Inexpensive removable Mounting option for Dillon XL750 to bench....suggestions please

Thanks to all the help and recommendations from members of this forum i went ahead and purchased a Dillon XL750. One of the shops people mentioned is called Scheels, so i called them and they informed me that they were offering free shipping which made the press a bit cheaper than purchasing directly from the manufacturer.  

I hope to save up and perhaps in a few months i'll purchase a case feeder as well.

Anyway, I have a heavy work bench with an open area of apx. 4 foot x 2 3/4 foot on which to mount the press. 

I should note that I must be seated to load. 

Hoping not to have to purchase one of the very nice but expensive raised metal mounts... if at all possible.

I would like to have the capability of being able to switch out the Dillon press with my old Forster Co-Ax press if i get better and can once again shoot rifle.

I would very much appreciate your experience and advice regarding how best to mount the press. 

Thank you

https://inlinefabrication.com/products/ultramount-press-riser-system-for-the-dillon-550?srsltid=AfmBOorWCOXFQw1vhO13Y-LN1Ymr28yDI5rS156AgyXHHCOHrFC-yebM

I think the only low and bench-flush quick-change press mount options on the market are made by Inline Fabrication. They have solid reviews. There might be more, but I’m not familiar with any others.

Otherwise, you’re looking at a DIY project. Time-value of money being a thing (and knowing you’ll save money reloading), a hundred bucks or so on a quality metal mount system is well-spent. I use Lyman and Dillon mounts for my presses—knowing I have enough clearance off the bench and being able to swap presses around in a matter of minutes is a big help.

interesting, i didn't know that Lyman offered mounting systems...I will take a look. thank you

I have bought a lot of stuff from Inline Fabrication. Their products are really solid and top notch. Highly recommended.

BUT

If you have the time and some modest skills there are several simple solutions. Note that the Dillon has to overhang in order for the ram and linkage to clear the front of the bench. Find a suitable "plate" some 1/4" thick steel or Aluminum plate is ideal, but some stout 3/4" "shop" plywood (the stuff with many thin plies) can work just as well. Make a template from cardboard first. Needs to be a few inches wider and deeper than the press. Mark the press mounting holes on the template. Decide on the position of the plate and mark some hole positions for at least four stout bolts (with penny washers both sides). It is possible to use stout lag screws, but bolts are better if you intend to regularly swap out presses. Measure twice carefully!!!!!!

Drill through the bench top. Drill the plate. Countersink the underside of the holes for the press. Find some stout countersink head set screws, push through from underside of plate and make sure that they are flush. Mount plate to press. Use penny washers and either spring washers or (better) nyloc nuts on the ends of the protruding mounting screws. Position the plate/press on the bench (use a clamp to hold it in place if necessary). Push the stout bolts up from under the bench top through the plate. Penny washer and nut. Torque it all down solid. Voila!

that sounds awesome. thank you

My presses are mounted to 1" solid oak boards. A pair of c-clamps holds the board to bench top. I also have angle brackets between my bench top and (exposed) wall studs, so no bench movement.

I have the Dillon 650. One thing that is vital for good function is to have a very solid surface. My wood workbench is screwed into the wall. I use my 650 with a Dillon "Strong Mount" and reload while standing. One thing for you personally to consider is that although I find the case feeder to be valuable, one has to stand and reach to keep it filled with empty cases. As my Dillon 650 is mounted high, that means that I have to use a small step ladder to fill it. I load on my Dillon 550 while seated in a high draftsman type chair. The 550 is mounted directly on the bench.

This is a direct link to the Inline Quick Change Base that is designed to do what you want to do.

https://inlinefabrication.com/products/flush-mount-quick-change-system-base-plate?utm_source=yotpo&utm_medium=general&utm_campaign=general&ref=yotpo

  As Roy mention you can pretty easily make a plate for each of your presses and drill each of those plates for the same hole pattern to secure it to your bench.  I would use TEE nuts installed from below and use bolts from the top to secure the plate.  Those bolts can be hex head and use a socket wrench or use a Star knob with a built in bolt if you want to do it by hand.  Clamps could work too like Tovaert uses.

The Inline product will be quicker to change out but any of these ideas would serve your purpose.

I will caution though that the Dillon press is going to kind of heavy so moving it on and off the bench might be cumbersome because of your health concerns.  Just something to think about if you can manage the extra room it would be a better idea to leave it in place if possible.

Good luck.

