Powder Measure stands

Hi, I am looking to get a couple of Powder measure stands.
I have looked at RCBS Advanced (made of aluminum) it states it is 9 1/2" rise and the base is 4 7/8" x 2 5/8".
The Lyman Powder stand (Cast Iron) no other measurements listed.
The Redding powder stand (aluminum) no other measurements listed.
The Hornady powder stand (cast iron) no other measurements listed.
The Lee Powder stand (steel PCed) no other measurements listed. It is relatively New release. It appears to have a much larger footprint than all the others (more space occupied)

Then there is a Powder stand (steel) made just for the Lee Classic Cast Turret on 'You Tube'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9IttaJGv4Y

This unit seems to be nice with added features, good height & is quite adjustable. But.... the price is much higher than all of the others listed above. So that is a bit of dilemma for me as to the cost.

So I would like opinions/comments on the above mentioned Powder Stands. All comments or info would be appreciated.

TYIA, SharuLady

I have the Lyman, RCBS, and Lee powder measure stands. I use the Lyman because my rifle case blocks pass under it a little better than the other two.

Hi, Ty for your comments & info on the stands. I have been searching the web for examples of Home built Powder stands. Have found 4 that seems to be fairly easy to make and still do what I am wanting it to do, Was even able to get pics of them so My husband can figure them out from there.

But I certainly appreciate you taking the time to comment. :smile:

SharuLady

Make your own stand make on with interchangeable tops and then only one is needed. A piece of 1/4" x 3" X 3" for the base a piece of 3/4"" X 2" square tubing, a piece of 1/4" x 1" x2" flat stock and 1/4' x 1 1/2" flat stock in desired lengths. Drill 4 1/4" holes in the corners of the base to mount. weld the tube to the base. drill 2 1/4" dowel holes in the 1/4 x 1" x2" and a 1/4 20 hole on center. Weld this to the top of the tube. The 1/4" x1 1/2" makes the powder measures mount. drill and tap a 7/8 14 hole on center from one end and the stands hole pattern on the other end. Thedowels keep it from spinning the one thumb bolt holds it together. Make the mounts as needed and just change out as desired.

I've seen some nice metal shop built stands and a few homemade ones. The main thing is for it to have the clearance to run a tray of cases under it. Some powder measures come with a flat bar used to mount the powder measure to the top of the press under a die. This bar could be screwed to a short board to make a stand. I doubt that there is a wrong choice between the common brands.

Wish to TY 'country gent' & 'lightman' for you comments and info. Have made a copy & paste to a text file for the listing of needed items & measurements & all the instructions.

That is my desire to make sure I have ample clearance on the stands for the loading trays and an ideal height for use.

SharuLady

Online metals will sell short lengths 10" up to 3 ft lengths of material for the hobby worker. A really nice stand could be made substituting brass stock for the steel. braze it together radius out the braze and then polish and buff to a bright finish. Really fancy and cut the tube in a parallelogram with ends at matching 20* angles this moves the top forward in relation to the base.

Being an old plumber and have made up different things over the years I decided to make up powder measure stands from copper fittings and pipe. I silver soldered a 7/8 x 14 steel nut onto a piece of pipe and just kept adding 1/2" elbows and nipples till I had what I wanted then I mounted this stand onto a wall flange using a thread connector. I mounted this stand onto a piece of 1" x 10" pine board so I can clamp it to my bench and remove when not needing it. By the way I painted it green.Robert

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Originally Posted by Hardcast416taylor

Being an old plumber and have made up different things over the years I decided to make up powder measure stands from copper fittings and pipe. I silver soldered a 7/8 x 14 steel nut onto a piece of pipe and just kept adding 1/2" elbows and nipples till I had what I wanted then I mounted this stand onto a wall flange using a thread connector. I mounted this stand onto a piece of 1" x 10" pine board so I can clamp it to my bench and remove when not needing it. By the way I painted it green.Robert

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This one really needs a picture! :brokenima It sounds like you have a winner.

Another possibility, frequently seen on the benches at Scheutzen matches, is a pipe clamp with a suitable length of pipe and having an adjustable plate for the powder measure to mount to or through, then additional plates or pipes to mount a spotting scope, rifle rest (for between shots) and even a cartridge tray. :coffeecom To get back to the original spirit of the thread, one could buy a pipe clamp with a short (9-12”) length of pipe and the plate I mentioned above to use on one’s loading bench at home. Cost would be pretty minimal, and utility would be pretty high. :mrgreen:

Froggie

My only measures for a long time have been Redding and I use the Redding stand, which works fine. I haven't looked at the others but would assume they are similar in design.

