Dedicated bullet casting bench (pics)...

[canoeguy]

Well, I built my bullet casting bench, wound up making it 48" tall (4'), working surface 48" by 40". Spent a pleasant couple hours this afternoon trying everything out, cast about 200 .38 LRN, 158 grain. 4' tall surface works good for me, as I'm fairly tall and didn't want to have to crouch over to line up the mould with the dispensing spout. Put some fir board "fiddles" around the back and right side to catch stray bullets before they roll onto the floor. Now I need to find a comfortable bar stool to complete the rig. Here's some pics:

Put the whole shebang on casters so I can roll it out of the way when not using it, roll it outside on pleasant days, and when the inevitable move comes (my wife is a pastor, and we move about every three years), you are more flexible about where it winds up in your new house:

I started out with Lee Tumble Lube groove molds for ease of lubing and sizing, next month I'll pick up a real lubricator and sizer for casting, lubing and sizing rifle bullets.

 

[Cary]

It looks like you got a table there that should fit your casting needs just fine. Like you most of my stuff is portable as well.
Cary

 

[Rancher]

Good job! I like the idea of casters. Will have to do that for my own man-cave!

 

[flat top]

First class! I really thought you would go with my idea of casting on the shop floor, but I see that you chose the more sensible route. Looks nice, and the casters idea is a real winner!!!

 

[Catshooter]

Excellent work.

I too build my benches higher. I either stand or sit on a bar stool, much less fatiuge.


Cat

 

[Dale53]

It looks like you have a well thought out project completed. One thing I might suggest - paint it (or varnish) before you get it all stained.

I built a dedicated casting bench and it has worked out nearly perfectly for me. I went another direction, built it in and low for use with a chair. I have a bad back and could never cast standing up. The idea is to have it for YOU (which I did>)):

I left my wood "natural" and have to say it was a mistake. It is now somewhat stained and not quite as nice as it would have been if I had applied a nice finish. Later, I may apply a masonite surface to spruce it up a bit. I did apply a carpet surface to the left side bench for working on guns. It has worked out well (short nap outdoor carpet).

P.S. Ignore the 748 powder caddy - it is empty...

Dale53

 

[Paul5388]

Here's my casting table (commercial shelving I cut down for the purpose) with the Lyman 4500 set up with clamps (I think they're actually called "bar" clamps from Harbor Freight).

I use a stool I got at Sam's club and raised the height of the Lee Pro 20-4 with a triple brick. Like Dale, my back won't handle a long session standing up.

The top, which is hard to see with all of the "stuff" covering everything, is a double thickness of 3/4" particle board with sheet metal screwed to the top of that.

 

[acl864]

Thanks for the ideas guys. My next project is a casting bench. I think I'm going with a sit down version. I also like the casters.

Andy

 

[Cary]

Paul5388,
"The top, which is hard to see with all of the "stuff" covering everything, is a double thickness of 3/4" particle board with sheet metal screwed to the top of that".

That is one sturdy bench top you have Paul. The top of my bench is 1&1/4" thick plywood. I use bar clamps to attach some of my reloading tools to my bench when they are in use as well.
Cary

 

[Paul5388]

The clamps are cheap and they save a lot of holes being drilled and then trying to remember which holes fit what. When I get through with the Lyman, I just unclamp it and sit it on the shelf under the bench. I did have to cut the 4X4 down to the proper size that it's clamped to and then put a couple of drywall screws in it to hold it in place. That's about 3" of lip down from the top and the clamps wouldn't adjust that far.

Most of the casting equipment doesn't need to be mounted as solidly as a reloading press, so the clamps will allow a lot more to function in a given amount of space. I have a 2'X4" work area and a bad habit of cluttering the space up.