Sanity check on Bench Setup

[DocRDS]

Ok I am a total noob at reloading, plunging ahead (cautiously).

I mounted my press tonight to the garage table. Now the table came with the house--its built in, but it has a "Lip" That makes mounting difficult. I thought the dimensions were ok, but it turns out they weren't So I did a little hack and want to check that this is securely mounted enough.

Bottom line the bolts are on the edge of the lip, so i got a 1/4 inch piece of flat wood, and drilled through that and attached to the bottom. Is that going to be secure enough? I have no clue how much force is going to be required so I am operating in the dark. My projects always seem to be an adventure.

(This is a cross section--blue--table, brown, 1/4 inch thick wood on bottom, red--hole-> notice it comes out the backside of the lip into open space.)

There are two like this and the tirde is flush farther back with the table.

 

[Mainer]

Is the table top made of sturdy material like plywood or solid wood? Is the lip wide enough so that the whole of the bolt hole is in it?

If so, you may be alright. If it is a particle board table top, I would not trust it.

In either case, I would have preferred a shim the thickness of the lip on the underside of the table that would give the washers more support on the underside of the table.

 

[DocRDS]

Yeah that's the problem--the bolts won't be in the lip. its a solid table 3/4 thick and 3/4 on the lip. After doing some google foo--I may just have to do an inline mount or something.

are these things g2g? https://inlinefabrication.com/products/ultramount-for-the-lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press

 

[Mainer]

I don't have one, but I hear lots of good things about Inlinefabrication products.

 

[NCHillbilly]

You could get a 1/4" or 5/16" steel plate to mount on the bench top, and leave enough overhang to attach the press.

 

[acudaowner]

good luck on your bench and if people tell you its crazy don't listen to them and built it anyway you want reach for the stars .

 

[Sieg]

Inline Fab is a personal friend, I've watched the business grow since I sold him one of my KTM motorcycles that he still has in 2010. Dan is a really good guy and makes solid products.

That said a rigid bench (foundation) is critical to the system performance. Flex in your system removes the feel needed when sizing and seating.

This is my basic system that is easily relocated as it's based on rack system that's capacity is rated at 2500 lbs.

 

[DocRDS]

SO the counter is particle board--3/4 (it basically a counter top, so it is sealed). That's gonna be a problem. I may have to just get my wish and build my bench indoors. Any suggestions on how to salvage that particle board? Its a great work area--build in cabinets, lighting, etc.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

It's probably just screwed in there. You'll have to just take the screws out.

Alternatively, if you like the top, just throw a sheet of plywood under the particle board. Like, unscrew it throw down plywood, and then screw everything back together. Plywood is plenty strong on it's own for that, but you can also sandwich it with some 2x4s or 2x6s if you're worried about it. I'm using it in my new benchtop. 1/2 plywood under 1/2 mdf I'm going to seal with some shellac.

 

[Sieg]

SO the counter is particle board--3/4 (it basically a counter top, so it is sealed). That's gonna be a problem. I may have to just get my wish and build my bench indoors. Any suggestions on how to salvage that particle board? Its a great work area--build in cabinets, lighting, etc.

Sorry, I forgot to note that my top is melonite coated particle board and I used steel tubing supports and 1/4" steel plate flanges with 5/16" fasteners to mount the presses. If you'd like I can take pics of the underside mounting detail.

 

[DocRDS]

Ok so its not a total loss--just reinforce with stronger material underneath.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

Ok so its not a total loss--just reinforce with stronger material underneath.

Work with what you have til it breaks man. I seriously reloaded on a 10x10 inch piece of plywood with a press bolted to it. I would use C Clamps to squeeze it on a table in my apartment. Did that crap for years.

 

[DocRDS]

ACtually my night is looking up. Is this particle board or MDF? I am not a wood person, like I said, this bench was just "there" (The wood on the right, upside down "L"

 

[Rocketmandb]

ACtually my night is looking up. Is this particle board or MDF? I am not a wood person, like I said, this bench was just "there" (The wood on the right, upside down "L"

It looks like the lip is the height of the width of a 2x4 (3.5"). If that's the case, then I'd get a 4x4 and run some of it along the length of the lip, and secure it to both the top and front at different spots with through bolts. That would give you a much larger area to drill through and secure the press with bolts.