John

your make an excellent point...thank you. 
i've not yet received the press. I had imagined that the Dillon would be similar in weight to the Forster as the Co-Ax press is made of this thick cast metal.... likely that assumption was misguided, i should have checked prior to purchasing, i saw the sale and i guess i was a bit excited to take advantage of a one day sale.
..I will see if i can configure the area differently to accommodate both the older as well as the new press. If not i might have to sell one of them i guess.

No wasted space here! left to right: A MEC 600 JR, Dillon 550, Dillon 650 and RCBS Jr. 

Wow, thanks for sharing that photo...my work area is rather similar in dimension i would imagine.
Do you find that you have enough elbow  room to work each machine, access accessories etc. ? 
also, it looks like, (perhaps) you reload sitting?

If looking for a DIY option, for most people 3/4" plywood is the simplest for most people to work with. I have some auxiliary presses mounted on 3/4" ply and use c-clamps to mount to the bench, bolts would be better but I don't want to drill into my current bench. I would also recommend some sort of brace below the press, such as a the leg of a bench or table.

brand-new wrote:Anyway, I have a heavy work bench with an open area of apx. 4 foot x 2 3/4 foot on which to mount the press. 

I should note that I must be seated to load. 

Hoping not to have to purchase one of the very nice but expensive raised metal mounts... if at all possible.

My XL650 uses the Dillon raised metal mount, is bolted to a 38" high bench, and I can comfortably load standing up or seated on a 30" stool.

Just as a height reference...

I have used several different "base plates" over the years.  Counter sunk bolts in appropriate width 2x material c-clamped to the bench.  Scrap aluminum plate big enough for the press and c-clamps, tapped for the press hold down bolts. C-clamps where used mostly because the benches sometimes where not mine.

If you can standardize on the bolt pattern of the hold down "plate" then it is easy to switch from on press to the other.

Don't forget you don't have to remove the press your not using from the bench just slide it to the back.

Another example Hornady bolted to lumber and attached with an F clamp hold down to the bench (similar mounting to a Dillon) 

...and the "Star" of the show lol

brand-new wrote:Wow, thanks for sharing that photo...my work area is rather similar in dimension i would imagine.
Do you find that you have enough elbow  room to work each machine, access accessories etc. ? 
also, it looks like, (perhaps) you reload sitting?

I reload on the Dillon 650 while standing. Everything else, I reload is by sitting on a high draftsman stool (about as high as a bar stool). I easily have room to reload on each press.

Brilliant.....this information really helps. I especially like the concept of mounting it on a board that can be slid to the back of the bench so i don't have to lift..
thank you all for your help.

I do a socket and plate arraignment. Use 3 different benches with different heights. All plates with work in all the bench sockets, also have blank plates for when the open bench top is needed. These pics are old but I still use the same method on all the benches. The new benches look better as the plate socket was built in the initial construction. I have never been accused of being a carpenter.....
 

Storage for presses not in use.

Here is a 1050 mounted on the first pic bench.

you're all so talented/handy. i almost embarrassed

Not a progressive, but an example of a simple mounting method. In this case the press is bolted to 5"x6"x3/4" plywood and some basic c-clamps secure to the bench. Just as secure as my progressive presses which are bolted directly to the bench. 

chiz1180 wrote:Not a progressive, but an example of a simple mounting method. In this case the press is bolted to 5"x6"x3/4" plywood and some basic c-clamps secure to the bench. Just as secure as my progressive presses which are bolted directly to the bench. 

Long live the Mighty RCBS Rockchucker!!  

And 100% this method is solid as... the Mighty RCBS Rockchucker!!!

Lol i love saying that

First of all, thank you to all the responders, all the great information and for posting photos.

A dear friend will be coming over in the coming days and he will help me mount the press as it might be too heavy for me.

Do most tend to mount the press in the middle of the bench or towards a particular end? 

I'm right handed. 

From the photos i've seen it looks as though the handle/lever is fixed on the right side of the Dillon press. xl750.

The handle for the XL650 has to go on the right side.  The part is made to only go one way. 

My press is mounted pretty far to the left of my bench - probably a foot or less from the wall.  I set my bullets in the OEM box there and it works fine.  This leaves the rest of my bench for other things.  BE Mike has a picture of his bench above and his press that is mounted all the way to the left is what my set up looks like (although I have the strong mount like his middle press has). 
  That brings up an example of the two different mounting methods. Standard mounting requires the press to overhang the edge of your bench. This is no problem unless you have a drawer right there (like I do). The strong mount raises the press about 7” so no overhang. I reload standing up and the strong mount is perfect for me with a starting bench height of 40-3/4”. You had mentioned you will be sitting so you will want it lower. 

Good luck.
John