Reloading bench/tble??

[Retired LTC USAR]

Going to make a reloading table/bench, but have a question.

What did you use to make your top? Plywood, an old desk, how about a computer desk, or an old piece of counter top?

How strong does it need to be to withstand the pressure of the down stroke?

TIA.

 

[RussellD]

Your bench can be as simple or elaborate as you like.

You can buy a prefab work bench from Lowes or buy a section of counter top. Your bench needs to be sturdy and not flex as you resize the brass. Depending on your budget-I would suggest using 4x4's for a frame, 3/4" plywood for the top and then cover it with a ready made counter top for the finished look. Cabinets are nice, you will always need storage...

I have loaded on everything from a tool bench to a 2x4 frame bench to my dream indoor set up. As long as its bolted to the studs in the wall its all good.

Have fun-by the time you get to your 4th or 5th generation bench, get back to us. Oh and dont forget the grumpy old man as a mentor. VERY IMPORTANT

 

[Moonman]

Needs to be STRONG if overhanging press is involved.
Not quite as strong if using a Progressive like Dillon, or Hornady LNL.
Dillon makes a "STRONG MOUNT", the name, and Inlinefabrication.com
makes a STRONG MOUNT type for the Hornady press.

These mounts place the whole press ON THE TABLETOP.
Single Stage presses OVERHANG and need strength and the
whole thing should be bolted to the wall.

Some folks make tops with 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood screwed
and glued together, then topped with something or Formica
for easy cleanup.

My bench top is made from 1 3/4" thick Butcher Block Maple.

 

[Engineer1911]

And you collect snub nose revolvers with a TWELVE foot reloading bench. Did you get a good deal on a used dining room table for legs?

 

[samwood]

Put my bench together with 2X4's using the workbench leg and shelf kits from this manufacturer 2 x 4 Basics available at alot of hardware stores. Pretty simple and sturdy, particularly if you store your bullets on the bottom shelf.

 

[2hawk]

Lot's of ways to go about it, but the sturdier the better. Here's a good link for info:
Free Reloading Bench Plans « Daily Bulletin

 

[Moonman]

Great Benches

For people short on time or carpenter skills, check out;

Americanworkbench.com

John in South Carolina builds some NICE benches for all

different sorts of work or hobbies from Flytying, Ben Franklins,

Chef Carts, Shelving Racks, Computer Desks, to Reloading Benches.

These benches are WOOD and American MADE.

Jimmy Buffet even bought one to build guitars on.

The benches have Maple Butcher Block Tops.

These benches assembly pretty quickly and EASILY when they arrive,

as they are all predrilled for assembly and the hardware is included.

Give the site a look for some great benches whatever your needs.

Love mine.

 

[dsbock]

I used two sheets of 3/4" held together with an adhesive primer called "Gripper."

I painted a coating on the common faces of the plywood and clamped them together. I also piled all my bullets and shot on top while clamped.

Once that dried, I gave the outside surface two coats and then used my router to get a nice clean edge.

After everything was done, I screwed it down on my workbench made out of 2x4 lumber held together with carriage bolts.

I'll try to post pictures when I get home.

David

 

[SMSgt]

It really depends on your setup and calibers you're reloading. Handgun cases generally don't take a lot of force like the larger rifle caliber might.

Russelld has the right idea with the cabinet if you have the space. Often you can find one being tossed out where someone is remodeling a kitchen. HD or Lowes often has some on clearance or a cancelled order that can be had on the cheap. The drawers and compartments are great for keeping things tidy and organized.

 

[Jellybean]

I have two tables that I bought at a garage sale. They are both made from kits that supplied metal legs and user supplied plywood sheets, one is 1/2" thick and the other is 3/4". Since the wood is fairly thin, especially on the 1/2" table, I mounted my presses, bullet sizer, primer seater and etc. near the legs. My progressive press has a 4x4 post supporting it under the table and I made a frame to support my mini-lathe on the end of the table.

