What bolt size and washer to get for mounting a bullet swaging press and press?

[Darth-Vang]

What bolt size and washer to mount my two bullet swaging press and my Lee Loadmaster press? The swaging press are both made by Richard Corbin if that helps. I want to get the best result of mounting them.

[shawnrmartin75102]

What bolt size and washer to mount my two bullet swaging press and my Lee Loadmaster press? The swaging press are both made by Richard Corbin if that helps. I want to get the best result of mounting them.I get by with 1/4 x 20 bolts. See my thread about my Lee turret press templates in reloading equipment forum for some great ideas. ( Mostly by folks other than me).


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[44magLeo]

I generally go with 5/16 bolts. These fill the holes in the presses better than 1/4. I use washers that fit the bolts.
If I think the bolts might pull through the bench I get some 1 1/2 inch wide 3/16 think steel strips Cut them into pieces so they come out about square. Drill a hole to match bolt size. Use this as a washer on the underside.
Leo

[HeavyMetal]

just a thought but I think you ought to work on a work bench that's really, really, really heavy duty, strongly suggest lots of steel for strength and then buy the largest bolts that will go through the holes into press, 5/16 minimum diameter.

I've watched many guys pull press off or tip over or break work benches that were just to lite for what they wanted to do.

Food for thought!

HM

[Darth-Vang]

just a thought but I think you ought to work on a work bench that's really, really, really heavy duty, strongly suggest lots of steel for strength and then buy the largest bolts that will go through the holes into press, 5/16 minimum diameter.

I've watched many guys pull press off or tip over or break work benches that were just to lite for what they wanted to do.

Food for thought!

HM My bolts takes at least 3 people to move it. I think it qualifies as being sturdy for sure except it isn’t durable as steel as mines is wood. But it is big and heavy for one person to move it.

[bedbugbilly]

I measure the mounting holes or slots and use the correct size bolt diameters that fit the mounting holes/slots. And I agree - a heavy sturdy bench.

[Valley-Shooter]

I measure the mounting holes or slots and use the correct size bolt diameters that fit the mounting holes/slots. And I agree - a heavy sturdy bench.

That's what I do. I buy the bolts that fit. The larger the better. (No drywall screws!)

[GregLaROCHE]

I don’t know those particular presses, but I always use the biggest bolts that would work with the holes of the press. If mounting through wood, I use oversize washers.

[LittleLebowski]

The larger bolts, the better, and get grade 8 bolts.

[lightman]

I match the bolt to the hole size. If you don't know the hole size you can use a drill bit to measure with. Or you could just tote the press down to the parts store. I agree with using oversize washers on wood.

[samari46]

Bolt and washer on the top, underside washer,then lock washer then nut. I use the largest bolt that will fit along with the washers and lock washers and nuts. Frank

[mdi]

More important than bolt diameter is what the press is bolted to. With a flimsy, thin or soft benchtop, bolts can pull through or the top break. I like to use bolts that fill the bolt holes, mainly for a neater look. Has anybody tried to (been able to) stretch a 1/4" soft steel bolt apart? Not gonna happen with any home shop tools. I think a #10 or #12 machine screw with fender washers would hold a press solid, but that's kinda extreme. SS and higher grade bolts are stronger...

[shawnrmartin75102]

More important than bold diameter is what the press is bolted to. With a flimsy, thin or soft benchtop, bolts can pull through or the top break. I like to use bolts that fill the bolt holes, mainly for a neater look. Has anybody tried to (been able to) stretch a 1/4" soft steel bolt apart? Not gonna happen with any home shop tools. I think a #10 or #12 machine screw with fender washers would hold a press solid, but that's kinda extreme. SS and higher grade bolts are stronger...Dudes. I don't know what you are resizing. But my bench is lightly built, on casters, and portable.

I use a Lee turret press, fastened by 1/4 inch bolts through a 1/2 inch plywood top, into a pine 2x4 under the bench top. I regularly reload 30.06 cartridges.

I have never even heard my bench creak.

( I do use carbide dies, no case lube).

It may let go someday, I'll grant you, in which case I'll probably step up to 5/16ths, but mainly to reuse the existing holes in the top. [emoji16]


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[ulav8r]

I have broken several 1/4x20 bolts usning a 7/16 wrench no more than 6 inches long. They seemed just barely no more than snug. They were not grade 8, have never bought grade 8s that small. A 5/16" bolt is much stronger.

