very easy to build.
 
I have a similar set up as a table. However my press is not mounted to it. Mine wiggled to much to make me happy and it is now secured to an up right pole in my basement. Top looks awful nice to mount too. If you keep that top I would advise some kind of backer to make it stiff as possible (I just reworked mine).
I would suggest not having a scale on the same table/bench as your press, same goes for powder measure. I know a lot of folks do but the jiggle and wiggle of the bench with the press didn’t help with my scale and I found it to make the powder settle and compact in my measure, which in turn made my thrown weights spread out all over the place.
 
You could get a piece of 1/2" aluminum plate, about a foot square, and a piece of 1/4" plate the same size. Drill holes in the 1/2" plate to mount your press and countersink the holes so when you bolt the press to the plate, the heads of the bolts are below the surface of the plate. Put a piece of felt between the plate and the table and do the same with the 1/4" plate and use some C-clamps (vise-grip makes some good welding C-clamps) and just clamp the plates together with your table between the plates. If you are not a do-it-yourself type then you can buy a quick detach set-up as pointed out above
 
mac86951 said:
Here's my thoughts:

You're right, a non permanent mount that doesn't cut into the table is a good idea. You "could" get away with C-clamps and have the press mounted on a pice of plywood or scrap board. No need to get expensive until you know your sitting / standing preference. I like inline fabrication mounts, but I've had my progressive mounted to a 2x6 clamped to a table for years. I like the ease of take-down and multi-use of a non-permanent storage and only recently drilled into my bench for permanent mounting.

Biggest problem with small spaces is storage. Plan out your reloading equipment in phases:

IE brass prep, what do you need; what is in the way.
I found a cheap hand-press and universal decapper to be very valuable for this step. What's most efficient for you when cleaning, sizing, priming, trimming, oh and case mouth flaring. Trimming and cleaning can be messy!

Next phase to look at is powder charging and bullet seating. If you go thru the motions of having your press mounted for the above, does that location make for easy powder charging / bullet seating? This step can get really messy if you are right handed with a right hand press mount and a left hand powder measure. I can't begin to tell you the number of times I've elbowed my press with a tray of 50 charged cases in hand.

I'd recommend that you fashion a hutch for your table too, vertical space is great for placing scales at eye level and keeping the mess controlled.

Looks like you're off to a great start! That sure is a nice sewing table, be sure that it's good and sturdy!

In your searching here, you may find a few of us made reloading set-ups on a black and decker workmate so they can travel to the range with us. A small space works just fine as long as you stay organized.

-Mac
Click to expand...
Thanks! One might wonder why I don’t build a proper bench extending to and supported by the side and back walls for increased working space and rigidity. One might have to be married to understand the answer to that.
 
K22 said:
Press Mounting:

You don't want the press to flex when using so if that tabletop is strong enough to accomplish that you should be fine. If not, you can reinforce with 1" plywood or one of the various metal plate mounting options.

Is the under-structure stable enough to prevent tipping the table when the press is under load? If not, you could either bolt the bottom to the floor or wall.

Standing or Sitting:

I prefer sitting since it creates less fatigue and fatigue is something you want to avoid in reloading.

Additional Comment:

Try to avoid being too cramped on the top of the table with too many items. If you can erect some shelving it can take the pressure off having too much clutter on the tabletop. In my experience, avoiding clutter is a good way to prevent mistakes.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I’d love to build a proper bench in that space but my wife wants to avoid anything “permanent” in the room, so trying to work around that for now.
 
jxb said:
I like to stand while reloading, I like the flexibility of movement but I have a larger bench with a higher surface.

That said it is taxing if you're doing it for hours on end and I do have thick rubber kitchen sink type mats to stand on. So you're probably wondering why I don't get a stool? Simply because my work has me sitting all day and that's not good for humans especially as we get older and need pressure on our bones daily. Since I don't walk as much as I should, I stand while reloading. Every little bit helps. Besides as I get uncomfortable standing it reminds me to take a coffee break and move about some too.

Oh and be really careful when it comes to reloading. It can suck you in without noticing you've accumulated and grown it into something never thought possible ;)
Click to expand...
Yes, my wallet is beginning to smoke already. Reloading was probably always an eventuality, since I’ve always had a fondness for cartridges that for whatever reason become unloved and lose commercial support.
 
Eagle Six said:
Welcome to the forum Doug. Way back when I had a cubby space about the size of your nook. Somehow I got everything in that tiny area and used it for several years. I prefer to stand but sitting is fine and better suited for some. The two most important features of all the benches I have used is one, anchored to the wall (wall stud), and two a non flexing top. After that is a matter of arranging the top to make it the most convenient within the limitations of all the processing from start to finish. I've never used a Co-Ax, so I would need it and set it on the top somewhere. Then simulate going through the steps, from brass prep, sizing, priming, charging, and bullet seating. With the new press it probably will not be long before you will get a powder measurer and scale if you don't already have them or have them coming. You may find you have the space to work all that it, or maybe you want to arrange some type of Co-Ax clamp so the press can be removed and out of the way during certain steps in the process. Good Luck with it and enjoy the venture!
Click to expand...
Thanks. I think it’s good advice to create something flexible in the beginning that can be easily reconfigured as I begin to figure this stuff out.
 
6Creed73 said:
Like @tred1956 mentioned, I'd highly recommend the Inline Fab quick flush mount system...especially in small places so you can remove the press and use the bench for other stuff without the need to work around the press.

I'd be a little concerned with that table bring sturdy enough for the press though. You don't want flexing and movement, so I'd recommend buying or building a more stout bench. Or make that one stronger with some supports and a few layers of plywood on top.

What I'd do is anchor 2x4's to the three walls then simply run some 1x3 oak boards across, end grain up...like a butcher block. No legs required and will maximize the space and the 3" thick top will be plenty strong. It would be very easy to build.
Click to expand...
Thanks. The Inline Fab stuff looks very well made and having a press that can be mounted and unmounted easily sounds ideal. The sturdiness of the sewing machine table is indeed a worry, and it may be less trouble in the end to build something.
 
JSH said:
I have a similar set up as a table. However my press is not mounted to it. Mine wiggled to much to make me happy and it is now secured to an up right pole in my basement. Top looks awful nice to mount too. If you keep that top I would advise some kind of backer to make it stiff as possible (I just reworked mine).
I would suggest not having a scale on the same table/bench as your press, same goes for powder measure. I know a lot of folks do but the jiggle and wiggle of the bench with the press didn’t help with my scale and I found it to make the powder settle and compact in my measure, which in turn made my thrown weights spread out all over the place.
Click to expand...
Thanks. My first thought was to have a local shop weld a 1/4” steel plate to the framework underneath and mount the wood top to that. I’m not sure the legs beneath have enough spread to support all that properly tho. I’m noodling…
 
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