reloading bench??????

[navylawdog]

When I moved recently I had to get rid of my old reloading bench. I was just wondering where everyone comes up with their benches? I looked on MidwayUSA and they have a couple of benches but they are fairly expensive and small. Does anyone have any ideas, because not reloading is driving me nuts?

Navylawdog

[Siskiyou]

I have two reloading benches.  Last summer we remodeled one of our bathrooms and replaced the vanity.  The more I looked at it I thought it would be an asset for storing reloading items and working on the top.  I purchased enough 2x12 Douglas fir to put a sturdy top on it.  My other bench I put together with 4x4 legs and 3/4" particleboard and Douglas fir planks.  It is heavy and is still going strong after 20-years.  Both benches have a 3-inch lip on the backside to keep things from falling off.   I used decking screws to button it together.

[corbanzo]

4x4's, 2x4's and 3/4" plywood.  That's where my reloading bench came from.  Sturdy.

[LaOtto222]

I made mine out of 2X4 and kitchen counter top. You want it heavy, the heavier the better. By making it your self you can make it a custom height so it is comfortable to set to for long periods of time. I have a folding chair I use to set on, so I made the bench just the right height for me to set to comfortably. When I put my gun cleaning cradle on the bench it is a comfortable height to stand to. I also attached 2X4 to the back and ran them up to several feet above the bench. I then attached 1/4" plywood to it and the made shelves for that area. On the corners, I doubled the 2X4's so they were 4X4's. ran the long 2X4 that went in front and back over the top of one of the 2X4 on the leg so they were supported by the leg. I have added a bunch of stuff to the shelves, like bullets, powder, loaded ammo, etc to not only store them, but add weight to the bench. I chose a dark counter top. If I had a do over, I would chose a lighter colored top to make it easier to see small parts that fall/lay on it. I then used a yellow pine 2X6 that I attached to the counter top flat by drilling two 1/4" holes through both the 2X6 and the counter top. I used fender washers and wing nuts to attach it. It sticks about 4 inches beyond the bench that I attached my loading press to. If for some reason I want to move it or get it out of the way, I just take off the wing nuts an lift it off. I then have just small holes in the counter top. I attached loading accessories to 2 X stock, like case trimmer, barrel vise, gunsmith vice. I then drilled holes through the 2X stock that I attached them to and the bench front 2X4 and then attach them or store them away when not needed with carriage bolts and wing nuts. You can make you bench any length you need. Mine is 6' but you can make it 4', 5', or 8', depending on your room size and your needs. Here is a picture of my bench/loading area

[stimpylu32]

Depending on how much space you have i started with this one some years ago , simple 2x4 frame and 2 legs and a plywood top , used tapcon's to anchor it to the block wall in back .



stimpy

[Tom W.]

Mine came from Sears... I understand that now they have better models, but at a higher price...



This is my components cabinet

[ihuntbucks]

Tom,where did you find your cabinet at?I could use one with shelves in it like that......Rick

[jhalcott]

 I got an old desk when a local senator moved his office. I believe it is called a "Campaign" desk.

[mdi]

While looking for plans and building your bench maybe you could go "temporary". I'm limited in my reloading space so I use a B&D Workmate with my press bolted to a scrap piece (24" X 30") of pressed wood 3/4" counter top (heavy!). A piece of 2 X 4 is bolted along the bottom for the Workmate to clamp on. It's stored in a closet along with my foot locker of reloading stuff and can be set up in 30 seconds. Might help ease the withdrawals!

[davem270win]

Like many reloaders, I based my bench on the plans from the National Reloaders manufacturer Association. You can find the plans online at:

http://www.zjstech.net/gunstuff/reloadingbench.pdf

I particularly like the design for the actual table top. The front of the bench allows you to use C-clamps to hold equipment in place, which can be a real space saver.
I designed mine so I could disassemble it and move it, and I have several times.

[Sweetwater]

Nice pictures there, guys!! Wish I had taken some of various benches I've made use of.
The first was a mahogany office desk. Big, heavy and wonderful! But Bulky! It stayed in Maine when I moved to Wyoming. There, I first mounted that Herter's Super 3 press to a piece of 5/8's plywood and c-clamped it to the kitchen table when needed. Needless to say, the wife wasn't real happy with this and prompted the bulding of a compact bench. A single 2x12 cut 4ft long with drawers down one side and a single drawer with a cabinet door on the other side and about a 2ft kneehole. Mounted it to the living room wall in our singlewide trailer - but got it off the kitchen table! I later mounted it to the wall in a corner of the rec room in our first house with a full basement. When I moved into my camper, I cut the top at the left side of the kneehole and mounted the drawer portion (with the press) on the wall by the bathroom. The rest got mounted under the fridge/ above the furnace.
The next one I used was also a desk, believe it was called a secretary. Not as big as the first desk, but big enough and cheap. The church was throwing it out.
My present bench is a "Wal-Mart" computer hutch that I reinforced with a few 3x4 repair angles from True-Value Hardware. It's also fairly compact and I have a storage cabinet also from "Wal-Mart" with all the shelves and a partition up the middle. It also came with a lock, such as it is - keeps honest people honest.

Doesn't take much, unless that is what you want. My biggest goal when it was put away was to get it out and set up - whatever it took. Most of that is imagination.  Good luck and back to the business of handloading.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Tom W.]

Ihuntbucks, I think it's just a cheapie thing we got from Walmart or Sam's club....It does have a lock on it to keep kids out, but there aren't any at my house....