Anyone painted their reloading bench?

[GravelRider]

I moved to a new house earlier in the year, and I'm finally ready to put my bench together again (brass is starting to pile up).

I'll be using 2x4s for the frame, bolted to the concrete wall behind it. The reloading surface will be two 3/4" MDF sheets stacked on top of each other.

Any reason not to do this?

 

[NuclearMeltdown]

No, but I've thought about it. I'd be interested to see what others have done.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Yep.

I used Rustoleum high-gloss oil-based enamel. The stuff takes forever to dry (cure), but it's a very durable surface. I used a very light tan color, wanting to keep as much light as possible without the glare of white.

I would do it again.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

No. I wouldn’t want to cover up the nice clear coat.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

No. I wouldn’t want to cover up the nice clear coat.
View attachment 1182828

I considered clear poly before painting but settled on the paint instead.
I already had it so...

 

[EricBu]

I've been using this stuff for a while now. I've got one bench that's about 15 years old with it, no signs of wear.......Easy to use, and it can take a real beating.

Amazon.com

 

[AJC1]

I moved to a new house earlier in the year, and I'm finally ready to put my bench together again (brass is starting to pile up).

I'll be using 2x4s for the frame, bolted to the concrete wall behind it. The reloading surface will be two 3/4" MDF sheets stacked on top of each other.

Any reason not to do this?

I like double stacked 3/4 ply as I've broken a benchtop or two with a press before.... I also like exterior white enamel for a finish, because it's easy to see primers, tumbling pins or small parts that fall out of your gun willist cleaning. Seems to tolerate hoppies and mineral spirits from cleaning as well....

 

[kmw1954]

2pcs. 3/4" ply with 1/4" ply and hardboard cut out to recess 5/16" steel plate. Steel plate is now flush with top.

 

[JmacD]

I used 2 1 1/4 thick edge glued boards, one 24”, the other 30” wide. Yup, there is a joint in it, but it shows “progress” when I outgrew the other part. I used a white cabinet and countertop enamel. I like it for finding stuff! It’s about due for another coat on the surface. It will stain over time.

 

[74man]

I would paint it any light color you wish (easier to see anything you spill) but maybe add a 2' x 3' piece of stainless on top where you mount your press and powder dispenser, easier to see and clean up any spilled powder!! It is your bench do what you want!! I have used a Stainless Steel serving (15" X 18") tray ( bought from COUNTY SURPLUS) on top of my bench where I mounted my press and Powder dispenser, and when a spill occurs I just use a small parts brush and brush is to a corner and put it back into the hopper. Easy clean up. I have both my powder dispenser and press mounted on my bench with 1/4" thick steel plate threaded under the bench so I only have to tighten the mounting bolts from the top. When my press and powder dispenser is removed I have made plugs for the holes. I have a loading box where I put all my dies and reloading supplies. I reload in my garage on my work bench, don't have a reloading room or I would mount all reloading equipment and leave them there. Good info above and Good luck with your color!!

 

[Bazoo]

The first 2 benches were natural. The first was a wide poplar board I had, the second is plywood and 2×4s. I'm in the planning stages of another, this time It'll probably be barn boards. I like the look, and they look good in pics. I'll probably have a combination of painted pieces and raw for aesthetics.

 

[Bazoo]

No. I wouldn’t want to cover up the nice clear coat.
View attachment 1182828

I remembered you used a stool. I'm considering it myself for an intermittent workspace. I have camera gear set up in my reloading area for BulletMatch. I'm planning a redo of the reloading room with a new bench, so I'm brainstorming ideas to keep me going.

How is the stability of the stools? Do you add weight to them or just use them like that?

 

[kmw1954]

The ends are two kitchen base cabinets that were picked off a scrap pile. This is not a work bench this is a dedicated reloading bench. so the top area is 48"X24" and works well with everything within reach.

 

[rfwobbly]

I "painted" mine with Sanding Sealer. I like the wood tones and I wanted a rough-ish finish.

I once had a loading bench with a super-slick surface. Dropped primers jumped so far that they usually could not be found.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

How is the stability of the stools? Do you add weight to them or just use them like that?

You are the first person ever to ask.
Actually, I disassemble the stool, clean up the fittings and level the legs then reassemble using 5hr epoxy I put rubber grippers on the feet so they grab better and self-level in the dirt. The one on the left with the APP needs to be rebuilt already. This time I’m going to drill and screw the struts as well as glue them.

I’ve used the Partner to F/L resize .303Brit, 7.62Russian, .30-06 and .35Whelen with just a dab of sizing wax.

