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Post by ezekiel38 on Jul 19, 2018 15:26:44 GMT -5
I have an RCBS Rockchucker Press that I have used for more decades than I care to remember. Recently I've noticed my crimps on straight walled cases becoming inconsistent with same brass manufacturer and same lots of brass. A little investigative work shows the press moving at the crimping sequence on these cases. Further investigation shows the holes drilled in the bench ( a Gorilla Bench with plywood top and 2X6 reinforcement beam out of round. Downward pressure on the press handle causes the press to tip down or toward the operater nearing the bottom of the stroke. AHA! My idea of a remedy is drill new holes in bench and to slide a plate of 1/4" steel between the press and the benchtop and bolt through as previously done, after drilling holes in the plate.
Question: Does someone make a plate commercially as the one I described or would I be better off just to stop at my local welding store? Plate is 3.5X4.0"?
Thanks'
Tom
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jul 19, 2018 16:08:56 GMT -5
my bench is 1.5" ( 2 layers of 3/4" plywood ) with a layer of stainless counter top over... I used 3/8" plate & had my local welding store match the holes, & thread them, so I use 2" X 3/8" grade 8 bolts threaded from the top, into the plate that goes under the bench...
I have some 1/2" adapter plates made that fit my Rock Chucker bolt pattern, that to mount to the top of the bench, & cover 5-6 other common bolt patterns, with threaded holes, so I only have the original 4 holes in my bench top... unfortunately everything seems to use different bolt patterns, but one adapter plate seems to handle 5-6 other accessories just fine
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nicholst55
.375 Atomic
Retired, twice.
Posts: 1,059
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Post by nicholst55 on Jul 19, 2018 16:37:28 GMT -5
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Post by ezekiel38 on Jul 19, 2018 18:07:51 GMT -5
Thanks guys!
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Post by AxeHandle on Jul 19, 2018 18:18:30 GMT -5
I bolt my loaders to short pieces of 2x12. I clamp this to my loading bench. Bench is a solid door and doesn't need the reinforcement but the ability to quickly move a press works for me. I mount a powder measure and case trimmer the same way on lesser pieces of wood. FWIW With primer dust and powder I'd beware any reinforcement plate of any metal that can produce sparks.
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Post by kings6 on Jul 19, 2018 18:48:29 GMT -5
I had A 3/8" X 1' X 1' steel plate made and drilled and threaded holes to match my presses and RCBS bench primer tool. The plate is painted on all sides and clamps right to the top of my table which is something I build back when I was dong finish carpentry. It is a solid core maple door with oak edges and some other neat touches so I decided not to drill the table itself.
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jsh
.327 Meteor
Posts: 884
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Post by jsh on Jul 19, 2018 19:24:25 GMT -5
I would check and make sure the bolts are not to long, and bottomed out. If the length is good, a proper flat washer on the top and use good thick heavy fender washers on the bottom. Regular washers just do t have enough surface area and will tear through wood sooner or later. Putting a steel plate on the top will do little, most all the stress is on the bottom.
I have done some real serious work with my rock chucker in years past and it shows no sign of being loose on my 2x6 top bench. 2x2x1/8 flat bar, cut into squares with proper sized holes should do good service.
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Post by ezekiel38 on Jul 19, 2018 19:48:18 GMT -5
Went with the inlinefabrication mount the 4" model and made for the Rock Chucker. Amazon says it will arrive on the 25th. Looks like something I can use. 3/16s inch steel powder coated and predrilled for the press and the mounting bracket.
Thanks for the input.
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Post by contender on Jul 20, 2018 8:48:52 GMT -5
Physics. A plate that spreads out the weight & force will stiffen the bench. If you have flex,, in the bench,, adding a plate that is wider & longer than the space the press occupies is a way to overcome this flex. And as noted,,, adding a piece under the bench acts as better leverage against flex, as it's an opposing force to the operation of the press.
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Post by warhawk on Jul 20, 2018 23:21:07 GMT -5
I use the Inline Fab mount for my Lyman T-Mag.
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Post by gator89 on Jul 21, 2018 8:42:37 GMT -5
I am a blue Kool aid drinker, but In Line Fab's accessories are top shelf.
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Post by ezekiel38 on Jul 21, 2018 9:44:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. Especially on the inline fabrication application in real life.
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Post by matt56 on Jul 21, 2018 11:57:21 GMT -5
My reloading bench is an repurposed old particle board desk that is just about the bare mimimum for handling the task. When I started sizing down cast bullets with my single stage I cracked the corner where the press was mounted. I took 1/4" plate and basically sandwiched the crack. I was going to do the same for my turret press but I haven't gotten around to it yet. The turret press doesn't see nearly the stress as my single stage does
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Post by alannadeau on Aug 5, 2018 12:26:02 GMT -5
I have an RCBS Rockchucker Press that I have used for more decades than I care to remember. Recently I've noticed my crimps on straight walled cases becoming inconsistent with same brass manufacturer and same lots of brass. A little investigative work shows the press moving at the crimping sequence on these cases. I tend to think you are on the wrong track with this. The press being able to move has no relevance to anything going on within the press framework. The relationship between the press, any tooling and the case being worked on doesn't change because the press moves. You mention the brass all being the same manufacturer & lot but have you checked it for length variations and verified the case mouths are square to the body of the case? at one point I was finding variations in crimps on straight wall cases and tracked it down to, what I felt was excessive, variations in case length. I have established a trim-to-length for each of my handgun calibers which is shorter than the "book" TTL but assures the cases are all within a very narrow length range. I trim all incoming cases, generally once fired pickups, to that length. Granted it takes a little time but only needs to be done once.
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Post by ezekiel38 on Aug 5, 2018 17:44:11 GMT -5
Here's what I did! I bought the 4" Inline Fabrication brace, assembled it and installed it on bench. While AlanNadeau's info is correct the press doesn't have that worn wood "wobble" which was driving me nuts. Very stable platform. The bolts are 3/8s by 3" and pass through the brace, 5/8" pressed wood benchtop, and a 2X6.
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