Reloading Benches & Work Areas

jayman9207

jayman9207

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More and more of my stuff is finally coming in and I am soon going to be able to setup my more permanent reloading work area in a couple of weeks. I was hoping you guys could post some pictures of your reloading work benches and work areas so I might be able to get some ideas and to see just how bad-arse of a setup some of you guys have. Thanks.
 
Google: "reloading bench" and you will get over 500 pictures of reloading benches on who knows how many Forums.

We'll be waiting for you reloading questions. You did buy at least one reloading manual? Now I'm going back to casting bullets.

Edit: Ended up with almost a full 3# coffe can of 148 grain tumble lube wadcutters and 200 45 acp 230 grain RN. What bullet and ammo shortage? :D
 
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Now I would normally not even walk my Dog in a Harbor Freight:eek:, but if you do not want to build a bench or lack the tools, skills whatever, this is a pretty darn nice bench and if you have coupon from the mail flier it's even less.

If I had room I would buy one maybe two. My neighbor has one and it is very solid. For the price it's a winner.

Wood Workbench - 60" Wood Workbench w/ 4 Drawers
 
Rule3 said:
Now I would normally not even walk my Dog in a Harbor Freight:eek:, but if you do not want to build a bench or lack the tools, skills whatever, this is a pretty darn nice bench and if you have coupon from the mail flier it's even less.

If I had room I would buy one maybe two. My neighbor has one and it is very solid. For the price it's a winner.

Wood Workbench - 60" Wood Workbench w/ 4 Drawers
Click to expand...

I have the Harbor Freight bench in the post. I use it as my cleaning bench. I agree it is a nice bench, but my experience says it is not suited for reloading. It just isn't built heavy enough for the forces from loading. If you anchored it into a wall, it might help. Don't get me wrong, for what I use it for, it is excellent. But no heavy pulling or torque applied to it in my case.
 
Rule3 said:
Now I would normally not even walk my Dog in a Harbor Freight:eek:, but if you do not want to build a bench or lack the tools, skills whatever, this is a pretty darn nice bench and if you have coupon from the mail flier it's even less.

If I had room I would buy one maybe two. My neighbor has one and it is very solid. For the price it's a winner.

Wood Workbench - 60" Wood Workbench w/ 4 Drawers
Click to expand...

Excellent Idea... Thank you!
 
I use one of the Harbor Freight benches for a second bench. It is crowded with 3 presses and 2 lube-sizers but it works for the time being. It is bolted to the floor and the wall making it very stable.
 
Engineer1911 said:
Google: "reloading bench" and you will get over 500 pictures of reloading benches on who knows how many Forums.

We'll be waiting for you reloading questions. You did buy at least one reloading manual? Now I'm going back top casting bullets.
Click to expand...

I did that, and google images. For the most part just benches.

I found plans for one, that I am not following but like the idea. I have bottom frame made. Bisquit joiened the top, and belt sanded, not super happy. It would be ok if I screwed it down to the frame, but not if I want to make it removable, it rocks.

I am setting up a jointer. May look look at planers too. But I am going to try just a jointer and sanding.

I am trying to get better at wood working, so I am trying this for practice.


http://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com...ench_plans.pdf
 
I see multiple press and stuff mounted to some. I am curious what. I have auto indexing, I can maybe a progressive. Maybe shotgun, but no plans for one.
 
I've only got my Square Deal B press and somewhat of a limited amount of space for now in one of our back rooms. I will have some large cabinets to store much of my equipment and supplies in but don't have a lot of space to fit a bench into yet until we do some remodeling (year or two out). I was looking to get this work bench from Lowes.

 
I use two Craftsman workbenches slid end to end in my garage. I have my loader mounted in the middle. These are 4 foot long with two drawers on each bench. I use only one bench for reloading. I have my loader and powder dispenser bolted down. My tumbler is sitting in the back of the bench. I keep my dies, powder, primers up in the cabinet out of sight as well. My books are kept at the back of the bench.
 
I looked at the Craftsman benches as I have a ton of Craftsman tools and wanted one but for now I am only going to have about 48"-50" width worth of space to work with initially and everything they have right now is 5'-8' wide. I have a 48"Wx30"Dx80"T six door cabinet to store my supplies and tools in so the bench will be my work area only with room for the supplies I only need for the load I am working with.
 
jayman9207 said:
I've only got my Square Deal B press and somewhat of a limited amount of space for now in one of our back rooms. I will have some large cabinets to store much of my equipment and supplies in but don't have a lot of space to fit a bench into yet until we do some remodeling (year or two out). I was looking to get this work bench from Lowes.

Click to expand...


The harbor Freight bench is way better than that lowes bench, I looked ar the Lowes bench. You can build a much better one than that. The top is really thin. JMHO

Buy a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood cut it in half, glue and screw the two pieces together make a frame from 2x4 or 2x6 with legs and bolt together you can put a car on it.(small car;))
 
Rule3 said:
Now I would normally not even walk my Dog in a Harbor Freight:eek:, but if you do not want to build a bench or lack the tools, skills whatever, this is a pretty darn nice bench and if you have coupon from the mail flier it's even less.

If I had room I would buy one maybe two. My neighbor has one and it is very solid. For the price it's a winner.

Wood Workbench - 60" Wood Workbench w/ 4 Drawers
Click to expand...

Agreed. Of all the Harbor Freight stuff, this is by far the least objectionable.:D
 
The Harbor Freight one is a bit too big for the space I have. I would not be able to use two of the drawers and probably not the vice either. I only have have 48"-50" wide worth of useable space for right now. I guess I could buy the bigger bench and just not use part of it until we decide on the remodeling and get it done. This is the second bench I was looking at. The top is 1 1/2" thick.
 
You might also keep an eye out in Craigslist or your local Lowes/Home Depot for used/clearance countertops. I bought a 6' piece from Home Depot for $15 OTD, and made my bench. Mine is screwed to the studs in my wall, and supported by 4x4"s on the corners. My father-in-law has some scrap metal and made me up and angle bracket to support my Redding Turret. With the countertop and 4x4, I only have about $40 in the bench.
Here it is when I first set it up.
ReloadingBench003-1.jpg

Here is a more recent photo. Going to be adding a wall cabinet to hold my primers and powder better, need to add a shelf underneath for my brass, and will probably add a couple small shelves over it for my manuals.
Reloadingbench_zpsec228d44.jpg
 
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