 

[Rule3]

I normally would not even walk into a Harbor Freight but, the workbench they have is not bad at all, My neighbor has one and it is pretty damn solid. When on sale and with a coupon it is a good buy. Looks nice also. If you don't feel like build one from scratch.

60" Workbench w/ 4 Drawers

 

[Moonman]

The Harbor Freight bench Rule3 mentions is nice, IF ON SALE and YOU HAVE A COUPON.

I have one next to my RELOADING BENCH for scales, Chargemaster, Sizer,
tools and other things.

I don't think it would work very well with any press OVERHANGING the tables edge though.

You would have to BOLT this table to the wall as it's not that heavy.

The 4 drawers do not open real far either, which is a pain at times.

It's a rather attractive and cheaply priced work bench.

 

[novalty]

I found a clearance sale on 6' counter-top at my local Home Depot for $15, added a couple of 4x4" post for front legs, and the rest is screwed to the wall. Underneath the turret, my father-in-law welded up an L-bracket with 1/4" steel to strengthen the bench press is also bolted to the bracket. I think I have about $40 in material for my bench. It's not the most beautiful thing the world, but does the job well, and I the smoothness of the counter-top makes it nice for cleaning up any messes.

 

[Moonman]

I saw a bench that someone made on a different forum,

it was an OCTAGON OR HEXAGON TOP.

He had it in the basement with room to walk around it, a press or piece of equipment at each side.

Kinda Different and NEAT!!!!!

 

[cfplinker]

The legs on my bench are 4x4s and the top is a solid core door. The top is about 35 inches high so I can use the bench both sitting and standing. The legs are attached using the flat sheet metal mending plates that you find in the hardware section where the joist hangers are. Then I put 2x4s between the side legs and the back legs for additional stiffness. A half depth shelf goes between the side 2x4s and along the back 2x4. It is high enough that I can get a 5 gallon bucket under it. This gives enough room to double stack coffee cans with cast bullets under it.

 

[ozo]

I just used a cabinet I already had.
The 'strong mount' stand for the Dillon
makes it oh so much better.
Anchored the cabinet to the wall.
I sit right here in my office and the press
is at 5oclock to me, with a desk in front of me
and also to my left.
For me, and the rounds I load now, and this set-up,
I have cut way down on the space I need.
I am old and retired...and lazy now....and this
works well for me.
I have a lot of room in my shop when I feel the need
to get hyped about large projects.....
For a daily 200 rounds or so.....this small
space is ideal for me......and very convenient.
It's all just so personal....and without limitation..
at least mentally.

 

[DGT]

I've posted this before this was my solution. The hardest part is taking a saw to an otherwise nice piece of furniture.

 

[67tempest]

Loading bench

My loading bench is made from an old wooden desk. I removed the original top and made a new top out of 2 pieces of 3/4 particle board glued and screwed together then sealed with polyurethane. I made the top oversize with an overhang in the front so I had a place to clamp down my press, powder measure etc. I preferred not to drill holes and permanently mount my press. I have a few different presses I use and I just unclamp one and clamp down the other using c-clamps. I have been using this bench for close to 18 years and the top looks as good as new. The polyurethane sealer helps keep any cleaning solvents and lubes I might use cleaning my firearms from soaking into the particle board.

 

[Rule3]

The Harbor Freight bench Rule3 mentions is nice, IF ON SALE and YOU HAVE A COUPON.

I have one next to my RELOADING BENCH for scales, Chargemaster, Sizer,
tools and other things.

I don't think it would work very well with any press OVERHANGING the tables edge though.

You would have to BOLT this table to the wall as it's not that heavy.

The 4 drawers do not open real far either, which is a pain at times.

It's a rather attractive and cheaply priced work bench.

Yes, it certainly needs to be bolted to the wall as should any bench. As to weight it is over 100 lbs of real wood not particle board so it is substantial. I would think the top drawers would need to be sacrificed.

I saw a similar one at Costco or Sams that was a commercial food butcher block. It has stainless steel legs but about $100 more.

