Hey all,
I'm looking to make a new reloading bench and thought about putting an 8' long 1.5" thick butcher block top across two of these, one at each end. The butcher block top would be replacing the top that comes with the cabinets. They are equivalent to the Montezuma cabinets just renamed for Menards. I was wondering if you think they'd be able to hold up to the presses being on them or if anyone else is using them? I've attached a picture and a link to the cabinets. The cabinets are the type that fold out and then are secured into place by the bottom and the top. One of the specs that is missing from the website that was on the box at the store was they are rated to hold 400 lbs.
Masterforce® 30-1/2"W x 34-3/4"H x 24"D Base Garage Storage Cabinet at Menards®
View attachment 1062846
I don't have that kind of cabinet underneath my smaller bench but I do have the butcher block top and I do have, and use, all of the inline mounts in my reloading room ... all four, including the recessed mount which I didn't reccess but instead I invested in the adapater in order to not have to route-out the butcher block top.
You don't need to be able to get your legs and chair underneath the table top if your inline ultra mount is overhanging ... which is how mine is set up. It works great.
(I cannot recommend the inline mounts enough.)
So back to the butcher block top. Before I installed the Inline Fabrication mounts the butcher block was starting to separate some .... I had to inject glue inbetween the slats and clamp it with furniture clamps to get them back together. That's when I decided to go with the Inline Fabrication flush mount attached to the butcher block bench. (When I built my big bench, like a piece of fine furniture, I learned my lesson and made the top strong enough to drive on it.) All of the elevated Inline Fabrication mounts ... I use clamps to attach to my higher bench.
(I'll take pictures and include them when I get out there later this morning.)
The top used on a reloading bench has to be rock solid if you are going to bolt or screw directly into it ... there is so much torque on a reloading press. It may not show-up until you are resizing a bunch of long cases but, it will eventually.
Butcher blocks look good. I'll take a picture of my set-up with the Inline Fabrication mount. I'd screen shot the security camera shot out there but I'm not sure the top will show up .... lemme try.
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Yeah, you really couldn't see the butcher block in the infrared light screenshot of the security camera. When I get back home, later this morning, I'll go out there and take a picture. Solid tops are the way to go if you are mounting a press (
my big bench is double-layered 1" thick plywood that has been lamenated together with gorilla glue and had my truck sitting on top of it pressing down on it for two days before I cut it to dimensions ... that was necessary for the amount of overhang I wanted) .... if you are mounting a press and don't want the slats to separate like they are sure to-do on a butcher block, use the Inline Fabrication mounts to prevent that from happening.
My bench build the last 2 days.
So here is the Inline Fabrication quick change plate mounted on the butcher block top. It solved all my problems.
I've thought about an adjustable work top also. Not 1 thing to laugh about on your setup! Labeling drawers is a + in my book. Have you just started reloading or just a different location? With Dillon high dollar toolhead stands I went a different direction and color coded for pistol (blue) and rifle (red). Engraved cartridge on the toolhead then colored in red or blue. I drilled holes for locator buttons. 13 different rifle cartridges and 8 pistol so far. Photocopied reloading data for easier more compact storage of info. Later I'll add it in the comp for larger display.
