I am excited about the work I have done on my reloading effort so far, so I think some photos and a description of my reloading bench are in order.

I do not have a lot of space for a full reloading bench right now (can't afford a big place as a grad student). Thus, I want my reloading bench to be small, and I figure portable is a virtue for the time being as well. Some searching for portable reloading benches online allowed me to see many articles and posts across many forums about others' efforts. This inspired me to choose a Black & Decker Workmate as the foundation of my reloading bench.

I lucked out in acquiring my Workmate. I mentioned I was looking for a Workmate in casual conversation with a grad school friend one day, and she said she had an older model Workmate she was not using that I could have. After taking a look at it I gave her a fair offer and bought it!

I then did a lot of measuring and imagining to figure out a way to turn the Workmate into a reloading bench. Ultimately, I decided on a tabletop of 3/4" maple plywood measuring 29" wide and 17" deep. The plywood is attached to the Workmate using three 1/4" x 2 1/2" carriage bolts with washers and nuts. My Lee turret press is attached near the unsecured corner with three 1/4" x 3" hex bolts with steel washers and nuts below and neoprene washers on top where the hex head contacts the press. These bolts also secure this corner of the plywood, as I figured another carriage bolt in this location would get in the way. With everything bolted on (rather than nailed or screwed on), this means I can still use the Workmate for other projects if the need arises, so this gives me a good amount of flexibility right now.

The photos show the reloading bench with just the press, and the press with with the turret, 38 Special dies, and priming system installed. The reloading bench will be indoors, but it looks best in photos when on the back patio.

I do have a Lee powder measure as well that I will be using. I plan to have it attached to an extra piece of plywood. I will be using the carriage bolts to secure it when in use. More on that at a later time.

Attached Images

	IMG_20211002_225629038.jpg (51.2 KB, 380 views)
	IMG_20211003_180243739.jpg (75.4 KB, 291 views)
	IMG_20211003_181300540.jpg (91.5 KB, 293 views)

Excellent repurposing of an old Workmate. Well done!

I did the exact same thing back in the early 80's, and I still use it to this day.

__________________
FBINA, 204th Session

Not needed.........? but I have light cloth material on my table top
to keep stuff from rolling around and it will catch loose powder and stuff
and make for easy clean up and can be washed if it gets soiled......

since I have been noted to spilled cases with powder and drop primers, etc. over the years.

My first reloading 'station' when I started 40 years ago was an RCBS single stage bolted to a 2x6... You're looking pretty good by comparison!

Even today, my reloading gear has to compete for space in the garage. A couple of years ago I built a fabrication bench, with 'receivers' in the corners, like a trailer hitch. This allows me some modularity with various tools (band saw, tubing notcher, etc.). I also built mounts for my reloading presses so I can slide them in place and then store them out of the way when I'm not using them.

You have to use what you can and I think that you have a good start. You will enjoy reloading. I didn't start until I was in my sixties, why I don't know.

__________________
Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

Love your vise...... but if that "Red bag" on the floor is cement....
it needs to be set on some plywood or something instead of the cement floor and rolled over each year if not used.

I'm in a pretty good place with a loading bench and lots of storage. I have 3 Workmate brand and 2 unbrand workmates. (2#85 and 1 #100). I end up using them as axillary tables by clamping kitchen sink cut outs to the workmates. I also have all my shotgun reloaders bolted to 3/4" plywood and C-clamp one to a workmate when it is shotgun loading time.

The whole workmate loading system is so portable, you can relocate it as the weather allows (to the garage or back porch!)

Keep up the good work!

Ivan

No telling how many billions of rounds have been loaded on presses bolted to 2x6 and C-Clamped to the kitchen table. You're in pretty good company.

You might think about 3/8 bolts. 1/4 will probably work fine but I'll sleep better if you use bigger bolts.

__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media

I take it that Workmate is pretty stable? Would you trust one as a casting table? I see them at Goodwill from time to time.

I inherited my dads workmate thirty years ago and use it with a Rock Chucker from time to time. The Rock Chucker is mounted on a 14” piece of 2x4 and I C clamp it to the top of the workmate. Works great! I bought an old used student size desk with bookshelves built into the end and put an oversized 3/4” piece of plywood on that and use that for my Dillon.

The workmate is plenty sturdy and is easy to store when I’m not using it.

I have been thinking about doing something to prevent anything on the table from falling off. However, my thoughts have mainly revolved around some sort of foam thing to place along the edges. Maybe some sort of mat would be best.

We'll see how well the 1/4" bolts do. The good news is I can always move up to larger bolts if needed!

My preliminary testing by moving the handle and ram back and forth show the Workmate stays put. However, I have yet to test it during actual reloading operations. I take it the resizing and decapping operation may be the one where movement is most likely.

I have thought about placing some sort of heavier object on the opposite end of the Workmate (but just above the floor, rather than on top of the plywood) to make things more stable when resizing and decapping, but I'll wait and see at this point.

Great minds think alike.

__________________
Only a cold warrior

Workmates have come in a variety of models and weights over the many years that they have been available. I have one of the lighter ones, but it works perfectly fine when I clamp on a piece of plywood to which a MEC 600 Jr is bolted. Sometime when I get a round tuit I expect to build another top for reloading Metallic Cartridges, then perhaps a third top for casting, but that's a long shot because I prefer to cast standing up.

If I were starting from scratch, I'd probably buy one of the heavier models and like TIlheyra, I'd use a nice heavy piece of 3/4" plywood for the deck I would bolt to. I also like the possibility of having more than one top to make changeover from shot to metallic loading quicker.

