Easy Reloading Bench

[rck281]

I'm going to be the dissenting opinion. I don't like that bench! Your press will have to be at the end or you will have to remove a drawer. If at the end, there isn't any workspace for cases and loading blocks. I also don't like the full depth bottom shelf. I much prefer to sit into the bench instead of leaning forward. I would remake the shelf half depth.
I purchase a Gorilla bench at Cosco. Very sturdy but doesn't have any drawers, so not ideal. Good luck.

 

[DRAINSMITH]

Oh, Damn the draws work!

And I have more than a single stage mounted!!
I also have mine mounted to the wall 8" L brackets.

 

[Mike0251]

It's a great bench. Get yourself some better screws than what it comes with and use a little carpenters glue too. Then brace the back from side to side and bolt it to the wall. No complaints.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

As with anything that you want to last: use good materials! Some of the benches from HF have pretty low grade wood in places, so inspect it before you take position!

When building new or adding to loading benches 1) Always avoid particle board or composites (there is no long term durability). 2) If using plywood for more than bracing, glue layers together until you have 1.5 to 2 inch thickness. 3) Movement stress comes from all three directions, brace and attach accordingly.

My second loading bench was made from 2x12 waterbed sides and and all bolts and screws were 3" or longer. It lasted through 20 years of use without a need for repair! The move to a condo required me to reduce the length to 5' and relocate the legs, but it is still going strong. (The waterbed parts are already stained and varnished, and usually better quality than "Home Center" wood. The price was always free! [a good 7' bench with legs, a shelf, and bracing, will usually require the frames of 2 waterbeds (any size). However, one large bed will make a very good top!] Keep an eye out for old hippies that are moving!

Ivan

 

[nachogrande]

NOT A BAD ONE THERE.

Another worth looking at if Sears still has them (I imagine they would be on sale) is a craftsman galvanized top workbench. They have different models/options. Mine is "APP" 5' X 2'.Plastic organizer trays on the back & 1 side. The drawers are on ball bearings & will hold a tremendous amount of wt & still slide easily. The galvanized top is worry free with spills. It holds/organizes a ton of stuff & can be disassembled if you need to move it. NOT too big for a mancave. I have built several myself, paid more $ for the lumber & hardware & ended up leaving them when moving. Going on 14 yrs with this one. It looks/works as new. Sorry no pics, try sears web site. I say it A LOT, look for someone that is getting out of the game (died) and buy *EVERYTHING*, chair/lights/books/NOTES/powder/primers/bullets/dies/press etc etc. It will save you a fortune & everything is likely set up. Good luck.

 

[Boudiepitbull]

I don't remember if I saw it somewhere here or on a youTube reloading bench video (yes, they actually exist and I watched just about all of them), but some clever person took the same Harbor Freight bench we're talking about and did a simple modification to the drawers. Realizing that the 4 drawer set up as it comes from HF were too shallow and limiting for storage of his reloading supplies, he left the bottom panel out of the top drawers and used flat mending plates to tie both top and bottom drawers together creating 2 more useful deeper drawers for storage. Just thought I'd pass the idea along if you go the Harbor Freight route...

 

[Skeet 028]

I say it A LOT, look for someone that is getting out of the game (died) and buy *EVERYTHING*, chair/lights/books/NOTES/powder/primers/bullets/dies/press etc etc. It will save you a fortune & everything is likely set up. Good luck.

Went to a yard sale one day. guy had a whole table of brass bullets etc. So made him an offer for the whole thing.. An hour later I had purchased 19 of 23 guns..loading bench (NSSF plan) all his components safe reloading tools... everything. He was moving into a condo. He and his wife were so... appreciative. That was a really big bench... I eventually gave it to a friend

 

[Nevada Ed]

My first loading bench was from a section of kitchen sink counter top.
Nailed a 2x4 across the studs in the wall to attach the back of the table
and added a 2x4 on the left and a 2x6 knee brace on the right to
where I had my RCBS unit attached.