I have an unknown powder measure stand that is just a piece of 3/8"x 1 1/2"x12" bent into a "Z" shape. One "foot" has 2, 5/16" holes for mounting and the other has a 15/16" hole for mounting a powder measure. Very solid, won't flex and is high enough to run a reloading block w/cases underneath. I mounted it on the corner of my "scale table" (a heavy table 8" high and about 12"x20" that I place my scale on to have it closer to eye level).

Hi country gent, for the great info on what could be used and the build. Sound's like it would be very pretty & fancy.

TY for replying,
SharuLady

Hi Robert, This sounds like a very interesting way of building a stand! You should post a picture of it. I as well wish to have mine so that it can be moved when not in use.

Hum mm, you painted it green or did it turn green on its own with that copper pipes & fittings? :kidding:

Ty for your reply,

SharuLady

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hardcast416taylor

Being an old plumber and have made up different things over the years I decided to make up powder measure stands from copper fittings and pipe. I silver soldered a 7/8 x 14 steel nut onto a piece of pipe and just kept adding 1/2" elbows and nipples till I had what I wanted then I mounted this stand onto a wall flange using a thread connector. I mounted this stand onto a piece of 1" x 10" pine board so I can clamp it to my bench and remove when not needing it. By the way I painted it green.Robert

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Hi Green Frog, Ty for your reply. This is another interesting idea for a stand. I like minimal cost but yet having a pretty high utility usage.

SharuLady

Hi lotech, Ty for your reply on the Redding stand. It was one of the commercial stands I originally looked at. But an considering building a stand (with my 'great' better half's assistance).

SharuLady

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Originally Posted by mdi

I have an unknown powder measure stand that is just a piece of 3/8"x 1 1/2"x12" bent into a "Z" shape. One "foot" has 2, 5/16" holes for mounting and the other has a 15/16" hole for mounting a powder measure. Very solid, won't flex and is high enough to run a reloading block w/cases underneath. I mounted it on the corner of my "scale table" (a heavy table 8" high and about 12"x20" that I place my scale on to have it closer to eye level).

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Hi Mdi, That sounds like a great solid, unflexing but yet high enough like your powder scale being eye level.

Your mention of your "scale table" caught my eye as well. That is something I wish to have as well. It would definitely be beneficial to make it easier to read.
Do you have a pic of your stand and of the "scale table"?

Ty for your reply,

SharuLady

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mdi

I have an unknown powder measure stand that is just a piece of 3/8"x 1 1/2"x12" bent into a "Z" shape. One "foot" has 2, 5/16" holes for mounting and the other has a 15/16" hole for mounting a powder measure. Very solid, won't flex and is high enough to run a reloading block w/cases underneath. I mounted it on the corner of my "scale table" (a heavy table 8" high and about 12"x20" that I place my scale on to have it closer to eye level).

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That sounds like what I have. Mine came with Pacific powder measures that I have had for many years.

I pounded mine back flat and just C clamp the end to the reloading table and mount the powder measure to the other end. Not fancy but works like a charm.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

My measure stand which I used with my Lyman 55 is just a price of 1” strap bent in kinds a S with 2 holes for screws on one end


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There at many great ideas here. One thought: Having used both threaded and unthreaded powder measure stands, I have a strong preference for unthreaded. That might sound counterintuitive, but it is vastly better for me.

With an unthreaded stand, I secure the powder measure with a lock ring hand tightened from below. The lock ring spins off quickly so that the powder measure can be conveniently lifted out and unused powder can be poured into the canister. Some of us also have multiple powder meters, and that makes it far more convenient to swap them.

A threaded unit takes far longer to remove the powder meter for emptying powder or switching units. No going back to threads for me.

I’ll take a picture of mine when I get home. Mine is similar to the ones described by Hardcasttaylor416. RCBS sent me the flat bracket for free and the rest is made of galvanized pipe and fittings from the hardware store. Only tools required was a screwdriver to mount the base to the bench.