Somebody posted plans for the one they built, so I decided to send that along too.

Froggie

Attached Images

	portablebenchplanx780.jpg (17.8 KB, 44 views)
	B&D loading bench.jpg (19.6 KB, 66 views)

I like the extension to add another press or reloading tool. I have used the exact same method for a portable reloading press stand decades ago. Also makes a great rifle/pistol rest with a bit of creativity.

__________________
Steve
The Lounge Rant Master

I have a workmate in my loading room. However, I use it to hold my rifle cleaning vise.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

My Workmate has served me well since 1983. However, I bought a 36" x 24" x 1 1/4" "scrap" piece of board from a lumber yard. It hangs over the front and side edges, which is especially convenient at the front so that my legs fit under the front overhang. I place my foot on the front right leg on the priming upstroke. My press is close to the right side and my powder dropper is on the left side giving me approximately 20" of clear working space in the middle. I recently put a 12" piece of 3/8" plywood as a back splash to hang sheets of paper with my pet loads.

My workmate also served as a portable shooting bench for years. I had a 3/4” plywood surface with a 2x4 attached to the bottom side to clamp onto with the top of the workmate. I used that combination for years.

When I first got into reloading I built a 36" X 24" loading bench out of 2'X4"'s and 4"X4"'s. Served me well for over 20 years and about 4 moves. After the last move our house now has two rooms that I use for reloading and gun rooms and collections display. The bench I use came from Sam's Club (big work bench). See the pictures.....

Attached Images

	reloading1.jpg (96.0 KB, 74 views)
	reloading2.jpg (146.5 KB, 67 views)
	reloading3.jpg (169.2 KB, 65 views)

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

My load area has a shelf put in at almost eye level, where I place my 505
powder scale, for easy reading and free of obstructions for easy adjustments.
I also make sure there is no "Air" moving in the room when loading,
something I leaned one hot summer day.......when I was getting different readings, some how ?? !!

I'm really happy to see how many people have made reloading work for them when having limited space! I had the impression that most reloaders had a big workbench and a spare room to work with, but it seems I need to reevaluate that impression.

Most of us started small and have worked our way up over the years.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Yes a Lee Loader on the kitchen table.

__________________
Joshua 1:9

Yannow, after about 50 years of reloading, I've accumulated so much stuff that I can hardly keep track of it or sometimes, even find it.
Your setup reminds me of how I started - I don't think Workmates existed then - but what I cobbled together was similar in scale, and it suited me just fine. I made good ammo, took a little longer to produce a big batch, but it worked.
Thoreau was a wise man when he wrote “Our life is frittered away by detail...Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let our affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand...Simplify, simplify!”

My press is bolted edgewise to 2 layers of 2x6, which are screwed to a couple studs in the garage. Very compact, recesses in between the studs, and I’ve decided to move it higher so I can load standing up. Not always room for a stool, depending on where the wife parks!

I started with a Lyman 310 Tool in .38 Special and .45 ACP.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

That works and looks nice as well. You can always use C clamps for the powder measure and even the press if you want them where you can move them from the bench. I use C clamps on my powder measure so I can move it off the bench when not in use.

My presses and sizer are bolted to an 1 1/2 X 8" oak board and a 2" X 8" pine board that are glued and screwed together. They are clamped to the work bench using 8 " C-clamps. Did not want to drill holes in the bench top.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Back in the mid-70's, when I lived in an apartment, a friend & I made these three-legged portable reloading tables for ourselves.

I still use it when it's too cold or too hot in the garage for the bench mounted press.

I ended up filling the metal pipe legs with scrap lead bullets which added a little more heft to it's weight.

.



.
.



.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

Like the turret press not many folks seem to use them today. Every one wants to talk about their Dillon.........

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I still use a Lee turret press for all my handgun ammo. Never could bring myself to "full auto" reloading.

LOL! Me too at the same point in time. 1982. Mine's long gone though. I did use it for years. It would fold right up and store in a closet.

A piece of half-round molding all the way around the top.

The Lee Classic Turret. Great choice when space and budget are factors. I loved that press. I sold mine to a kid at work when I bought a progressive. If I had the room on my bench I would have kept it.

I started with a Lyman Tmag ,but mine is orange.

That is the newer one I believe. I started with a Lyman Spar-T press, then to a Dillion and now back to a Lyman Turret.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Do what you gotta do brother!@ Looks great!

It's not one that gives you the option to auto-index to the next die but I really like it over a single die press because I'm always doing work-up loads with different bullet/powder combinations.

Having all the related dies mounted at the same time saves a ton of time -vs- a single & having to constantly remove & replace dies.

.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

Here is mine, A store bought unit. Very portable...

22d5c7741831a4451abf35f454abacf7.jpg

__________________
Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I put the reloading bench to the first real test yesterday! The whole bench remained stable during the various operations, and especially when I was seating and crimping!

Unfortunately, I had to stop after a few rounds as my scale seemed to be way too inconsistent for my comfort. Probably my lack of familiarity with the scale, but I did make sure to place it where vibrations would be minimized and my various electronics would not interfere.

Nevertheless, it turned out to be a good test of the workbench. I have plenty of space to do the various operations, as long as I am mindful to only put the tools I need for that operation on the workbench at any given time. I was also able to place some plywood across the lower part of the frame to use as a storage space and staging area. The ability to use that vertical space really helps with keeping everything in a compact footprint. In sum, I'm happy with it so far!