Show us a picture of your reloading bench
- Thread starter James THR
- Start date
Jaxondog
Member
They are very sturdy. I use them for metallic loading as well. I have 1k 40s&w cases in one and have no problem with rigidity when picking the bin up. The ones I have were given to me by a shooting buddy that quit shotshell loading. I didn't realize how much they cost till I stumbled upon them when I ordered some powder bushings for my mec. They are like $15 a bin. They really do come in handy.
cowtownup
Member
I need help on deciding the height from the floor to the top of the work bench. I am thinking I would like to stand some and work but also be able to sit on a barstool type chair and work also. Is around 38-40" about right? Thanks in advance...
Helluva first post huh?
Helluva first post huh?
LAH
Member
Very good first post. My bench is 36". I do all my bench work standing, I'm not a sitter. Height may vary by height of the user. It's 38" to the center of my belt buckle if that helps. Here's a picture of me standing at my bench.
VonFatman
Member
cowtownup,
You asked about bench height.
I'm 6' 3" and portly. This is a photo of my bench with dimensions noted.
If I could have do-overs...
-Depth would be cut to 26 or 27" (from current 39" depth). It's too wide to allow easy reach to items on the pegboard or on the lower shelf.
-I'd would run power around the front and side of the bench (have had plug-ins installed on walls & ceiling near bench). Power is important. Lighting is critical.
-I'd apply an epoxy coating to the bench top.
Hope this helps. Suggest you measure and pick a height that best suits your stature while standing.
Good luck.
Bob
You asked about bench height.
I'm 6' 3" and portly. This is a photo of my bench with dimensions noted.
If I could have do-overs...
-Depth would be cut to 26 or 27" (from current 39" depth). It's too wide to allow easy reach to items on the pegboard or on the lower shelf.
-I'd would run power around the front and side of the bench (have had plug-ins installed on walls & ceiling near bench). Power is important. Lighting is critical.
-I'd apply an epoxy coating to the bench top.
Hope this helps. Suggest you measure and pick a height that best suits your stature while standing.
Good luck.
Bob
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LAH
Member
Nice bench Bob.
cowtownup
Member
Thanks for everybody's help... I am 6-1" tall so I went with a 40" high bench... I plan on standing mostly, but may use a barstool type seat with a back if needed. I got the bench framed out this afternoon. It is 6'-0" wide by 2'-8" deep and I plan on putting 2 layers of 3/4" plywood on top. On the bottom I was going to use the 16" piece left from the 4 x 8 sheet for a bottom shelf underneath the bench. I plan on doing some type of shelving system that sets on top of the bench out of 1 x 8's...
Any suggestions on the finish? I would love a stained look, but not sure how regular old plywood and 2x's would look...
Any suggestions on the finish? I would love a stained look, but not sure how regular old plywood and 2x's would look...
Fire_Moose
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2012
- Messages
- 371
Just updated mine to fit the LCT.
I'm a sitter
useless signiture
I'm a sitter
useless signiture
Onewolf
Member
I just started working on my 'workbench' a couple weeks ago. It has to do double duty for both reloading and general gun cleaning/maintenance. I'm just happy that my wife gave permission to locate the workbench inside rather than out in the garage (Central Florida is rather uncomfortable in an uninsulated/non AC garage for most of the year). Because it is located in our home office it had to look reasonably presentable so I chose to use a Lowes/Kobalt workbench as the 'base'. I reinforced the base bench and added a 3/4" cabinet grade plywood top that I stained and finished with 4 coats of polyurathane. I wasn't sure if the 5/8" particle board + 3/4" plywood would be robust enough for a press, but so far it has worked fine. If required I will add another layer of 3/4" plywood between the existing base and finished top.
I'm still getting organized, but I produced my first handloads a couple days ago.
The upper storage compartment makes a good place to store brass that is being processed.
Here it is in maintenance/cleaning mode (ie, the green gun cleaning mat is on it.
)
I'm still getting organized, but I produced my first handloads a couple days ago.
The upper storage compartment makes a good place to store brass that is being processed.
Here it is in maintenance/cleaning mode (ie, the green gun cleaning mat is on it.
)
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JoelSteinbach
Member
nice job onewolf
floydster
Member
Onewolf, very, very nice!!!
Smokeyloads
Smokeyloads
LAH
Member
floydster
Member
BGD, very nice also!!
Smokeyloads
Smokeyloads
cowtownup
Member
I got my shelving built today....
OpelBlitz
Member
Nicely done - I love the look of newly built furniture.
LAH
Member
Me too.
VonFatman
Member
Oh yeah! That is a great looking bench. Shelves are very handy.
Nice job.
Bob
Nice job.
Bob
NeuseRvrRat
Member
very nice. are you going to put a shelf on the bracing down below? that's a good place to stick big, heavier stuff like ammo cans, tumbler, media, bulk bullets, large containers of brass, etc.
Ret.CWO
Member
Well so much for a "Well regulated militia"
Fire_Moose
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2012
- Messages
- 371
Nice set ups.
useless signiture
useless signiture
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Cosmoline
Member
This is one I just built on my kitchen floor from scrap lumber. The 2x4's were all pretty badly warped so the end result is slightly off skew, but the top is level and it's extremely strong. I'm shopping around for a new reloading press to install on it. I'm going to rig a drop tube off to the right side. The bench vise is a vintage Columbian that should be up to the task of holding any receiver tight for barrel removal. The last vise I used bent under the pressure. This is the first time I've tried 2x4's as a top. One good thing is if one gets damaged it's easy to remove and replace.
The ice storms and snow preclude any painting or finishing until spring, but I've tacked down a plastic cover to protect it from spills till then. One great thing about building your own is you can customize the height. In my case most all benches are too low and give me a crink in my lower back. This one is about 6" higher than standard counter tops and just the right size for me.
I used bolts so it would be possible to break it down for moving. Otherwise there's no way this sucker would fit through doors. The drawback is you end up with weight bearing on them, and over time they do work loose. But it's not hard to tighten it up again. Another issue that came up is with the bolts on the main joints, the bench is vertically very strong but prone to shifting slightly horizontally when pushed as it rolls a little on the bolts. To prevent this I nailed down cross-pieces in the back and it seems pretty secure now. You could also double up your bolts to prevent this I believe.
The ice storms and snow preclude any painting or finishing until spring, but I've tacked down a plastic cover to protect it from spills till then. One great thing about building your own is you can customize the height. In my case most all benches are too low and give me a crink in my lower back. This one is about 6" higher than standard counter tops and just the right size for me.
I used bolts so it would be possible to break it down for moving. Otherwise there's no way this sucker would fit through doors. The drawback is you end up with weight bearing on them, and over time they do work loose. But it's not hard to tighten it up again. Another issue that came up is with the bolts on the main joints, the bench is vertically very strong but prone to shifting slightly horizontally when pushed as it rolls a little on the bolts. To prevent this I nailed down cross-pieces in the back and it seems pretty secure now. You could also double up your bolts to prevent this I believe.
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