I just found this stand on EBay:
Attachment 221024

This would solve multiple PM placement on my bench

I tapped the strap 7/8 and used the jam nut to lock it. The strap was bent with brute force (before I had a bender) and welded to 2 stacked pieces of 1/4" plate. This stand was one of the few things that was fireproof. After and before. LOL

Here’s a picture of one I made.
Attachment 221093

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Originally Posted by daboone

I just found this stand on EBay:
Attachment 221024

This would solve multiple PM placement on my bench

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Hi daboone, I like the look of this stand, but... it would be really cool if the stand would rotate (possibly with a way to lock the position) so it wouldn't create a possible problem with different Powders or one could just leave the other 2 measures empty (That is probably the safest way). Also, if it is high enough to get a loading block under & to be able to not have to bolt it down to the bench so it can be moved.

Oh well, I guess one cannot have everything, or can they? [smilie=1: :bigsmyl2:

SharuLady

Hi Mal Paso, This is a very nice stand as well! Ty for sharing!

There has been so many great ideas from all & that is awesome!

SharuLady

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SharuLady

Hi daboone, I like the look of this stand, but... it would be really cool if the Shane would rotate (possibly with a way to lock the position) so it wouldn't create a possible problem with different Powders or one could just leave the other 2 measures empty (That is probably the safest way). Also, if it is high enough to get a loading block under & to be able to not have to bolt it down to the bench so it can be moved.


SharuLady

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I've ordered one so I will find out. I know the top part does rotate (lazy susan). I hope it can be modified to lock the preferred PM in place otherwise it will get returned.

I use the flat bracket that came with the RCBS powder dropper. Just goes under the seating die.

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Originally Posted by popper

I use the flat bracket that came with the RCBS powder dropper. Just goes under the seating die.

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That's cheating! Did you read the directions or something?

I got the carousel PM stand pictured in # 21 and 24 above. It's not a stable platform even if it was bolted down to the bench. Also there is no way to lock the carousel from turning. Great Idea but sadly this isn't what I hope. Waste of $$. :-x

Maybe, hopefully someone here will build one worth the money. [smilie=1:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by daboone

I got the carousel PM stand pictured in # 21 and 24 above. It's not a stable platform even if it was bolted down to the bench. Also there is no way to lock the carousel from turning. Great Idea but sadly this isn't what I hope. Waste of $$. :-x

Maybe, hopefully someone here will build one worth the money. [smilie=1:

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Hi, Sorry to hear that it didn't work out for you. :( It looked like a good idea but one never knows until in your possession and check it out.

SharuLady

In my humble opinion, the stands take up too much real estate on my bench. The powder measures screw right into the reloading press. You will have the dies out of the press when you get done full length sizing. Perfect time to install the powder measures. Save your money, and skip the stands...

Real estate is the reason a PM stand supporting 4 or 5 PMs appeals to me. Safe storage space is also a premium in my reloading room. Not one of my measures is suitable for every type of powder used. Thus the need for multiple PMs.

A good stand can be very usefull. built with some fore thought it can be very versatile also. The copper tubing is a good idea and instead of an elbow on top use a tee with the top half cut off. remove the stops with a dremil tool and epoxy a long nut in the stand pipe. you can now make mounts with a mount on each end and a hole in the center bolt into the half mount with a thumb screw. a piece of dowel where the hole is will stop the tube from crushing also.

Another thing to keep in mind is the powder measures operation. RCBS Lyman and many others are rotary meaning an up and down stroke. Belding and Mull, qientics and some others are a sliding measure meaning side to side or front to back operation.

A stand with the flange on top would allow for 1-4 pins to locate rotation and a center screw to lock. I top plate of 1" X8" hard wood square could then be used for the measures mount and cut down as desired for weight.

Another trick I have used making wood stands this would work for using copper tubing also. Pick up a couple 7/8" 14 bolts and washers. Coat these heavily with paste wax. insert and center in holes. mix up some JB weld epoxy and work into the gaps and let cure. you have nice threads that are stronger than the wood cut ones and easier to do. Also saves the price of a big tap.

My flat bar is screwed down onto a shelf over my bench. The RCBS stand I have could have a little more height but useable as is. However I rasped/filed the threads out of it. Both measures secured with lock rings making them both solid and easily removed to dump out the powder.

BTW, nice to have a lady on board the forum!!!