Since the material was paid for it was just the matter of labor,
however the kitchen re-model was a little more expensive.

 

[fredj338]

From HF? It will work fine, add some weight &/o attach to the wall. Another option is a steel work bench with wooden top added. Just don't get one with wheels.

 

[daniel lawecki]

I bought the Harbor Fright wood working bench cover the top with plywood. I put a good grade of cabinet plywood clear coated it real nice.

 

[rotor1]

Harbor Freight

I have that bench and have 3 presses mounted on it. I haven't lost use of the draws. Very solid build and doesn't move at all. I believe on sale it runs for $129 so buy on sale!

 

[ajellydonut]

LOWES sells a work bench frame and you just add a 4X8 sheets of plywood. Mine worked out GREAT!

 

[rezarf]

Need cheap and you're beginning? Get a microwave cart at a local thrift. Clamp your press on and reload you heart out. As you gain experience or need more space, look at getting a bigger/heavier bench. Mine is an 18x30 butcher block cutting board. Works fine.

 

[Twoboxer]

Need cheap and you're beginning? Get a microwave cart at a local thrift. Clamp your press on and reload you heart out. As you gain experience or need more space, look at getting a bigger/heavier bench. Mine is an 18x30 butcher block cutting board. Works fine.

Reminded me that my first "bench" was a rolling cabinet like this one except with lockable wheels. Screwed a piece of plywood to the top to create a flat surface, then screwed two 4' pieces of plywood to that to get a 1.5" thick benchtop.

Mounted a SS press on one end, and a progressive on the other. Lockable storage was a plus.

Lots of things can work, or be made to work just fine.

 

[Majer]

Go to a thrift store or look in the paper for yard sales that have to older wooden desks for sale. They are usually very cheap to buy or free and if you use a mount to raise the press up you can still use the drawers for storage. You want to look for something like this that uses solid wood top and sides.

 

[Racer X]

Well, if you can wait almost a year, on Black Friday, those Woodworkers Benches are about $110 in store.

They have multiple suppliers, which is why they have multiple stock numbers. I don't recall which are the good ones. I'm sure that changes as their suppliers come and go.

Anyway, I second the idea of also using woodworkers glue, and maybe buying a better set of fasteners. You might want a sheet of plywood for a top, as it has cutouts for doglegs to hold projects in place as you work on them. Anyway, a good starting point.

 

[Emop]

That's a nice bench if you're woodworking. But for $160 you could build a pretty nice bench. Below is my current bench. The top is an 8' 2x12 cut in half and the rest should be self explanatory. Assembled with exterior deck screws and lag screws, I don't think I have 40 bucks in it. You could add angled braces for stability, but it hasn't been necessary. All the force is downwards.

I should move the lower 2x4's from being right on the floor because I can't slide my feet underneath. Maybe I'll get ambitious.

Well done and great price! Thanks

 

[Emop]

It's a great bench. Get yourself some better screws than what it comes with and use a little carpenters glue too. Then brace the back from side to side and bolt it to the wall. No complaints.

Good advice. Thanks

 

[Emop]

Oh, Damn the draws work!

And I have more than a single stage mounted!!
I also have mine mounted to the wall 8" L brackets.

You have an impressive set up going there! You also proved you don't need to lose the drawers, without a doubt! I'm not sure if I understand how you mounted the presses on the top only, but I certainly like what you did. Can you mount the Rock Chucker the same way? (I couldn't zoom in well enough to see for sure how you did it) Any chance you have a close-up pic of that?
Thanks

 

[Emop]

Well, if you can wait almost a year, on Black Friday, those Woodworkers Benches are about $110 in store.

They have multiple suppliers, which is why they have multiple stock numbers. I don't recall which are the good ones. I'm sure that changes as their suppliers come and go.

Anyway, I second the idea of also using woodworkers glue, and maybe buying a better set of fasteners. You might want a sheet of plywood for a top, as it has cutouts for doglegs to hold projects in place as you work on them. Anyway, a good starting point.

Thank you for the heads up but I don't have enough patience to wait that long!