 

[kthomas]

Yeah that's the problem--the bolts won't be in the lip. its a solid table 3/4 thick and 3/4 on the lip. After doing some google foo--I may just have to do an inline mount or something.

are these things g2g? https://inlinefabrication.com/products/ultramount-for-the-lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press

Inline fabrication makes great stuff, I use something similar for my Forster Co-ax press.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

ACtually my night is looking up. Is this particle board or MDF? I am not a wood person, like I said, this bench was just "there" (The wood on the right, upside down "L"

Looks like particle board. Particle board, mdf, and plywood are of similar construction but different ends, so to speak. They are basically all glued together off cuts. But plywood is WAY stronger than the others. MDF is dense, soft, and smooth, which is why I like it for shelves and tops of stuff. Particle board is basically used as a substrate for lamination, like you have there. Plywood has many types of finishes.

Anyway, yes that's particleboard. Just throw some plywood under that and bolt everything through. Cur it so the plywood fills the area behind the lip there. It will be fine after that. I'm not sure how your cabinet is constructed, but its likely a plywood box, with maybe some 2x4, framing. I would get some drywall screws (2inch or 1&5/8) and run those from the top, through the plywood into the most solid parts of the cabinets. Then get some short screws, like 5/8 inchers and go from below into the particleboard. If I was doing it, I would also glue the plywood and the particle board together with some wood glue. It basically makes it one giant heavy piece of lumber. It would be pretty solid at that point.

If you do glue it, get a big bottle of glue, home depot has a gallon of titebond for like 15 bux I think, pour plenty on the plywood after you bolt it to the cabinet, and then smooth it around with a piece of cardboard or something and put plenty on there. Then throw the top on and then use the little short screws as your clamping force. Once the clue dries, it will. Basically be the main force holding the plywood and particle board together.

 

[lightman]

My bench top is made from 2 X 10's and I ran an additional one front to back under the press, just to tie all 3 of them together. I would use something heavier than 1/4 in wood. 1/4 in steel plate would be ok.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

1/4 inch plywood is pretty strong.you just have to appropriately frame it with 2x4s or better. Laminated wood can handle a lot of weight if it is glued and used properly in the structure.

Edit: I'm not saying to use it alone, but using it as a substrate for the other parts if the top, attaching it properly to the cabinets, and attaching the bench properly, it will be plenty strong. I would drill an appropriate hole through everything and put a long bolt through the press and into the table top, then appropriately sized washers, and nuts, or T-Nuts on the bottom to thread into and secure.

 

[DocRDS]

Looks like particle board. Particle board, mdf, and plywood are of similar construction but different ends, so to speak. They are basically all glued together off cuts. But plywood is WAY stronger than the others. MDF is dense, soft, and smooth, which is why I like it for shelves and tops of stuff. Particle board is basically used as a substrate for lamination, like you have there. Plywood has many types of finishes.

....

I think I am going to adopt something like this--that lip is 3/4 so a solid 3/4 plywood to fill the gap and provide a 1.5 inch total surface. Glue the plywood underneath, then take an additional 3/8 sheet to mate the lip and The "fill" (Glued as well). Then Bolt everything with the big wide washers.

 

[DocRDS]

Once again, I appreciate the feedback and help for a clueless noob. Reloading has been a long journey getting setup. By tommorow--DEPRIMING!

Final Plan was I got 1 0.75 oak shelf from lowes and had it cut in half. I then got a 1/4 inch oak shelf and cut that in half. (no 3/8 to be had)

The 3/4 oak acts as filler and the 1/4 acts as a plate. so MOST of the press has 3/4 countertop and 3/4 oak underneath, while the lip is 1.5 particle board. Under that the 1/4 "plate" and secured with 5/16 bolts and fender washers for a total of 1.75 thickness. SInce it is RIGHT next to the cabinet, I can sit on it (I'm hefty) and there is no flex (in the bare 3/4 particleboard), so I think the local reinforcement is good. All bolts are either on the hardword or the press.

Right now everything is clamped and being glued/cured with some liquid nails.

As someone pointed out--just mount the bastard, work it till it breaks, get new counter top. Since this one came with the house, its a free experiment (and its in my garage). Sometimes I just need some feedback and to talk things through--once again, really appreciate people chiming in.

 

[bobdog]

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