A different reloading bench

Gumbercules · Jun 10, 2011

Hey all,
I am in an interesting situation. I have a couple of different calibers of firearm. My wife and I like to shoot. So reloading will become a part of my life. Here is the issue. My uncle likes to move me all over the world and various parts of the U.S. Living space is always at a premium. I have been looking at different, compact and light weight reloading benches. Oh and we also have a very smart 5 year old son, so locking everything up is a must. In looking at the second reloading bench it "seems" that it would be a good compromise. It "looks like" when closed it will be wide enough to not be a fall over risk. Opened up for reloading it "looks like" where the actual press would be has been reinforced and "should" hold up. I do know my way around a work shop and will have access to the tools necessary to cut, measure (not in that order, usually), drill and anything else. So what do you all think? Again I need this to be movable, lockable and solid enough to not need replacing in 1 - 5 years.
Oh and here is the link
Reloading Bench Plans
It would be number 2. If for some reason I am not supposed to post the link I can cut and paste the info. Thanks for the help.

P.S. If it matters at all I am expecting to reload 2 calibers (9mm and 40 S&W), so I would at most have 2 different types of powders, dies and anything else that both could not use.

s&wchad · Jun 10, 2011

Welcome to the forum.

I don’t know about #2. I prefer to stand while doing press work and the corner mount for the press doesn’t look near rigid enough to me. I can vouch for plan #3, but it’s not the type of thing you want to move very often.

This thread might give you some additional ideas: http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/171571-lets-see-your-reloading-benches.html

wiley · Jun 10, 2011

Portable reloading bench

Midway has a very small bench on a pedestal, that breaks down. It can be moved from room to room. The Lee 1000 press is what I mounted on mine, I think that's consideration if you are loading higher volumes of pistol carts.

kshock · Jun 11, 2011

Before I built my loading bench, I used an old Black and Decker workmate folding workbench. Replaced the wooden top with two heavier boards and mounted the press to the new boards. It was portable and I could have took it to the range easily, or folded it and stored it.

Bullseye Smith · Jun 11, 2011

here is what I use, Crathmans tool chest bottom on wheels, can be moved anywhere and used anywhere.

Rule3 · Jun 11, 2011

I think that Plan #2 is really unique and is actually pretty cool. Appears it would meet you needs. I might be a bit of challenge to build however. There are a lot of cuts and assembly on that but might be worth it.

dickttx · Jun 12, 2011

Bullseye, how did you mount the presses to the top? Lag screws? Recesses in the bottom for bolt heads? Also, how is top attached?
I have been thinking of the similar cart that Sam's sells, but not knowing how the top attaches has slowed me down. Need something, I hope, temporary, and thought that would be useful in a more permanent setup also.

LouisianaJoe · Jun 14, 2011

I glued and screwed 2 3/4" pieces of plywood together. Length 24" Width around 18". I mounted my press on that and I have a folding table that is 24" across. I can clamp the press to the table when I use it and I can put it all away when I am finished. In the link above on reloading presses,you will find a photo of another option. I put t-tracks in my workshop so that I can clamp the setup there when needed. I use the table when I want to be inside and I can put it anywhere I want.

I put recesses in the bottom of the Plywood so that no nuts or bolts would protrude from the bottom of the plywood. That is also why I used 2 layers of plywood.

m657 · Jun 14, 2011

If I were handy & supplied with wood crafting tools, I'd go for #2 myself.

Ease of locking up everything seems important in this situation.

I also like the rolling tool chest approach.

The one I built is an old school heavy is better style, with a pair of 2x12" planks 5' long, mounted on 3" pipe legs and a lower metal shelf frame below.

I only have to move it about once every 20 years. While it tears down into components, it would be impractical to keep up with Uncle and impossible to secure against curious children.