 

[Bazoo]

You are the first person ever to ask.
Actually, I disassemble the stool, clean up the fittings and level the legs then reassemble using 5hr epoxy I put rubber grippers on the feet so they grab better and self-level in the dirt. The one on the left with the APP needs to be rebuilt already. This time I’m going to drill and screw the struts as well as glue them.

I’ve used the Partner to F/L resize .303Brit, 7.62Russian, .30-06 and .35Whelen with just a dab of sizing wax.

Thanks for letting me know. I have a stool that I use for a stool and a catch all kind of small work surface. I didn't consider the need to disassemble and strengthen it. Thanks. I am thinking maybe I'll make a shelf underneath and box in 3 sides for storage.

 

[GW Staar]

I bought a piece of Formica and some contact adhesive from Home Depot and glued it to my bench top. Hard to beat such a tough plastic surface. Paint would have been my second choice....but hardly as nice and useful.

My bench was done a little different. Rather than 2 layers of plywood, mdf, or whatever, I chose to make a anti-torsion beam across the front and screwed a single 3/4" plywood top to it. Such a beam resists the twisting better than about anything. Somes like the idea somes don't. But I put the plans for one in "resources" here on THR for anyone interested in building a torsion bench.....it's a very cheap way to get a great tough solid bench.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?resources/inexpensive-no-flex-bench-how-to.6/

Like massive legs? Above is the cheap strong version. 2X4's plus 3/4" quarter round molding in the corners......see the plans for that as well.

 

[JSneezy]

Mine is stained except for the bench top and hutch. Everything except the hutch also has a polyurethane clear over it.

The legs are all 4x4, and some of the rest of the framing is 2x4. I think I did 72"x32" for the bench top, and it pretty much always feels like I still don't have enough room.

 

[cfullgraf]

Over the years, my reloading bench has been a work bench with a compressed particleboard top, an office desk with a formica top, and a metal work bench with a painted wood top from a railroad engine repair shop.

I find a sealed bench top better than raw wood.

A note, my first reloading bench was the work bench with the particleboard top and the press was mounted to the work top. Since then, I have mounted the press to a free standing press stand that I set next to the work table. For me, it makes changing out presses easy, the presses not in use are stored on their stands nested against the wall of my reloading room.

 

[9mmepiphany]

But I put the plans for one in "resources" here on THR for anyone interested in building a torsion bench.....it's a very cheap way to get a great tough solid bench

Thanks for linking that thread again. I'd had it book marked and lost it when switching over to a new computer

 

[9mmepiphany]

Any reason not to do this

No reason at all.

My bench is a 3/4" sheet of plywood screwed into a metal frame, which is attached to the studs of the wall behind it. I'm not worried about loads on the top as the Inline Fabrication mounts distribute pressure pretty well.

I started with a plain wood top and got bored quickly. What I once saw and was very impressed by was a granite top, but that takes a lot of planning before drilling and limits moving stuff about...the same was true of a stainless top I looked at. I finally went cheap and just painted it a satin black with brown highlights. I finished off the edges with plastic edging, like you see on desk, trimmed flush with the top to make sweeping the top off easier

For those wondering, it is easier to see spilled powder on a black surface than on a light color one...it's the same reason black vars need to be washed more than white cars.

I attached a MDF backboard to my bench and painted it a gloss off-white to reflect light

 

[Chuck R.]

I bought a piece of Formica and some contact adhesive from Home Depot and glued it to my bench top. Hard to beat such a tough plastic surface. Paint would have been my second choice....but hardly as nice and useful.

My bench was done a little different. Rather than 2 layers of plywood, mdf, or whatever, I chose to make a anti-torsion beam across the front and screwed a single 3/4" plywood top to it. Such a beam resists the twisting better than about anything. Somes like the idea somes don't. But I put the plans for one in "resources" here on THR for anyone interested in building a torsion bench.....it's a very cheap way to get a great tough solid bench.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?resources/inexpensive-no-flex-bench-how-to.6/

+1

Another Formica bench and it helps when a friend is a cabinet maker, 22' worth of reloading bench (one piece) and storage shelves:

With light grey I can see the spills.

My old portable reloading bench became a gun cleaning and depriming station:

Before Pic:

 

[Big Wes]

I put formica on my bench years ago!

 

[lordpaxman]

I used Polyurethane over plywood to seal it. Anything to seal the surface will work. I would recommend sealing all 6 surfaces especially for MDF.

 

[King Medallion]

I painted mine when I built it, 1978, when I was 15. Aerosol can of Blaze Orange. Still use the bench, still Blaze Orange.