Loading benches

[Drm50]

I have built a dozen loading benches over the years. My first bench was a old desk. It ended up with so many extra nails and
screws that it showed up on NORAD radar. That is what happened to all them along the way. I decided to build a bench
for 2 presses, Bullet sizer, trimmer, charger, ect, Went with 12'
X 28" bench all bolts. I dug out 2 white oak planks. 12' x 14"x 5"
Put 3 sets of 4x4 legs under it with shelves and cross bucks
in the back. I built it upside down and had to get 2 guys to help
me flip it up and position it. It doesn't move no matter what you
do. I see the store bought benches that look very fashionable
but I doubt they will outlast mine. I don't think I will ever have to
build another.

 

[Rule3]

Without pictures it does not exist

 

[Magload]

Dang I would hate to see what those planks would cost around here. You could rebuild the space shuttle on that thing.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Pictures?????

 

[Rocket3]

You'll also have a nice place to park your tank.

 

[Frank237]

https://sites.google.com/site/grassrocketranch/the-nrma-reloading-bench

Build THIS exactly to the specs and you have a relatively light bench. Easily unbolted to move it in sections. Yet due to the boxed in design very solid.

I have followed these plans but build them 36" wide by 8 feet long. worked as well as the 5' model I built for apartment use.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I built this exact model that Frank posted plans for over 22 yrs. ago. It is an absolute beast and will NOT wiggle and wobble when you're running a press. I polyurethaned the bench top and have two Dillon 650s mounted. If you don't care about the cabinetry you can skip it since it is a totally separate build.

Go for it...you'll never regret it!

 

[rwsmith]

I was SO hoping.....

After reading your description I SO wanted to see what it looked like. It SOUNDS great.

 

[rwsmith]

Shelves will.....

If you don't care about the cabinetry you can skip it since it is a totally separate build.

Shelves would do me just fine. A cabinet maker I ain't.

 

[BB57]

As long as we are talking about reloading benches, I made this one last summer after we bought a new house. I don't anticipate any permanent changed of station in my future so I figured it was time to build a decent reloading bench.

It's a torsion beam bench, which means it is built around three 8 ft 2x4s glued and screwed together to form a single 4.5" wide beam. The inner 2x4 is cut short so that the legs can be inserted between the outer 2x4s with an additional 2x4 screwed to it at a 90 degree angle.

The rear of the bench is supported by another 8 ft 2x4 lag screwed to the studs in the wall, and five 2ft long 2x4s run between the front and back of the bench (one on each end, an 3 spaced 24" apart in between).

The top is made from a single piece of 3/4" ply and is screwed to underlying 2x4s.

I used tile for the top to give it a durable, easy to clean and easy to replace surface. I also added 1x6 oak facing raised flush with the top to give it a nice finished look. And to complete the effect, I used 1x4 oak facing on the large shelves above the bench to provide space for recessed lighting, and oak trim on the front of the smaller shelves. Brass lives in the buckets under the bench.

 

[gregintenn]

I built mind out of 2x4s and 2x6s. I can rebuild a v8 engine on it if I want. You are correct in that a reloading bench needs to be heavy built.

 

[Drm50]

Will get pics of bench up this week end. It has so much **** on
it, have to clean up for pic. Did somebody say "buy", 5" white
oak planks? We don't buy no stinking oak planks around here.
We cut down tree and run it through saw mill. Stick it up in top
of barn, and let dry for 3-4 yrs. You pilgrims and flat landers
can get your #1 Hemlock, Builders Choice at Lowes or Home
Deposit, we drag ours up out of hollow!

 

[Rule3]

Now that Sir is Classic!!^^

 

[fordson]

Building a reloading bench is as much fun as reloading. I'm continually fine tuning my bench and work area. Never really done........

 

[chief38]

I built this bench 20 years ago and I could not even imagine how much it weighs...... It's 12 feet wide, 30" deep and has two shelves below and the bench top is 2" thick. With all the lead, cases, tools etc on it I would say you would need a crane to pick it up. It never moves no matter how hard I work on it and the only downside is that since it was built in place I will never be able get it out of my house. I have two of them in my shop but only this one is used for reloading.

 

[H Richard]

When we built our condo 10 years ago I was tired of a tiny stuck away in a corner loading bench. I dedicated a room to it, 21X12. In the corner is a 4X7 ft. concrete walk in vault with a steel door for the guns. The loading bench is a continual counter top about 36 ft long in a "U" shape around 3 sides of my loading room. I used kitchen base cabinets at intervals with 2X4 connection structure to hold up the 5/8" plywood top with a 1/4" tempered Masonite layer on top with a couple coats of poly. My 550 and my MEC 9000 are located on the left side with my old Texan turret loader on the middle section, leaving the right section for cleaning and working. There is plenty of room beneath the benches for ammo storage in GI Ammo cans.

 

[Rule3]

I built this bench 20 years ago and I could not even imagine how much it weighs...... It's 12 feet wide, 30" deep and has two shelves below and the bench top is 2" thick. With all the lead, cases, tools etc on it I would say you would need a crane to pick it up. It never moves no matter how hard I work on it and the only downside is that since it was built in place I will never be able get it out of my house. I have two of them in my shop but only this one is used for reloading.

Geese you are so disorganized

Green with envy

 

[chief38]

Geese you are so disorganized

Green with envy

I use my shop almost daily and believe me it does get messy. I ALWAYS make it a point to clean up and put everything in its place BEFORE going upstairs - even if it's in the wee hours. This way the next day the shop is organized and I don't walk into a mess. Can't stand having to start in a messy situation.

 

[chief38]

By the way, don't know if there is a connection but I do find that MOST Re-loaders are "Neat-nicks" when it comes to their Gun/Reloading rooms. I keep my Garage like that too.

 

[Rule3]

By the way, don't know if there is a connection but I do find that MOST Re-loaders are "Neat-nicks" when it comes to their Gun/Reloading rooms. I keep my Garage like that too.

My little reloading bench is clean and organized. My 2 car garage well, it could be on hoarders!

No attics or basements here, so the garage is the catch all for "stuff" can't even put a car in there.