My new reloading bench!!!

[g_gunter]

Well,

I had a fit of inspiration the other day and started drawing up plans for a reloading bench to help me get started reloading. I've looked all over for ideas and many of you here were very helpful by posting photos of your respective setups. Some of you were quite imaginative. Like, I never would have thought of converting my closet into a reloading area. Cool. Anyway, after drawing up the plans last thursday, I went to Home Depot Saturday morning before the rush and had the guy there cut me a bunch of 2x8's to length. I got all the necessary nuts, bolts, & washers, as well as, lag bolts and "went to town" for the next 3 hours assembling my bench. Its not pretty but its solid and, thanks to the bolts (no nails), I can take it apart anytime I need in order to move it to another location. I also countersunk all the bolt heads so that I could put a smooth piece of plywood (or whatever) on the top without them (the bolt heads) getting in the way.

Now I just have to be patient and wait for my reloading equipment on Christmas morning.

Thanks for all your help.

All the best,

g_gunter

 

[Kamicosmos]

Looks good!

Only thing it might need is some bracing on the legs to stiffen it up a bit. Also, can you bolt it to the wall? That helps out a lot.

Otherwise it looks like a good strong bench. I like the shelf you made on it too!

 

[stans]

Looks good and I agree with the bracing idea. My bench is made from 2x4's and 1/2 inch plywood. The 2x4's were used to make a frame, legs, and feet. The feet actually work as braces and I can stack weights on them so I don't have to bolt anything to the wall. The top on mine is two sheets of 1/2 inch plywood glued and screwed together. After several years of use the only thing that has changed is the addition of a few dings and spill marks on the working surface. Mine can also be disassembled by the removal of six carriage bolts.

 

[Sisco]

Looks good! After I built mine I discovered you will need more storage space than you thought you would.

 

[esheato]

Looks very solid.

But seriously.....we have to talk..That bench is way too clean. Where's all the presses, case trimmer, casting equipment, tumbler, the 15 necessary manuals and all the other assorted gear?

Isn't reloading grand?

Ed

 

[ID_shooting]

I like it, good, simple, and sturdy. I third the brace the legs and bolt/secure to to a wall stud. Doesn't hurt to secure it to the floor. When resizing 338 or 300 WM rounds, my bench would acctually lift off the floor on the up stroke before I secured it down. You might just want to go ahead and build a second one while you are at it. I give you 3 months before you are out of room

 

[jojo]

nice job. They're getting ready to tear down the shop here and I'm waiting to see if I can get my hand on one of the benches. Then I'd be set.

jojo

 

[Murphster]

With a few more boards, you could make the leg braces you're going to add the supports for a low storage shelf. That will get your boxes off the ground. It will add a bit of weight and diagonal stiffness to the unit as well, making it more stable.

 

[g_gunter]

I appreciate all the suggestions. I'm getting ready to put the bracing on the legs and add the lower storage shelf. As far as attaching it to the wall, I've got to think about how I might do that. I don't have access to a flat wall. The table is sitting against a window facing.

ID_shooting, as far as building another one, I'm with ya' on that. I designed this one so that I can build another one just like it and bolt it to the side when the need arises...which won't be too long, I'm sure.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[dmftoy1]

That looks pretty cool! I'm working on mine a little at a time. I'm trying to build it for next to nothing. (I've got a stack of old deck lumber I'm slowly recycling. ) What size boards did you use for your top? (are those 2x8's?)

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Standing Wolf]

It looks good, but I predict a year from now, you'll wish you'd made it larger: all the gadgetry multiplies during the night, you know.

 

[g_gunter]

That looks pretty cool! I'm working on mine a little at a time. I'm trying to build it for next to nothing. (I've got a stack of old deck lumber I'm slowly recycling. ) What size boards did you use for your top? (are those 2x8's?)

Hi dmftoy1 [Dave]:

I used 2x8's throughout except for the legs which are 1x6's. As far as cost is concerned...it cost me about $50.00 for the hardware and the lumber cut to length at Home Depot and then about 3 hours of my time assembling it.

All the best,

Greg

 

[g_gunter]

It looks good, but I predict a year from now, you'll wish you'd made it larger: all the gadgetry multiplies during the night, you know.

Hi Standing Wolf:

I believe you. I already feel the urge to begin work on the expansion portion that will bolt to the side of it. But that's okay. I purposely built it this way knowing that I will, one day, have to add to it. That's part of the fun.

All the best,

Greg

 

[dmftoy1]

Well your post inspired me to clean up an area in the basement and start building. (I made the mistake of asking the Missus to help me pick a spot though . . .so everything got moved all over the basement)

Anyway mine won't be as pretty as yours but I stole from it liberally. I'll post when I get it done. (one more trip to the hardware store for carriage bolts) Without any pegboard or shelving behind it I'm going to have a grand total of $13 invested. (entirely built from old deck lumber)

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[FJC]

Very nice! I recently upgraded my bench to one that's much more sturdy. It's made a world of difference.

 

[g_gunter]

Anyway mine won't be as pretty as yours but I stole from it liberally. I'll post when I get it done. (one more trip to the hardware store for carriage bolts) Without any pegboard or shelving behind it I'm going to have a grand total of $13 invested. (entirely built from old deck lumber)

dmftoy1,

Great price, bud! If it helps, the dimensions of my bench are 47"long x29"deep x37"high.

All the best,

g_gunter

 

[dmftoy1]

I stole quite a bit from your dimensions once I knew that it was 2x8's. I've got one 2x12 laying around so that's what I'm going to mount my presses to and the rest of the bench top will be 2x8. My dimensions will be: 39"h x 34" 1/8 deep, and 84 inches long. (I figure I've got plenty of space so I might as well make it 7 feet long.

If my top doesn't turn out as nice as I'm hoping I'm gonna put a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood down on top. I figure the most I'll have in the bench is $60-$70. (I'm guessing 3/4 inch plywood is $60 for a 4x8 sheet)

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[griz]

Good job. If I build another one I'm going to take a picture of it before I clutter it up, which means I need to get the camera ready before I finish.

 

[armoredman]

My "bench" is an old TV stand - stuff under neath where the VCR/movies went, and press bolted down topside. Ain't the greatest, but works, and like that very nice one pictured, (color me jealous - NICE), mine also cost nothing...

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Excellent job.

Now, get to work!

 

[Carlos]

Very nice job. Indeed!!!

 

[Trini]

Reloading Bench

I agree with all the other's that the bench needs to be braced at the leg and against the wall. You could add another shelve below the bench.. Use it to store your boxes of bullets which will hold the table down even more.. Bench looks good except it's to clean... Good luck with it.

 

[MAUSER88]

Great job. Looks as sturdy as a tank!!

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I dunno.

If I saw a tank built THAT sturdy I wouldn't waste a round on it.

J/K of course.

It'll serve him well and, if he's like me, he'll find the need to expand REAL quick!!!!

 

[dmftoy1]

Ok, I've finished my $20 bench. (had to buy screws, carriage bolts and lag bolts). Here's the pictures. My little single stage press (an old RCBS Jr) is too embarassed to be in the picture but a new (used) Dillon AT500 I bought off Ebay is supposed to be here tomorrow.

I built it big (per advice here) but it sure shows up how little reloading equipment I have.

Thanks for all the inspiration.

Have a good one,
Dave