Reloading Benches & Work Areas

I do not know what woodworking skills you have but if you can use a drill and any saw you can build a great bench as I described above.

Get the guy at Lowes or Home depot to cut the wood.

I piece of 3/4 ply, cut in half, glue screw together to make a thick top.
some 2x4's

4-2x6 cut to desired height

Make of box frame of 2x4's

Use some 2x6" for legs

Screw together

sand rough edges

screw to wall

Leave in the rough or paint, varnish or what ever.


I do not know the difference in the Harbor benches either, they say Oak.

Is the other bench you looked at from Costco or Sams??

They are nice but Expensive.

I would not buy anything that has particle board for a top, that stuff should be illegal!
 
I thought about building one but my wife vetoed the idea as she said it has to at least "look nice" because it is going to be inside the house. I live in Texas so putting it in the garage is not an option as it gets 120+F easily during 4-5 months out of the year in our garage. Yes, that second option I was looking at is a Costco / Amazon.com workbench option. There is no way I would buy a bench with particle board for a top. If I did I would replace it with this 1 1/2" industrial office desk top that I have laying around in my garage. I couldn't take the top out of the Lowes workbench I was looking at but it looked to be a solid 1" or so thick. My wife liked it because it was stainless steel.
 
jayman9207 said:
I thought about building one but my wife vetoed the idea as she said it has to at least "look nice" because it is going to be inside the house./QUOTE]

My GF told me the same, this is what we ended up with.
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In my workshop, I have one of these along with the a couple of the matching work tables, rolling carts, wall cabinets, .... They did bring a whole new meaning to "some assembly required" (all flat box) but, the savings was worth it and they are fairly well built. On my last trip to Sams, I noticed they had a fold down work area table for about $100 but don't see it on the website. I also have the Lowes in the garage but you can't sit "under" the top as a bench.

Seville Classics Lighted Hardwood Top Workbench - Sam's Club

Ultra Heavy-Duty Workbench - Sam's Club

Ultra Heavy-Duty Storage Cabinet - Sam's Club

Ultra Heavy-Duty 6-Drawer Storage Cabinet - Sam's Club

Ultra Heavy-Duty Commercial Wall Cabinet - Sam's Club

Commercial Pneumatic Work Stool - Sam's Club

Shop Kobalt Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Workbench at Lowes.com

BTW - I'm in the DFW area and after I insulated the garage doors I find it to be not overtly oppressive, MOST of the time :) I will say, the builder did a good job and the walls are insulated AND made of 2x6's so that helps!

jayman9207 said:
I thought about building one but my wife vetoed the idea as she said it has to at least "look nice" because it is going to be inside the house. I live in Texas so putting it in the garage is not an option as it gets 120+F easily during 4-5 months out of the year in our garage. Yes, that second option I was looking at is a Costco / Amazon.com workbench option. There is no way I would buy a bench with particle board for a top. If I did I would replace it with this 1 1/2" industrial office desk top that I have laying around in my garage. I couldn't take the top out of the Lowes workbench I was looking at but it looked to be a solid 1" or so thick. My wife liked it because it was stainless steel.
Click to expand...
 
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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 use this bench with a couple of modifications. I bolted it to the wall and the floor. I sandwiched one inch plywood under the top. Now it is very stable. Been using this bench for the last five years with good results.
 
smokindog said:
In my workshop, I have one of these along with the a couple of the matching work tables, rolling carts, wall cabinets, .... They did bring a whole new meaning to "some assembly required" (all flat box) but, the savings was worth it and they are fairly well built. On my last trip to Sams, I noticed they had a fold down work area table for about $100 but don't see it on the website. I also have the Lowes in the garage but you can't sit "under" the top as a bench.

Seville Classics Lighted Hardwood Top Workbench - Sam's Club

Shop Kobalt Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Workbench at Lowes.com

BTW - I'm in the DFW area and after I insulated the garage doors I find it to be not overtly oppressive, MOST of the time :) I will say, the builder did a good job and the walls are insulated AND made of 2x6's so that helps!
Click to expand...

These were the two that I was mainly looking at. I didn't even think about the not being able to sit under the Lowes bench. Makes sense and thanks for pointing that out.

Our builder did somewhat of a lackluster job on the garage area and the dual doors are not insulated. We also face east - west and have the sun directly beating down on the front of the house the latter part of the day. I wish the garage was an option but I would need to do some major upgrades and my wife would rather upgrade other things inside the house. I am 110% fine with that as she is being awesome about the whole reloading idea in the first place.
 
Evets11 said:
jayman9207 said:
I thought about building one but my wife vetoed the idea as she said it has to at least "look nice" because it is going to be inside the house./QUOTE]

My GF told me the same, this is what we ended up with.
Click to expand...

That is really cool but not an option for me as my work area will have a large window in front of it and something like that isn't really feasible. I wish it was as that is really awesome!
Click to expand...
 
My garage door faces right into the afternoon heat ray and according to my infrared thermometer, the inside of the door would approach 140 degrees!

I used foil backed bubble wrap like this (different widths based on your need.

Reflectix 24 in. x 100 ft. Double Reflective Insulation with Staple Tab-ST24100 at The Home Depot

I cut it big so I could tuck it into the channels that extend forming the lip of each panel, having to force it a bit. No mechanical fastener or glue needed. It's been up for 2 years without issue. Inside of the panels never break 10 degrees over the ambient temp. Why in a custom house they used these CHEAP uninsulated bare aluminum doors is beyond me.

