Built A Reloading Bench instead of buying one!

john442

john442

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Super GunNutz
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Central Alberta
After looking around for a solid bench and not finding anything that would work in the space I had, I decided to take the advice of a few nutz here and build my own.
Made a heavy duty frame from 2x4's double studded and screwed not nailed. And 2 layers of 3/4" plywood with 4x4 feet, and anchored it right to the wall studs.
Then had a local metal shop bend me a piece of 3/16" Aluminum for the top, attached with PL400 adhesive and countersunk stainless screws.
I think it came out pretty good, this thing is super solid!!! All for under $225

Now to mount the Dillon 650 and get some shelving.







 
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nice job, and I love that aluminum table top. Throw in a bottom shelf. It's a great place to store your bulk bullets and all that weight down there will help provide a lot of stability, especially on the push stroke when you hit a case with a crimped primer pocket :)
 
Nice bench, love the aluminum top.

I picked up the laminated top and steel base as scrap from reno's at work. About 200 lbs worth of it so it's nice and stable.

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Stevo said:
I picked up the laminated top and steel base as scrap from reno's at work. About 200 lbs worth of it so it's nice and stable.
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There's some kind of weird coyote-type animal under your bench...

It's very nice, all you need is some shelving over it! Only thing I'd be careful of is that I found in impossible not to spill powder out of the press once in a while. Not a lot, just a few grains here, a few grains there when the press did something weird and jolted the full cases, that sort of thing. With your setup, that powder will end up in the carpet. In 10 years, you might have a very combustible carpet! :)
 
Grawfr said:
There's some kind of weird coyote-type animal under your bench...

It's very nice, all you need is some shelving over it! Only thing I'd be careful of is that I found in impossible not to spill powder out of the press once in a while. Not a lot, just a few grains here, a few grains there when the press did something weird and jolted the full cases, that sort of thing. With your setup, that powder will end up in the carpet. In 10 years, you might have a very combustible carpet! :)
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I've got fire insurance.
 
don't most people- I NEVER heard of BUYING one until this post- I use microwave carts so I can use both sides of the bench- my large one mounts 5 presses- 3 on one sides and 2 on the other and my small one just the loadmaster
 
john442 said:
After looking around for a solid bench and not finding anything that would work in the space I had, I decided to take the advice of a few nutz here and build my own.
Made a heavy duty frame from 2x4's double studded and screwed not nailed. And 2 layers of 3/4" plywood with 4x4 feet, and anchored it right to the wall studs.
Click to expand...

Looks great. I'd ditch the 4x4" posts though and mount directly to the side walls via 3/4" MDF or plywood cabinet sides, then I'd create shelving and cabinetry below that was inset enough to accommodate leg room as required whether you plan on sitting or standing at the bench.
I'd also recommend a 'back splash' or sorts that you can overlap over the counter top and seal it with a caulking for easy clean up of spills of powder or gun oils if you plan on using to clean guns, etc.
 
Two things: your metal top plate is a nice touch but a reloading table top needs a bit of a "lip" at the outer edge...most everything we handle in reloading is "round" and loves to roll off the smooth surface onto the floor and end up rolling under the bench where a search light and retrieval tools are needed...All that is needed is a strip of corner edging of some kind fastened to the metal, might detract from the "looks" of your outfit a bit but sure saves a lot of trips to your knees.

The second thing is why would you want to ruin an absoluty perfectly good bench with lots of leg room underneath it so you can "get up close" presses and to your work. An underneath bench will only be a shin-basher and a garbage collector that you will have to get to your knees to find that certain box that will be definitely way in the back. Build storage benches ABOVE the table...everything within easy reach and fully illuminated by the room light .
 
Nice benches guys. Steve, I also like your dog. Same piano stool front legs as mine in that position as well as the ever present toy.
 
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