Frank46 · Jun 15, 2011

When I first got married and living in an apartment I was pressed for space. I located two all steel three drawer file cabinets and cut two pieces of 3/4" plywood and glued and screwed them together. A few well chosen holes through the tops of the file cabinets and the plywood and voila! I had a small reloading and fix it bench. Best part about it was the locks
on the file cabinets were fairly standard and easily replaced. So my nosy landlord could not and did not know what I was doing. And when I bought my first house it was easy to take apart and relocate. Frank

Gumbercules · Jun 16, 2011

So my plans have changed

OK, after reading the replies I am now leaning towards what Bullseye Smith has. And as I get more equipment than can be safely locked in the Cabinet, then moving on to the bigger bench.
A couple of questions
1) How stable is the craftsman reloading bench?
a) Do you have the press bolted through the wood into the top of the chest?
2) How comfortable is sitting / standing on this bench (it looks like it would be a little low)
Thanks

Frank46 · Jun 17, 2011

I have also used a craftsman rolling work station/cabinet as a workbench. I did find the plastic top somewhat inconvienent. So I laminated two pieces of 3/4" plywood together and cut it with a circular saw and used carriage bolts to anchor it down. About a half dozen coats of varnish to make it look spiffy. Now it holds all the stuff from my lathe, chucks, faceplate and other important stuff. And a good supply of those blue concrete screws. Frank

Bugs Bunny · Jun 17, 2011

I can not think those Craftsman tool chests are very stable, I have seen much better Snap-On chests dumped while full of tools.

Rifle shells often require a good deal of force to resize, I would think a 300 mag or similar would pull those chests right over

The press far left in pic flexes the 2 x 10 it is anchored to resizing rifle shells, only the center is used for resizing rifle shells being it has a support leg under it, hence I question the roller chest for stability.

US DOD bench would be super, I will snag a pic of the two I have in my shop today & post it - not sure even where to look for one.

Snapping Twig · Jun 17, 2011

Here's how I do it. Using wood, I make a "T" that mounts under the press.

I insert the press into my 5" vise and the beauty thing is, living here in antiguncentral, when I'm not sizing or reloading, I can stow the presses away and present an innocuous workbench for all the world to see, no evidence of reloading visible.

Sturdy too!

Obviously my Lyman 450 sizer shown, but the Dillon fits the same way.

hanno · Jun 17, 2011

I used a Black & Decker Workmate 225 for my reloading bench. I replaced the top with 3/4" oak plywood. The press and powder dropper are attached with bolts and wingnuts for quick takedown.

The picture shows it new, I have been using it for years.

dickttx · Jun 17, 2011

As I said in #7, above, been thinking about a cart from Sam's. It probably would not do rifle cases, but, I don't do rifle cases.
However, today I was at an estate sale and bought a solid oak drafting table. I was looking at it and the guy walked up and wanted to know if I was interested. I said I was looking to see if it could be used as a reloading bench. He said, "That is what I have been using it for". Just the size to fit into the space I have. All I need to add is some shelves above it and a piece of plywood across the bottom stretchers to put boxes of bullets on. If it ever gets in the way it comes completely apart.
Thanks to the OP for getting my mind going.

Bullseye Smith · Jun 17, 2011

Gumbercules said:
OK, after reading the replies I am now leaning towards what Bullseye Smith has. And as I get more equipment than can be safely locked in the Cabinet, then moving on to the bigger bench.
A couple of questions
1) How stable is the craftsman reloading bench?
a) Do you have the press bolted through the wood into the top of the chest?
2) How comfortable is sitting / standing on this bench (it looks like it would be a little low)
Thanks

Aset in a Office chair to reload, and yes it is bolted all the way thur to wood and metal. When you get all your stuff in it, it will stay put. Depends on how tall you are, at 6'4" it is a little low

but sitting is just right for me.

EricInAZ · Jun 24, 2011

Although I have a regular reloading bench with my press bolted to it, I've also found the Workmate, and even the Harbor Freight cheap-o version to work great for mounting my bullet sizer/luber, case trimmer, and other goodies used only occasionally. Tools are mounted to a board with a bottom board running the length underneath like a keel, to clamp into the workmate jaws. When not in use, it all folds up & stashes behind my workbench & next to some cabinets.

Workmates are stable and with the footrest, you can get more leverage as needed.

Smith357 · Jun 24, 2011

Snapping Twig said:
Here's how I do it. Using wood, I make a "T" that mounts under the press.

I insert the press into my 5" vise and the beauty thing is, living here in antiguncentral, when I'm not sizing or reloading, I can stow the presses away and present an innocuous workbench for all the world to see, no evidence of reloading visible.

Sturdy too!

Obviously my Lyman 450 sizer shown, but the Dillon fits the same way.

I use the same sort of setup on my three presses, though my mounting boards have more surface area so I can use it to set things on. The vise is a good rock solid base and the presses sit up on a shelf with a pillow case over them when not in use.

A different reloading bench

Member

Administrator

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Similar threads