Wanted: Inspiration and ideas!

C

Captain*kirk

Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
1,254
Location
Waukegan, IL
It's time. My reloading bench resembles a stuffed olive. I need to expand my storage and work area and am actively looking for ideas and (hopefully) photos of your reloading areas for inspiration and ideas. Right now my bench consists of a 4X8 workbench with 3 presses and all my other gear on top of it, with one metal wall cabinet above that is also stuffed full. It's clear I need more benchtop area, but also need a better storage spot for all my powders, brass, bullets, and die sets.
If you have an idea that works well for you, please snap a pic or post a link where I can get some fresh ideas.
Thanks in advance!
 
IMG_3211.jpeg My bench is pretty ghetto but it works. I use plastic jugs from Menards for sorted brass, and a cheap wooden cabinet for storing powder and primers. Above my bench are a bunch of those open plastic bins that have been a godsend.
Right now the bench itself is too messy to show you. It’s just embarrassing.
IMG_0655.jpeg
 
Atavar said:
View attachment 1195428My bench is pretty ghetto but it works. I use plastic jugs from Menards for sorted brass, and a cheap wooden cabinet for storing powder and primers. Above my bench are a bunch of those open plastic bins that have been a godsend.
Right now the bench itself is too messy to show you. It’s just embarrassing.
View attachment 1195426
Click to expand...
It couldn't be more embarrassing than my nightmare! There is barely a square inch of unused benchtop space in my area. I like the blue bin idea and may steal it for myself! My brass is separated but still very unorganized. Thanks for the ideas!
 
I was thinking the same thing earlier today. All my accessories are in the original blister packs. Modified cases, chamber checkers, comparator inserts, all stuffed into a wooden tool chest. Looking for storage ideas.
 
IMG-3199.jpg

Above: before 3D printed collators, Lee APP, and Lee 6000.....all green with a tinge of Red and a little Forster Gold. Then turning 180 degrees......the post in the middle of my garage needed company so I added some 2x6 shelves for stuff.....below this is my case tumblers.....same post on the left.
IMG-3200.jpg

IMG-3201.jpg

Still out of room so I added a horizontal file cabinet that I bought at a thrift store......built a wood top for it to mount the presses resting in the big "Drawers." ....on the other side of the post.
IMG-4279.jpg

Just testing a quick change idea for the one Lee press mount I bought.....I have and prefer the 2 Inline Fabrication quick mounts on the original bench holding my Six Pack and APP alternately.....and I don't like that "alternate" stuff......now that I have this added "bench" will buy another Inline Fab. base, so all my stuff can be mounted and used at the same time.
You don't want to see how stuffed my benches are now......with 4 more collators.....warning......unless you take action this will happen to you.....eventually.
 
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GW Staar said:
IMG-3199.jpg

Above: before 3D printed collators, Lee APP, and Lee 6000.....all green with a tinge of Red and a little Forster Gold. Then turning 180 degrees......the post in the middle of my garage needed company so I added some 2x6 shelves for stuff.....below this is my case tumblers.....same post on the left.
IMG-3200.jpg

IMG-3201.jpg

Still out of room so I added a horizontal file cabinet that I bought at a thrift store......built a wood top for it to mount the presses resting in the big "Drawers." ....on the other side of the post.
IMG-4279.jpg

Just testing a quick change idea for the one Lee press mount I bought.....I have and prefer the 2 Inline Fabrication quick mounts on the original bench holding my Six Pack and APP alternately.....and I don't like that "alternate" stuff......now that I have this added "bench" will buy another Inline Fab. base, so all my stuff can be mounted and used at the same time.
You don't want to see how stuffed my benches are now......with 4 more collators.....warning......unless you take action this will happen to you.....eventually.
Click to expand...
Awesome. Just a stupid comment here. Check your date on your fire extinguisher and shake it up once a month. Heat vent at powder storage leads to temp swings. Not good for long term storage.thats why they used to store powder in barrels in caves before AC. Stored under water in barrels away from oxygen and temp swings. Just stupid trivia I always wanted to say.
 