The possible problem of filling the hole or slot on each piece of equipment is ending up using different sizes and not being able to replace one press with another. Using base plates, you could fill the slot on each piece and then use a single size bolt for attaching the base plates, the base plates all having a standardized bolt pattern. That pattern, drilled through the bench top and with t-nuts on the bottom will allow switching tools easily. For example, if all the base plates had 2 holes 7 inches apart and six inches behind the desired position for the front edge of the bench, a row of holes spaced 7 inches apart along the whole length of the bench and 6 inches from the edge would allow mounting of any of your tools anywhere along the bench. Spacing the holes 3 1/2" apart would allow spacing tools a little closer/further apart.

[redhawk0]

I used what I had on hand at the time when I mounted my RC-II. I had some 3/8" threaded rod, two large washers (one on top and bottom) and two nuts to hold it all together. Just cut it to length. There is no way I can break that free....If I went out and bought something...I'd likely use 5/16" bolts washer and a nut.

redhawk

[onelight]

Dudes. I don't know what you are resizing. But my bench is lightly built, on casters, and portable.

I use a Lee turret press, fastened by 1/4 inch bolts through a 1/2 inch plywood top, into a pine 2x4 under the bench top. I regularly reload 30.06 cartridges.

I have never even heard my bench creak.

( I do use carbide dies, no case lube).

It may let go someday, I'll grant you, in which case I'll probably step up to 5/16ths, but mainly to reuse the existing holes in the top. [emoji16]


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Some of these guys break presses and shell holders :-D
Mere mortals that just reload normal stuff may not need as heavy a setup.
The design of the bench and mounts is as or more important than the tonnage 8-)

[elmacgyver0]

The larger bolts, the better, and get grade 8 bolts.

This is very good!
Do it!

To be honest, about anything will work. But why not do it right?

[mdi]

I have broken several 1/4x20 bolts usning a 7/16 wrench no more than 6 inches long.
I worked in a large city Heavy Construction Equipment Repair Shop. I was helping another mechanic install a turret ring gear on a large hydro crane using 48, 1 1/4"x 4", Grade 8 bolts. We were using a hydraulic "torque wrench" (very accurate and repeatable). All 48 were installed and we were torquing them down to spec. when one broke. The bolt separated at the top of the thread portion. My coworker mentioned that in 30+ years of wrenching heavy cranes, that was the first large ring bolt he broke. The bolt was sent back to the vendor for lab inspection. It was a one in a million breakage, so I can say "I broke a 1 1/4" bolt" (but I installed a few thousand that didn't)...

[1hole]

...I regularly reload 30.06 cartridges....I have never even heard my bench creak.

( I do use carbide dies, no case lube).

Are you saying you use carbide .30-06 dies that don't need lube?

[Petrol & Powder]

Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was the chief engineer for Lockheed and later senior vice president of Lockheed. He was a principle engineer on projects such as the SR-71 and U-2, along with dozens of other aircraft. One of my favorite Kelly Johnson quotes was related to the U-2 spy plane. That aircraft required almost insane amounts of weight reduction to achieve the high altitudes necessary. He said, "Anyone can make an aircraft strong enough. The trick is to make one JUST strong enough".

Now, since we are NOT making a U-2 spy plane and weight is NOT a factor. And we are only buying a couple of bolts, nuts and washers; so cost isn't a big factor. Why are we concerned amount using the smallest possible hardware?

A little over kill in hardware will cost you pennies and then you'll never even think about that setup again. While the largest grade 8 bolt that will fit the hole in the press base is clearly far more strength than you need in that application - What's the harm? That over-kill will cost you almost nothing and then you move on.

[thegatman]

Careful with the Lee cast aluminum press so it doesn’t crack.

[Petrol & Powder]

I think the bench is almost always going to be the weak link in that system but the OP was asking about the hardware.

[country gent]

I use the bolts that will fill the slots usually 3/8". I also use higher grades or allen heads for added strength. The bolts pass thru the press, bench top, and into a piece of 3/8" X 2" flat stock with tapped holes, this plate is one piece and spans both holes. The bolts are threaded into this and jam nuts to lock in place. This gives a very solid mounting and little compression. The big issue isnt bolt breakage but bolt stretch over time and the press loosening.

My bench tops are a butcher block style 2X4s on edge doweled and glued together. very solid very stable and a good base to work on. The bench is as important as the mounting is. A weak bench that flexes and gives will allow bolts to loosen. By filling the slots holes you get a much stronger support on the head of the bolt also. Another improvement is to use machine washers instead of standard washers, they are thicker and stronger, meant for use on slots.

Once you know where you want the press, set it in place and use a transfer punch to spot the holes thru to the to the bench top and drill thru square. I drill size for size for as much support as possible. Once mounted and secured the press bench should be as one piece.

A swaging press produces much higher pressures than even a heavy press resizing does. Swaging is a high pressure job and needs benches and mountings to match