Video - Using Lee's new steel bench block

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

This isn't dedicated to Black powder, but since we are all reloaders, I though some of you might like it.

If you saw my video, "Reloading in a Small Space", you know I use a Lee Precision Bench Plate on the "Harry Potter" bench to maximize my use of that small space.

I love that system, but with the original wooden bench blocks, they have a tendency to walk out of the clamps under heavy use. This isn't a real problem, you just reset them and tighten the screws, but it is annoying enough that I made my own homemade fix.

Well now Lee has done what I hoped they'd do. They've made steel bench blocks with a raised stop that keeps them from walking out of the clamps.

This video shows how they work

and, if you haven't seen it, here is the original video showing the Harry Potter bench

[John Smith]

What do you shoot the 40mm in?

[fourfingersofdeath]

That looks good. It would be even better if they gave you a paper template with other popular press 'footprints' on it, sort of like the drill templates they put in with door handle sets.

What you could do if you wanted to secure a wooden base and stop it goig 'walkabout' would be to fit the wooden wedge to the reciever unit, drill down through the wooden 'wedge' (at the back exactly in the middle and at a set distance from the rear, so that it is repeatable), through the steel base, through the bench until you come out at the bottom. Take a bolt long enough to go through the lot and a 'T Nut' the same size. Thread the T Nut on the big through bolt, tighten it up until it makes the T Nut bite into the underside of the bench and bottom out. Then when you slide your 'wedges' in with the press/tool/whatever mounted, tighten the screws on the side and them run the long bolt through and screw it into the T Nut which is now premanently installed under the bench. This bold would only have to be finger tight as it is only there to stop the 'wedge' from leaving the scene of the work, it is not there to actually hold it down (although if tight, might stop a lot of the flex). This woold not be needed on trimmers, etc, just on presses I suppose. This woould also fix the old system's wandering problems.

I'm full of inspiration lately, but sadly lacking in perspiration.
Once again, Mike, good video.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

John,

I use the 40mm as bait to get comments on the video...highly effective.

Four fingers,

Both the block and bench plate are hardened steel. I broke a titainium drill bit on the block trying to drill an extra hole for an RCBS press. So DIY drilling is out on these babies. That's why Lee still sells the wooden base blocks.

[rickk]

Good catch!!! It is amazing that I missed that during the editing process, but I did. Obviously I meant .40 S&W. So for future viewers, when your ear hears, "40mm, have your brain insert 40 S&W.

Believe it or not, a lot of people DO reload 40mm (and 37mm and 26.5mm).

They are great Black Powder rounds to play with.

[RickB]

I use the Lee bench block myself. I like having my lee pro1000s setup so that I can swap out the entire press rather than go through the bother of changing out dies. With the cost of the pro 1000 being so affordable I decided to just buy an entire press in the caliber I need rather than a set of dies. This way I have each press bolted to the block and it takes me about 15 seconds to swap presses. I find it's very sturdy.

I've loaded a few hundred rounds of .45 through my press using this method and I've never had an issue with the block working it's way out of the clamps. Not that I won't eventually, but so far I've been lucky. Mine has been very solid.

[Springfield Slim]

I have a similar system that uses aluminum plates to hold the presses. Got it from a guy on the castboolits forum, he calls it a ROCKDock.  I use it for my 3 MEC Jr presses, my Lyman sizer and my RCBS Rockchucker press. I like the aluminum plate on the sizer as I can set a travel iron on the dock itself and it will heat the sizer, unlike the wooden press adaptors. You can also buy blank adaptors to fit any odd press you might have. I am still planning on mounting a small anvil on an adaptor. Anything to save space.

[fourfingersofdeath]

I have a similar system that uses aluminum plates to hold the presses. Got it from a guy on the castboolits forum, he calls it a ROCKDock. 

Pat Marlin is the guy's name, He makes a solid product. Been trying to decide between his set up and the Lee. Just about to sell a brass chucker (what I call 9mms), so that will free up some funds, I might have to make a decision shortly. Pat's set up is superior (and more expensive) from what I can see and I'd like to give him the business, but the Lees are here and a phone call away. Decisions, decisions!

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I just finished mounting an RCBS press onto the Lee steel bench block.

It required drilling one additional hole in the block, but that wasn't easy. I broke one titanium coated drill bit on the hardened steel, so I stopped and bought a couple of Cobalt bits specifically for hardened steel...broke one.

By alternating drilling and grinding with a Dremel grinding point, I got 'er done! Took about an hour.

Now I have the Century press in the video, a Lee Turret press and an RCBS Reloader Special 5 press, all mounted on steel blocks. My Lubrisizers will stay on the wooden blocks.

[Pulp]

I noticed on your wooden block you didn't have the extra hole drilled that allows you to drop a bolt or screwdriver through.  This will keep the press from walking out of the frame. 

I got my kit a couple of months ago and love it!

[fourfingersofdeath]

Are these Lee thingos strong enough to hold a Hornady LnL AP?

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Never having mounted one, I can't say, but I just ran a bunch of .40 S&W range brass through a bulge-buster die mounted on the RCBS press on the steel bench block with no problems...and that puts wicked stress on everything.

So it is plenty strong.