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(Date Posted:10/08/2004 19:33:47)
I really enjoy my Dillon Square Deal. It cranks out enough .45 ACP (my most used cartridge) to keep my Gold Cup from starving. When Dillon came out with their Strong Mount and suggested standing up to use the Square Deal, they were preaching to the choir. I was already standing, but because I am very tall (nearly 5' 7"), I had to adopt an awkward stooped posture. There were three thing wrong with Dillon's innovation. It took up too much bench space, it looked springy, and it was priced at over $40. Luckily there were surplus (really) battery boxes in my employer's warehouse made of 1/8" steel. They were 5 3/4" x 8" 1/2" and 3 1/2" high, with no lid. Better yet, the 3 1/2" height was 6" on one side. By turning the box on its side, I had a 6" x 8 1/2" footprint and a height of 5 3/4". Four bench mounting holes on the now bottom, three Square Deal mounting holes on the now topand a clearance slot for the powder measure operating rod completed the mount. Dimensions can vary and still be useful for the purpose, as long as the height is enough to get the machine elevated and spare your aching back.Along with moving the Square Dealto a height that alllows a comfortable standing position,another very helpful accessory is a boolit platform. I have a vise on another bench about three feet from theSquare Deal. By screwing a piece of 2" x2" along the center line of a 1" x 12" x 30" pine board, I had a handy place to put my boolit tray. The two by two is held in the vise, with the board pointing toward the Square Deal, so that the boolit tray is perfectly placed close to the boolit seating station. curmudgeon
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