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Offline Jack Crevalle

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« on: January 29, 2003, 01:05:25 PM »
I am about to try reloading rifle cartridges for the first time and I'm looking for ideas on a small commercially available bench.

Ideally I'm looking for something with about four square feet of bench top space with perhaps some storage above or below. It should of course be heavy for stability. I'd like to get something ready-made that I could get locally from say a Lowe's or Home Depot. I really would rather spend my time in other ways rather than sawing two-bys.

I've seen stuff on-line but it takes weeks to get and the shipping costs are hideous.

Thanks.
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Offline savageT

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Re: Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2003, 03:55:10 PM »
Quote from: Jack Crevalle
I am about to try reloading rifle cartridges for the first time and I'm looking for ideas on a small commercially available bench.

Ideally I'm looking for something with about four square feet of bench top space with perhaps some storage above or below. It should of course be heavy for stability. I'd like to get something ready-made that I could get locally from say a Lowe's or Home Depot. I really would rather spend my time in other ways rather than sawing two-bys.

I've seen stuff on-line but it takes weeks to get and the shipping costs are hideous.

Thanks.


Jack,    That's exactly where I'm at today.  I went to Home Depot and they sell a boxed kit that contains plans and steel brackets only for about 28 or 29 bucks.  You are probably aware the bench plans this uses.  It can be 4, 6 or 8 ft long with a peg-backboard for hanging tools.  There's a shelf underneath that is open.  There is also a set of plans that the NRMA National Reloading Manufacturers Assoc. produces.  You can order the plans from them:  "Set Yourself Up To Reload" $6.00 or plans only $4.00
NMRA
Suite 300
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

www.reload-nrma.com
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savageT........Have you hugged a '99 lately?

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most.

Offline Advocate

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2003, 04:43:34 PM »
Black and Decker used to make a portable work bench called the "Work Mate" I think.  I bought one and used it very successfully for years. Very good. Very stable. Very well made.
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Offline jhm

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loading bench
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2003, 05:00:15 PM »
Jack sears had some portable workbenches in their craftsman catalog that looked like they would make up into a decent workbench you might look into one of them a little costly to begine with though. :D   JIM
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Offline securitysix

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2003, 05:37:25 AM »
The Black & Decker Workmate is still available, but it will not have four square feet of space unless you seperate the two top pieces and bolt a piece of plywood onto it.  I have done this with mine and it works great.  It will be a very sturdy surface, though.
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Offline savageT

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2003, 06:59:50 AM »
In Cabela's new 2003 Shooting Catalog, page 13 upper left......Kennedy KenCraft Reloading Bench.  Two shelves and 5 drawers........... on sale  $299.99.
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savageT........Have you hugged a '99 lately?

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most.

Offline Hcliff

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2003, 10:23:27 AM »
I loaded for years on an old kitchen table.  Drilled hole right in it.  It wasn't the best but it worked.  WIth bullets on the top helped with the weight.  I would have to look again ( I am almost sure) that I had my dillion 550 and Rockcrusher with a powder measure mounted on it.  A old desk will work just fine too.  I gratuated to a kitchen cabnet.  It is big enough to have three doors underneath.  I have a friend who make cabnets and this frame was a reject (I don't know why)

Hcliff
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Offline rickyp

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2003, 01:04:35 PM »
what i have is the small table from midwayusa it is a stand with a bout a 2 foot square table on it. it works great  very light and easy to take apart for storage.
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Offline MoustacheMike

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2003, 01:59:24 PM »
I saw something at Lowe's today that sounds like what you're looking for, but I'm danged if I can find it on their @#$%^ web page tonight.  

It was a workbench kit with a bolt-together steel frame, two shallow drawers, a calf-height shelf, a counter-height worksurface, pegboard backing & an upper shelf.  Complete kit was packaged in a box about 2x5 feet, maybe 5 or 6 inches thick.  I'd guess that the assembled unit was maybe 18-24 inches deep, five feet wide, and about five feet tall.  $88.00

It was on display by the tool boxes, just outside of the tool "corral".

I've seen similar products at Costco, too.

MM
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Offline jterrio

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2003, 03:37:37 AM »
Hi Guys,

I just moved over from an old wood bench to a Sears shop bench that my wife had got me a while back. I finally go around to assembling it and when I finished decided to use it as a loading bench. It has a heavy particle board top, which I questioned the strength of but seems to be fine, 5 drawers on one side and a cabinet on the other which I added a shelf to so it now has 2.
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Jeff Terrio

Offline boondocker

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Thoughts on a Small Reloading Bench
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2003, 03:44:00 PM »
What I did was get a used office desk from a second hand store and it works great. I got an extra large steel desk about 300 lbs and it doesnt move. They have
smaller ones that will work just as well I bet.  Boon  

  If i could figure how to post an image on this sites I would send one lol.
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