[atakawow]

I recently migrated the entire work station into our carpeted indoor basement due to the ball freezing temperature.

My press is set up on a flimsy computer desk. The press is screwed in nice and tight, however, there's not much support from the desk legs as it is positioned on top of the carpet. Every stroke of the lever sends the entire desk trembling. Seating primers requires me to use both hands, one to work the lever, the other to hold on to the desk for leverage as it moves too much.

I've tried stacking weights on top of the desk but that didn't do jack. I suspect the main problem is due to the flimsy legs. I don't plan on moving the work station outside again, it is way too comfortable in here. What can I do to rid of this problem? A new bench? Screwed to the wall? Help me out here!

[fredj338]

Yeah, I don't think it's the carpet but the bench. It needs to be sturdy, a comp table isn't all that sturdy. A cheap steel bench from HD. Lowes, Sears, works much better.

[44terryberry]

You can get a couple angle brackets on the back to screw it to the wall, but the front might still lift up when decapping a tuff case

[ZekerMan]

Toss the flimsey computer desk and build a real nice heavy duty wooden loading bench made to your specs and needs.

[Colorado4Wheel]

My bench is over carpet. I didn't think I was going to care and it wasn't planned like that but thats what I got. I think your issue is more the flimsy table. Get a solid bench, screw to the wall and then see what you got going on.

I put some snap together foam pads under the bench so it doesn't get the carpet dirty.

[IndyGunFreak]

LOL.. well, I hate being late to the show, but I think you've figured out by now that its not the carpet.

[GioaJack]

Build a new bench in the butler's quarters, you probably didn't spend the money to carpet his floors.


Jack

[Boxerglocker]

The carpet will make a slight difference. Although the bench size is a major issue too. I alleviated the slight wobble issue being on the carpet with my new set-up with a single 5 inch L bracket bolted down through the top of the bench. I then had both my kids sit on top of it to add some preload to it and lagged bolted it to a stud through the wall. It's solid as a rock now.

[Randy from Kansas]

Go out into the back yard and put up a building say a 40x80 you might have extra room now but it will fill up. Heat it, AC it and you are good to go and don't forget the cable connections for the flat screen.

[Memnok]

Originally Posted by Randy from Kansas

Go out into the back yard and put up a building say a 40x80 you might have extra room now but it will fill up. Heat it, AC it and you are good to go and don't forget the cable connections for the flat screen.

"No honey, that's not new, it's been there for quite some time now..."

[barstoolguru]

remove the legs

[labdwakin]

BG is right... BOLT THAT MUTHA DOWN!!! And get a heavier bench too...

[njl]

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

The carpet will make a slight difference. Although the bench size is a major issue too. I alleviated the slight wobble issue being on the carpet with my new set-up with a single 5 inch L bracket bolted down through the top of the bench. I then had both my kids sit on top of it to add some preload to it and lagged bolted it to a stud through the wall. It's solid as a rock now.

Will bolting the back of the benchtop to the wall behind it really keep the bench stable during primer seating? I've got a nice sturdy bench, and it doesn't move at all that I've noticed during resizing, but it will move on the upstroke seating primers. I've gotten in th habit of holding the press with my left hand while seating primers. I know it's wrong...but I've gotten used to it, loading thousands of rounds this way. I'm not willing to rip up the carpet to anchor it to the floor...but I could drill into the wall (studs). Spackle and paint is much easier than repairing carpet.

[Boxerglocker]

Originally Posted by njl

Will bolting the back of the benchtop to the wall behind it really keep the bench stable during primer seating? I've got a nice sturdy bench, and it doesn't move at all that I've noticed during resizing, but it will move on the upstroke seating primers. I've gotten in th habit of holding the press with my left hand while seating primers. I know it's wrong...but I've gotten used to it, loading thousands of rounds this way. I'm not willing to rip up the carpet to anchor it to the floor...but I could drill into the wall (studs). Spackle and paint is much easier than repairing carpet.

Yes, it makes a big difference. Especially in the upstroke during seating. The corner angle and bolts cost me $8 total at home depot. Try is and you will see. Make sureyou preload it before you drive the lag bolts.

[WiskyT]

To anyone who has a carpet on a wooden subfloor, just drive screws through the bench legs on a 45* angle into the floor (toenailing). It will suck the bench right down compressing the carpet and padding and the bench will be rock solid.

[njl]

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

Yes, it makes a big difference. Especially in the upstroke during seating. The corner angle and bolts cost me $8 total at home depot. Try is and you will see. Make sureyou preload it before you drive the lag bolts.

Can you post an image or link to the sort of angle hardware you used?

[Boxerglocker]

Originally Posted by njl

Can you post an image or link to the sort of angle hardware you used?

They look like this. Go to the Home Depot they have them in various sizes. I take that back... I used a 6 or 8 inch I belive.

[Kwesi]

Or you could go to a garage sale and pick up an inexpensive dresser built out of particle board. Then fill some of the drawers with something heavy. Basically that is what I've done. I bolted the 550 to the top of the dresser, it sits on carpet BUT I did not bolt it to the floor or to the studs. I put 2,000 - 3,000 rounds of factory ammo in the drawers to keep it from wobbling...works great!

[Boxerglocker]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Or you could go to a garage sale and pick up an inexpensive dresser built out of particle board. Then fill some of the drawers with something heavy. Basically that is what I've done. I bolted the 550 to the top of the dresser, it sits on carpet BUT I did not bolt it to the floor or to the studs. I put 2,000 - 3,000 rounds of factory ammo in the drawers to keep it from wobbling...works great!

What happens when you go through or sell you factory ammo paper weight collection?

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

What happens when you go through or sell you factory ammo paper weight collection?

Replace it with my cache of reloads

[Bello]

Damn nice bench Mitch!

[njl]

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

They look like this. Go to the Home Depot they have them in various sizes. I take that back... I used a 6 or 8 inch I belive.

6 or 8" total, or per side of the bend? I've got a variety of those in the garage...the largest are 3.5" per side (7" steel before being bent). I was just looking at how that would go, and one problem is due to the floor molding and outlets, my bench is a couple inches off the wall, so I'd only get 1 of the 2 holes from the angle iron anchored to the bottom of the bench top.

I was just fooling around with the press, and I think the reason I hold the press is because I sit in a swivel task chair while loading and I'm not a stable enough platform. Pressing up on the handle, I wasn't seeing much if any movement of the bench. I think I could probably get the bench a bit more stable by attaching some 2x6 between the wall and bench top, so the bench could sit up against "the wall". I don't think that would solve the problem that got me into holding the press on the upstroke though. I think that's going to require either a different chair or standing.

[Colorado4Wheel]

Get rid of the swivel chair. Standing is actually the best way to do it. At most you should lean on a chair. But you want your body to have good leverage. Sitting takes away a lot of your leverage. I learned that the hard way.

[njl]

But I'm getting old and lazy. I don't want to stand.

I did setup the bench and press at such a height that I'd have the option of standing...the task chair is very tall. I guess I'll give it another try. I just think it's going to make loading even more work if I've got to stand while doing it.

[Three-Five-Seven]

Until, and unless, that sucker is anchored to the wall, you shall not be happy.