Captain*kirk said:
It's time. My reloading bench resembles a stuffed olive. I need to expand my storage and work area and am actively looking for ideas and (hopefully) photos of your reloading areas for inspiration and ideas. Right now my bench consists of a 4X8 workbench with 3 presses and all my other gear on top of it, with one metal wall cabinet above that is also stuffed full. It's clear I need more benchtop area, but also need a better storage spot for all my powders, brass, bullets, and die sets.
If you have an idea that works well for you, please snap a pic or post a link where I can get some fresh ideas.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Minimize.
IMG_2340.jpeg
 
Captain*kirk said:
Right now my bench consists of a 4X8 workbench with 3 presses and all my other gear on top of it, with one metal wall cabinet above that is also stuffed full. It's clear I need more benchtop area, but also need a better storage spot for all my powders, brass, bullets, and die sets.
Click to expand...
You've got more than twice the bench space for your presses than I've got. I have three presses on a 4' x 18" bench

1708418026526.png

To the left, mounted on the wall in Inline Fabrication Quick Change plates are a Lee Classic Cast single stage, APP and APP Deluxe...I'll try to get a picture to add tomorrow.

To the right is another four foot bench where I have a vice mounted on another Quick Change mount and a drill press. Bullets are on the shelves of the benches to stabilize them

I store my powder in a non-working refrigerator off to the side
 
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I don't know how close you are to the county seat but most counties have a surplus disposal where you bid on used county equipment. I bought 5 drawer filing cabinets for less than 20 bucks a piece to store my stuff in. Look up what county your are in and find the County Surplus Auction site, see what they have. I have even bought a desk to work on cause I don't care if I drill holes in it cause it was less than 20 bucks. And most of them have wooden cabinets also if you prefer. Good Luck
 
I have been fortunate to move to a house with plenty of storage and two large outbuildings. I sectioned off a 20x40’ area of the one building for my shop.

IMG_5774.jpeg
I am currently running three businesses from it but eventually, I will use it for reloading.

The benches are recycled from closed machine shop benches, sturdy, not too deep, and a good shelf below to store stuff.

Thesecshelves can easily hold anything I can lift on to them.

IMG_5775.jpeg
Paperwork, etc., goes here,

IMG_5777.jpeg

My desk top is a wood countertop from Home Depot.

I have an assortment of military surplus boxes that I use to store things. The shop is a work in progress. I just picked up a couple of wood working vises and will mount them on the bench furthest away from the wood stove. I also have a metal table that “floats” in the center of the room.

I have been blessed.

Kevin
 
tightgroup tiger said:
That building is the epitome of what any man could ever want for a workshop/reloading room. Put in a small kitchen, a washer and dryer, fridge and a tv, and I could live in there.
Beautiful!
Click to expand...
The house is 800 feet away! A small fridge, yes. A hot plate in the summer and the wood stove in the cold months. LOL, we do not even own a TV, much to the amusement of our Amish neighbors!

Kevin
 
My reloading room is also an office with a work bench opposite the reloading bench so I built a narrow (less flat area for stuff to collect on) reloading bench and made a bolt on wing (so I could get in inside) and lower shelf that makes it stable without it being attached to anything. That white box is a dental air compressor, only one quiet enough to be Mrs. Morris approved and adjustable wood floor friendly feet.

67B2FB73-582D-4609-B49F-ECD87D85B4C8.jpeg

In the room..

2293C10C-1774-408E-A2C8-9F3219C460EE.jpeg

There are plates that bolt to the bench but I can remove them to drill and tap additional patterns in them in the shop for other presses without bench alteration. Powder is on the wall to the left.

41779D32-A050-4019-9DE6-FF3B84B3EEBD.jpeg

I keep a lot of small parts, conversions, dies, etc in this lockable cabinet.

7531E683-E8F8-4820-9BFE-7B76BEF04A30.jpeg 2A99D947-E23C-4CB9-B192-FDAE2646B4F2.jpeg
 
hangit 2.jpg

Wasted air space under my bench is used for gun vise thingy's.
I installed eye bolts on each one and hung 'em up.
That shop out in Middlefieldland? is beautiful Kevin.
Atavars Menards square jars may replace my Sam's Club glass pineapple jars.
Thanks for that tip.

Don't forget a big fire extinguisher.

Fire Eqtinuisher.jpg
 
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9mmepiphany said:
You've got more than twice the bench space for your presses than I've got. I have three presses on a 4' x 18" bench

View attachment 1195446

To the left, mounted on the wall in Inline Fabrication Quick Change plates are a Lee Classic Cast single stage, APP and APP Deluxe...I'll try to get a picture to add tomorrow.

