Who else is using the harbor freight woodworking bench for reloading?

[whitedogone]

Here's mine. I got some work to do yet. The thing is rock solid when screwed to the wall.

 

[bigpower491]

I am.....was $$ well spent.
Both RCBS baseplates are mounted to either end.

My only issue is clearance for the drawers with the presses mounted but I had an easy enough solution.....the single usually goes on the right side, the Pro 2K to the left....
All tools I use for the single go in the left drawers, all the Pro stuff goes in the right.

Its very sturdy for what we're using it for and doesn't take up too much real estate

 

[whitedogone]

Ya, I have to cycle the lee press up a bit to access the top drawer on the right. The Rcbs won't allow access to the top drawer on the left side no matter where you cycle it. I just don't keep anything in there. The mounts I made make it fairly easy to move things around if needed.

 

[mdi]

If I had room I probably would have used one, but I built in my benches to the wall. Basically all a reloading bench needs is to be solid and immobile, wobble free. Drawers are a plus. An attractive finish is a plus. And a good lit area with ventilation. It would take an 8.0 earthquake directly below my shop to move my bench, and only after the walls have collapsed. On the "work" side of my bench I left the top as is (2x3/4" plywood glued and screwed with a coat of garage floor paint). My reloading bench has a "semi-finished" interior plywood top (2x3/4") with a coat of interior paint, so I can see small parts and primers.

 

[bigpower491]

Ya, I have to cycle the lee press up a bit to access the top drawer on the right. The Rcbs won't allow access to the top drawer on the left side no matter where you cycle it. I just don't keep anything in there. The mounts I made make it fairly easy to move things around if needed.

Looks good tho....like the shelving units you got there. I've got a few more things to move around in my room and ill get a couple new cabinets. The harbor bench was a deal tho, especially for what we're using it for

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Me and my neighbor both use one (I talked him into getting his). I put different handles on the drawers to "dress" it up a bit. Then, mounted some kitchen type cabinets over the top of it for storage. It has been serving me well now for 5+ years.

 

[whitedogone]

Ya, the shelves help a bunch. I have a wood shop, so a few leftover pieces of birch ply and some dados was pretty simple. I am adding a center shelf above the dies.

 

[BreechFace]

View attachment 971384 Here's mine. I got some work to do yet. The thing is rock solid when screwed to the wall.

I don't, but I know a lot do. The wood end vice makes them a near perfect union to allowing for some 'smithing as well.

My question is how do you luck out in having a kitchen in your reloading room, I'm jealous!

 

[whitedogone]

That's my deer processing area. I debone, grind, can, and cook in it. My reloading/ gun maintenance area is 5'-6"x 8'. My man cave kitchen on the other side is 4'-6"x8'.

 

[bigpower491]

That's my deer processing area. I debone, grind, can, and cook in it. My reloading/ gun maintenance area is 5 1/2'x 8'. My man cave kitchen on the other side is 4-6x8'.

All bases covered..... noice

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I have had fine luck with a powder measure clamped into the wood vice at the end. Had to mount it onto a board but given my limited skills anyone here can do that. I don't use it much but has worked well for those who are wondering what to do with the vice at the end of the bench.

 

[whitedogone]

I just got the stand for the powder measure. I think it's goimg to be too high. Gotta figure something out. Clamped in the vise..... Brilliant, I think I'm overthinking this thing.

 

[whitedogone]

 

[whitedogone]

Working a center shelf. Want to put my scale front and center.

 

[Howland]

The display model was a bit wobbly but the price was right. I was going to screw a sheet of particle board along the back and sides to make it square and sturdy. It wasn't necessary. Whoever put together the display model ran out of elbow grease.

I bolted a 4' section of 2x10 along the back side to mount the presses and have the table in the middle of the room. It does it's job well.

 

[Tilos]

Here's mine. I got some work to do yet. The thing is rock solid when screwed to the wall.
View attachment 971384

Yep, a simple angle bracket from the top to a wall stud.
easy peasy
If you have baseboard on the wall you might need to cut off the table feet so the bench top can be pushed back tight to the wall.
I used 2 of the small bracket, the big bracket pictured is a visual for people who over-build everything...


.

 

[bigpower491]

View attachment 971448

This is the thing I like about the RCBS base plates.....when my rock chucker is bolted to it, it has threaded holes right next to it for the powder measure stand...

Reckon thatll work tho

 

[dgod]

I would place the brackets underneath the table,

1, they hold just as good
2, they are out of sight
3, they do not interfere with whatever I am working on

Good Luck
Dan

 

[GW Staar]

The bench looks great and solid to boot! Very nice......just wait about 5 more years.....all that great space on the bench will be used up...just the nature of things. Enjoy!

Would like to see pictures of the other harbor freight benches mentioned in the thread....hint...hint.

As for the 5 more years comment....I'll show you what I mean....



You can't even see my Pro 2000 to the left of the Pro Chucker 7........OK ten years.....

 

[Tilos]

Something else I did to the HF Bench
The bottom shelf fits into slots in the front and rear cross member and they tend bow out and the shelf slips out of the grooves.
I put a cleat, front to back under the center of the bottom shelf and screwed it into the cross members and the shelf.
It allows the shelf to carry more weight,

 

[NVcharlie]

Yup. Screwed to the floor and wall. Its not going anywhere

 

[Tilos]

I would place the brackets underneath the table,

1, they hold just as good
2, they are out of sight
3, they do not interfere with whatever I am working on

Good Luck
Dan

I here you on that
I'm not a fan of standing on my head and reaching behind the drawers to install those brackets in that narrow space though.
That, and they are easier to remove from the top.
To each their own,

.