Each double door took about 2 hours and 3 beers!

jayman9207 said:
These were the two that I was mainly looking at. I didn't even think about the not being able to sit under the Lowes bench. Makes sense and thanks for pointing that out.

Our builder did somewhat of a lackluster job on the garage area and the dual doors are not insulated. We also face east - west and have the sun directly beating down on the front of the house the latter part of the day. I wish the garage was an option but I would need to do some major upgrades and my wife would rather upgrade other things inside the house. I am 110% fine with that as she is being awesome about the whole reloading idea in the first place.
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smokindog said:
My garage door faces right into the afternoon heat ray and according to my infrared thermometer, the inside of the door would approach 140 degrees!

I used foil backed bubble wrap like this (different widths based on your need.

Reflectix 24 in. x 100 ft. Double Reflective Insulation with Staple Tab-ST24100 at The Home Depot

I cut it big so I could tuck it into the channels that extend forming the lip of each panel, having to force it a bit. No mechanical fastener or glue needed. It's been up for 2 years without issue. Inside of the panels never break 10 degrees over the ambient temp. Why in a custom house they used these CHEAP uninsulated bare aluminum doors is beyond me.

Each double door took about 2 hours and 3 beers!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that! Sounds like I have a weekend project coming up soon!
 
Jayman- you can buy 1/4 oak sheets and cut as desired to hide the pine 2x4's. You can cover the edges with molding that would make it really nice. I would use the top out in the garage. I would also go to lowes or home depot and buy the sheets of countertop material to place over top of the desk top. You just need to go shopping! Whatever you do, make that bench sturdy! I would also have a 1 1/2 thick top on it as well. The 2x4 idea is what I would go with and build it. It would be cheaper and when you have it tricked out and looking good, you can say you made it yourself.:D BTW- if you do it that way then post a pic so all of us can drool!:D
 
So what did you decide?

jayman9207 said:
These were the two that I was mainly looking at. I didn't even think about the not being able to sit under the Lowes bench. Makes sense and thanks for pointing that out.

Our builder did somewhat of a lackluster job on the garage area and the dual doors are not insulated. We also face east - west and have the sun directly beating down on the front of the house the latter part of the day. I wish the garage was an option but I would need to do some major upgrades and my wife would rather upgrade other things inside the house. I am 110% fine with that as she is being awesome about the whole reloading idea in the first place.
Click to expand...
 
I went with the Seville Classics HD workbench. I also bought one of the wall cabinets and the rolling storage cabinets to store my primers, powders, and other reloading tools. They are even more solid than I thought they were going to be. Pretty impressed with the quality and durability. The workbench was just delivered yesterday so I am hoping to have time this weekend to tear down my current configuration, make room for the new stuff, and put it all together.

img_1_20110912193618_UHD20247.jpg
img_1_20100506180007_Rolling-Cabinet-with-Drawer.jpg
img_1_20090109131928_wall%20storage%20cabinet.jpg
 
Check around and find someone who's remodeling a kitchen. They typically throw out perfectly good cabinets and counters that are ideal for reloading benches and storing the endless amounts of goodies that accumulate.
 
That's a different rolling cabinet than I got. I like it!!! Just wait, you'll have a new appreciation for "some assembly required" :) I may have to get one!

I've got the bench, 8 of the cabinets, the "wardrobe", two of the tables, and two of these.

Ultra Heavy-Duty 6-Drawer Storage Cabinet - Sam's Club=

The stool is nice too.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=137173590

And this works well for all the sprinkler system stuff!!! I'll bet it would work well for brass too!

Commercial Bin Rack with 16 Durable Bins - Sam's Club=
jayman9207 said:
I went with the Seville Classics HD workbench. I also bought one of the wall cabinets and the rolling storage cabinets to store my primers, powders, and other reloading tools. They are even more solid than I thought they were going to be. Pretty impressed with the quality and durability. The workbench was just delivered yesterday so I am hoping to have time this weekend to tear down my current configuration, make room for the new stuff, and put it all together.

img_1_20110912193618_UHD20247.jpg
img_1_20100506180007_Rolling-Cabinet-with-Drawer.jpg
img_1_20090109131928_wall%20storage%20cabinet.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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I've got a nice Craftsman padded hydraulic stool. I like the bin rack as well but unfortunately I don't have enough room to get one.
 
Forgot to mention a couple nice features of the tables. They are longer and about an inch deeper than the workbench, the top is thicker, and the rolling carts are designed to fit under each half. I've got a table flanking each side of the workbench in my shop area, two of the rolling carts under the other. Ya I know I said only two rollers in an earlier post, senior moment, it's three ;)

Sorry for the mess, I'm out there getting ready to do sprinkler repair :(

smokindog said:
That's a different rolling cabinet than I got. I like it!!! Just wait, you'll have a new appreciation for "some assembly required" :) I may have to get one!

I've got the bench, 8 of the cabinets, the "wardrobe", two of the tables, and two of these.

Ultra Heavy-Duty 6-Drawer Storage Cabinet - Sam's Club=

The stool is nice too.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=137173590

And this works well for all the sprinkler system stuff!!! I'll bet it would work well for brass too!

Commercial Bin Rack with 16 Durable Bins - Sam's Club=
Click to expand...
 

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