To the right is another four foot bench where I have a vice mounted on another Quick Change mount and a drill press. Bullets are on the shelves of the benches to stabilize them

I store my powder in a non-working refrigerator off to the side
Click to expand...
4'x8' got my attention too......the 8' I enjoy but 4' wide is another thing unless it's an Island where you can mount presses and walk all around! I'd be jealous of such a thing.;)
 
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Show Me said:
Awesome. Just a stupid comment here. Check your date on your fire extinguisher and shake it up once a month. Heat vent at powder storage leads to temp swings. Not good for long term storage.thats why they used to store powder in barrels in caves before AC. Stored under water in barrels away from oxygen and temp swings. Just stupid trivia I always wanted to say.
Click to expand...
You are observant, so you noticed how old some of that powder is.....it's even still sweet smelling. I think New Mexico dry is a factor. The heat vent is off....made a new one 8' away.....didn't like it blowing on me at the bench either...... I have not loaded the old stuff for a while....don't know why I keep it, nostalgia maybe. I still use Unique, Tac, and 4895 mostly, and 4350. Don't store a lot powder like some....which is expensive when the prices go nuts.....but I'm not interested in having a "cave" full under my Master bedroom. (That said I ran out of 2400 for .357M, except for the old can....that'll cost me.....)

Added comment: You may also have noticed the foam tile floor from Sam's Club. Wow did that make a difference in winter in my garage! Comfort level in winter improved immensely (even temp rose 8 degrees). But I would not do color side up again. Got tired of looking at that. They're reversible, and grey on the reverse is plain......but plain doesn't get old like the other.;)
 
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GW Staar said:
You are observant, so you noticed how old some of that powder is.....its even still sweet smelling. I think New Mexico dry is a factor. The heat vent is off....made a new one 8' away.....didn't like it blowing on me at the bench either......
Click to expand...
Good comment. The vent might have not been electric scale friendly. Very nice
 
@DustyRusty thanks for the idea of the eye hooks to hang stuff below the bench. I’m working in a literal closet with a solid core door cut and mounted at working height as my bench. Could hang that stuff below instead of its current state of entropy 😂
 
I believe in keeping thing simple. Made my bench with 4x4s and 2x6s used timber bolts so it can be broken down and moved. I use clamps to hold stuff in place. The top has a poured epoxy finish and has a draw to store stuff. Powders, primers, and loads stored in climate controlled safe. Empty cases are kept in ammo cans beside the bench.
bench.jpg
 
All my brass is stored in ammo cans on a rack I built for it. It is 2 cans deep and the cans are labeled as to what’s in there and what stage it is in as I do it in batches on a single stage. The small cappuccino containers are full of cast and coated bullets and hold about 250 and are easier to move around. Some have some RMR bullets in them, but most are cast. Not shown are cat litter buckets of excess brass for the kids when I’m gone as I have plenty for my needs.
My bench has been a catch all for the last month as I organize some other stuff and is unusable at the moment, but I always keep at least a years worth loaded and ready so no big deal.
 

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I built two drawers under the bench, bought a HF wood machinist’s chest, but still need a storage & organization plan.
 

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I have found any bench over 2ft. deep only collects stuff you don't need/use for reloading.
Same for shelves, anything over one item deep collects stuff you can't see and stuff tends to get stacked on shelves spaced too tall.
Either deep or tall shelves promote reaching around or under something to get an item.
The results are usually both items ending up on the floor.
My bench is in an under-the-stairs closet, so narrow bench/shelves and a fold-down shelf for gun cleaning and other stuff.
Only one press on the bench and the other stored on a shelf, all with a common mounting plate.
Shelves (5" deep) go high up the wall on one side and even shallower shelves on the opposite wall.
Pics:
High shelves:
ShallowShelvesS.JPG
Opposite narrower shelves:
ShelvesS.JPG
Shallow/narrow bench with shallow shelves, stand-up loading height:
OverPressS.JPG
Other presses on the shelf:
PStorageS.jpg
Fold down shelf/bench:
FoldedShelfS.jpg
just what I do,
Here's some threads that give you some more answers/pics:
.
 
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