A Little Gun-related Fab Project

[Zrexxer]

I've got a Dillon reloading press that I want to get up off the bench, and I see that Dillon has a stand that they sell (see first pic). I decided rather than pay the $64 they sell them for - and believe me, that's not a bad price considering the time I spent building one - that I'd just knock one out this weekend using some 16 ga sheet I had in the shop. A little plasma cutting, a little bending, a little welding, a little black wrinkle finish paint... Oh well, it's done -

Pics, of course.

[mikecwik]

looks good. however, mmm? you might have given me the dimensions and i could have mailed you the piece cause it looks like i scrap a lot of those. in reality its probably not the fit your looking for but im curious as to how close. good to see you posting.

[Roger]

Yours looks better than original with gusset under top.

[mikecwik]

shoot! (i slay me) i think im going to start selling them for 10 bucks. my ship has come in.

[Blacksmith]

I agree with Roger; your's should be more rigid with that gusset underneath.

[Zrexxer]

looks good. however, mmm? you might have given me the dimensions and i could have mailed you the piece cause it looks like i scrap a lot of those.

Mike, what do you mean you scrap a lot of those?

Re: the gusset, I believe the original is probably 14 ga or 12 ga, and is most likely fairly rigid. However, I only had some 16 ga sheet on hand, and it definitely needed a stiffener.

[mikecwik]

i put them in my truck and take them to the scrap yard. i never could come up with a use for them. i got them in more dimensions than i could poke a stick at....if i could find one amongst all my junk. i dont know many people that reload and ive got other interests to do when im blowing the froth of a couple.

[Zrexxer]

i put them in my truck and take them to the scrap yard. i never could come up with a use for them.

Yes, I know what "scrapping" means. I just wondered how you happened to come across so many of a fairly unusual item that you were scrapping them in volume.

[Blacksmith]

I'm a firm believer in "triangulation" or bracing; check out a truss on a bridge or building. I'll bet your 16 gauge with the gusset will resist racking better than thiers made of 12-14 gauge. Maybe that's overkill, but that's what we're all about. Not making a million widgets for profit, we can afford a smidgeon more metal.

[mikecwik]

they are not purpose made for this need but youve got a nearly finished one that was made for another job. i found a couple that i just never got around to getting rid of. ill take some picture and post spec of the sizes i have to see if they might work.

some of the ones i have are thin but they are (i cant recall what the term is when you stamp metal to add strength to it.) they would be quite strong when bolted to the table. i cant stand working with something flexing or moving. how much force does the machine require.

[usmcpop]

My old Lincoln arc welding welding book has a lot of pictures of fabricated bearing blocks that look like that.

[mikecwik]

you have the top to contend with but i dont think it would be that difficult to remove the highs. a lot of the others dont have them on the top.

[Nickoli]

@Zrexxer... how did you do the bends?!

My guess is that its done using a stamping press!

[Zrexxer]

My guess is that its done using a stamping press!

That'd be nice, but no such animal available. It was just clamped to a piece of 2-1/2" angle and a little careful heating along the bend line with a small rosebud tip made the bends.

Mike, that looks like it could be adapted to work; the only shortcoming is the height. The press needs 9 inches under the base for the ram linkage to operate. You could make one work though, if you had to.

[mikecwik]

dagnabbit! my ship passed by the port again.