If I had room I would just buy lower kitchen cabinets (all wood)space in between and do the sheet of 5/8 or 3/4 plywood cut in half on a 2x4 frame, 4 x4 legs

 

[Rule3]

People always forget the NOTABLE THREADS on the top of every forum.

LOOK HERE:
VVV
VVV

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/76011-bench-design.html

 

[Oscarflytyer]

I have two pcs. of 3/4 inch plywood glued and screwed together.

+1. Using same thing.

 

[Big Fred]

2X4's bolted together and lag bolted to the walls. Top is 2 layers of 1/2" plywood glued and screwed. The bench is 12 foot by 8 foot. The small bench on the right is made the same way, bolted and laged, and is used for cleaning and working on guns.

 

[MDMarauder]

I used a old drafting table.

 

[TheTinMan]

I used two old kitchen cabinets as the base. The top is a double layer of 3/4" plywood glued & screwed together and topped with thin hardboard (replaceable). The edges are oak. Cabinets and top both are bolted to the wall. I added a splashboard/backboard shortly after this picture was taken:

I made a mounting box for each of my presses - single stage, turret and progressive. The box for the single stage also serves as a case prep center and/or beam scale riser because I work at the bench standing up. Here's the most recent box for my Hornady AP:

I need to be able to remove the presses from the bench because I have other hobbies too. If you look in that first pic, you'll see an old Fender tube amp chassis in a cradle ready to get fixed up.

 

[cellllman]

For my table I bought a Sears Craftsman work bench. As it was to tall to sit at I cut 7" off the top of the frame. 4.5 ft X 2 ft with an attached pegboard, power strip and ability to place a fluorescent light under the hood. Two drawers and a lower shelf plus the added shelving on the pegboard gives me lots of storage space.
You may notice I go Lee with a pro 1000, classic turret and the small single reloader press. Just got the classic and quickly attached it to try it out. Love it! One of the things I love about the classic turret press is the ability to set 4 dies in it's own turret and quick change to another caliber in seconds. Next step is to buy the Lee bench plate to allow for quick removal/attachment of the press I wish to use and gain back table space.
I reload handgun ammo in 45 acp, 40sw, 9mm and 38 special.

 

[Buford57]

My press is mounted on a stand my father made for me as a wedding present over 30 years ago. It's a 4-foot length of 6" well casing welded to a 1928 Chevy rim. The top is a 12" X 6" platform of 1/2" steel with "ears" of the same on both sides. The platform is drilled and tapped and whichever press I am using at the time is bolted to the stand. Since it weighs about 150#, even when using forming dies all I have to do is put my feet on the rim and it stays put. The whole thing is painted John Deere green. I use one of the Black & Decker folding work benches to hold components.

I know, it's not an answer for everyone, or even anyone else, but last Saturday would have been his 82nd birthday and I felt like bragging on him.

 

[elfego baca]

reloading bench top

On one of my reloading 'benches' has a 1" thick plywood top, another 3/4" plywood top.

For another reloading press i found an old heavy wooden desk.

They all work great.

elfego

 

[Frank46]

My loading bench is actually a scrounged table that was thrown out at work. Steel top and legs and scrounged some old scaffold planks that are about 2" thick. Cut to fit the table then held in place with some 3/8" bolts. Went over the wood with a sander to get some of the roughness off the planks and has about 4 coats of some varnish I had. Took some 3/4" plywood covered up the legs to make a sort of cabinet with a door. That was about 20 years ago and its still alive and kicking.
Total cost I wouldn't even think on as it has paid itself many times over.
When I lived in an apartment I had two 3 drawer file cabinets of the same height. Two pieces of 3/4" plywood glued together and screwed to the tops of the cabinets with a space for my legs. Frank

 

[olskool]

i have posted mine before, i have two 3/4 in. plywood and one very thick pressed wood covered with a very thin woodgrain. but plywood works great.

 

[cellllman]

Would love to see a picture of this!