The press has been completed and it is operational as of Sept 1st, 2018. I am calling it my "Mega Press"
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Ever since I read this long post, I have been dreaming of making my own reloading press:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-a-Swage-press
Cost was not bad, but I do machining and welding projects, and I have a lot of left over pieces, steel that I bought years ago for other projects, etc., so I decided to try to build the press with as few purchase parts/pieces as possible, even if that "costs" me substantially more time to get it done.
Since I am not interested in a swage press at this point, I have scaled down the ideas from that post, and I have also decided to have the top 30 deg offset from the base for easier access, with the 2 guide/support rods on 4.60" center to center:
I did buy from McMaster the bushings, and since I have left over 4140 steel rods from another project, all 3 rods (2x support/guide and ram) will be the same diameter:
I don't have a piece of steel thick enough for the base, but I have 3x pieces I can weld together. I will weld them together on all 4 edges, but will also do internal plug welds to give them more integrity:
Trim the excess: