Minimalist Reloading Bench

It's cute.

Not sure it would stay standing after trying to reload rifle rounds though. That's a lot of downward pressure being applied.

Where there is a will, there is a way!
I reloaded rifle, pistol, and shotgun, and cast bullets out of an army footlocker for two years.

I had mounting holes for the RCBS press, Lyman bullet sizer, and Bair 12ga press drilled in one end.
Stood on end, it was a reloading bench.

Laying down, with everything stored in it, and with a nice tablecloth, it became a coffee-table when I wasn't reloading.

Then when I moved between army posts, it was just an OD Green army footlocker again, full of very heavy reloading equipment, shot, & casting lead.

It really worked quite well, I must say, but it took two people to move it!


rcmodel

It looks like it could tip over (forward, pivoting on the front wheels) if you're not careful. It would be better without the casters. Might be OK if you used it up against a wall.

I have my bullet lubrisizer press mounted to a sturdy sawhorse*. It works so well, I'm gonna mount a single-stage reloading presses to it and see how that works for loading rifle cartridges.

*The sawhorse has a 2x6" top, and 1x6" legs, with plywood gussets and a shelf underneath. (I should take a picture.) I built it 10 years ago using some Norm Abrams plans. Now I'm trying to design my own sawhorses that are just as sturdy and light weight, but can be folded flat.

I got one of these at a garage sale for $15 bucks.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=7812

Folds flat, hangs on the garage wall, and is Stronger then Hail!


rcmodel

Hmm, that Workmate® 425 Project Center looks good for me, too, since I have a small area in the garage I think I can use. I won't need to fold it up, though.

Would I be better off with something more permanent to mount a turret press to?

Better off? Yes!
But the heavy duty model Workmate would do the job just fine I think.

Just not as fine as a 250 pound reloading bench that was bolted to the wall & floor.


rcmodel

I found some used kitchen cabnets with the counter taps, put some lag screws in to the wall it is strong, and also has storage space with doors on the bottom put hasps on them to keep my 6 year old out, she loves to help me but i dont want her doing it by her self! csa

The best idea I've seen for a strong "minimalist" bench was posted on this site by Liberty4Ever.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3038031&highlight=vertical+bench#post3038031

I'm in the process of adapting his design using 2x10s instead of 2x8s and using it (for now) to store bullets and other heavy items.

I'm thinking it may someday become my "in the closet of my smaller retirement dwelling" reloading bench...

I purchased a router table steel leg set from Rockler, along with locking casters rated at 600 lbs (they lock both the pivot and the rolling motion). Put a top and two shelves below (3/4" plywood), and load it up with powder, bullets, brass, and a lot of my reloading gear, so it is really heavy and sturdy when locked in place, but rolls out of the way easily when not in use.

But the ultimate "minimalist" reloading bench is a 2x6 with your press bolted to one end, which you clamp to the kitchen table or counter top to use.

A workmate works well too, but it can be a pain loading and unloading the ballast in the bottom of it when you use it, and then when you fold it up to put it away.

Andy

Midway sells a reloading stand that looks like a gumball machine base. I just picked one up, and man it's nice. I can carry it outside to watch the kids play, or put it in whatever room I want. It's good enough for a Pro-1000 with pistol ammo, have not tried it yet with the turret and .308 rifle though.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=155024

Now this is a strong/minimalist! Something I threw together for a second press - a gorilla could sit on this without a problem. Put your supplies in a box...

Handloads.com - Instant $10 reloading press bench







Lots more ideas here.

OK you guys outed me. My garage goes through transformations depending on the project so my reloading equipment was always getting trashed when mounted to the bench. I had this rolling tool tray for years and never really used it. It is a strong design, the wheels lock. I made the top stronger and heavier by inserting 1" or MDF in the tray and bolted everything through the wood and metal. I made a nice cover for it, now everything stays clean and dust free. It only takes a few seconds to get into action, the components and other equipment is kept on shelves. Bill


P.S. It is hard to see from the picture but there are built in bins along the back that will hold the bullets, casings etc. I pull a component from the bin with my left hand and pull the handle with my right hand.

Current minimalist bench: Lee Pro, bolted down to a 1x12x4' board which is in turn clamped to the arms of an old captain's chair. The bucket catches primers.

Hey, it works.

Whenever I get around to bringing in the Workmate, that's where it will go.

I like it, but I'd suggest taking off the rollers and putting some heavy bullet boxes on the bottom as an anchor. Otherwise it's going to shake rattle and roll when you're working the press.

The ultimate minimalist setup is mine, because I don't even need a bench! I use a hand press.

I use a B&D Workmate too. My Lee 4 hole turret press is mounted to a 2x6. I just clamp it to the top of the Workmate if I'm at home or to the picnic table at the range if I'm working up a new load. The Workmate is one of the handiest things I have ever bought. It's the type of thing that once you have it you'll wonder how you ever did projects without it. I have my chop saw mounted to a piece of plywood cut to fit in to the Workmate's clamps. The vice action of the Workmate is great when you have to cut long pieces of wood or pipe by yourself. I'd never be without one.

Coverted TV stand, almost everything fits in it, in the compartment underneath, or the shelves on the side. Load 9mm, 38 Spl, 303, etc, no tip.

Here's my $5 table.

That mess in the picture is way too flimsy. One of these days my basement will be finished and I will have a big room all to myself just for loading and guns. When I was single I had that too, others called it "the dining room." I went to the local junk store (Habitat for humanity) and got a 4'x8' metal office desk with 1" thick particle board top and plopped it right in the dining room. Cost $25, heavy as heck.

I used an universal bench tool stand. this is the one that I have:http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=36213-32764-50-330&lpage=none
It is very sturdy and when you get a better bench you can always mount other tools on it. Since I was working out of a storage shed it worked out great. It even has a shelf on the bottom and hols on top for easy mounting. if you spill powder it falls below to the shelf to be cleaned up later...

I don't want to give up any space in my shop so I mount my press on a vise and store it in a cabinet under the bench when not loading.

Chris

You can decorate your reloading area with minimalist art.

The colors match.