Reloading Bench..

cbabes said:
I have you beat! Picked my heavy duty steel desk up in the garbage! LOL I will probably spend about four dollars modifying the legs though. It is nice having a dedicated gun room isn't it? Well I guess mine is combined with my tool room but they kind of go together. There is something so relaxing about it. I have a small TV hooked up, good lighting and a nice swivel padded work stool. Can't wait to set up the reloaders tomorrow. :)
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Make sure you get all the bits you need as Home Depot closes at 1700 tomorrow.
 
cbabes said:
Thanks! I forgot about that since I am working tomorrow I thought everything was still regular hours.
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So for once, skip the lunchtime workout and hit the hardware store. I can't remember the diameter of the bolts that Lee uses but it should be on their website. have a look at the top of your desk. Decide if you are going to use a bit of ply to reinforce the mount and buy bolts to fit. I got a handful of lock nuts also, just to keep everything in place.
 
Well I finished it. My garbage picking served me well. With about 5 bucks I lifted this desk to 42" and made it rock solid by mounting it to the wall studs..

ReloadingDeskCompleteSmall.jpg
 
Mines 39" and its perfect for me as I'm 6' tall. My runt brother in law needs a milk crate to use my bench :p

I load with a lee 1000 and if you think you can sit and pound ammo your dreaming:rolleyes: It works but is a full time job keeping track of everything.
 
corney said:
Mines 39" and its perfect for me as I'm 6' tall. My runt brother in law needs a milk crate to use my bench :p

I load with a lee 1000 and if you think you can sit and pound ammo your dreaming:rolleyes: It works but is a full time job keeping track of everything.
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Can you elaborate on the "full time job keeping track of everything" comment? How many rounds of .45 can you expect to reload in four hours?
 
I just built one of these for about $15, 2 hours of my time, plus some scrap wood I had for the level surfaces.

I had to built it only 36" wide though to the limited space I had available to setup the loader. Its strong as hell and I feel I could easily jump up and down on it.
 
MauserMike said:
I just built one of these for about $15, 2 hours of my time, plus some scrap wood I had for the level surfaces.

I had to built it only 36" wide though to the limited space I had available to setup the loader. Its strong as hell and I feel I could easily jump up and down on it.
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That is a good basic design for a bench but if anyone is building it I would recommend extending the front rails 1.5" past the legs on either side and cut the side pieces 3" shorter. This covers the butt ends of the 2x4's and looks better.
 
shootist22-250 said:
Ummm... there is something really wrong with that setup.

I can't quite put my finger on it but it will come to me.

Got it!!!!
WAY TOO TIDY!!!
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Every time I come across posting with reloading bench pictures, I also observe the store of powder and primers. In this case, only one picture has the powder sitting on an open shelf.

At another US forum, picture after pictures, powders and primer are kept on the open shelves. Many of those keep their reloading bench and component shelves within a few feet to the furnace. Not having the powder locked up maybe acceptable because of the US regulation is much more relaxed. However, keep those next to the furnace is a different story.

For yours and other re-loaders’ sake, please keep the powder and primers locked and away from open flames at all time.

Happy New Years!!!
 
Danny Boy said:
Every time I come across posting with reloading bench pictures, I also observe the store of powder and primers. In this case, only one picture has the powder sitting on an open shelf.

At another US forum, picture after pictures, powders and primer are kept on the open shelves. Many of those keep their reloading bench and component shelves within a few feet to the furnace. Not having the powder locked up maybe acceptable because of the US regulation is much more relaxed. However, keep those next to the furnace is a different story.

For yours and other re-loaders’ sake, please keep the powder and primers locked and away from open flames at all time.

Happy New Years!!!
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I was reading my Lee instructional and it states that Winchester or CCI primers are safer than Federal. It recommends not using Federal primers? I am going to be overly safe with the storage of my powder and primers. I can't imagine what I would do if my stupidity injured or killed my wife or kids!
 
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Here is a picture of one of my benches - as it is only 2'x6', there isn't alot of room on the top for a bunch of stuff, making it easier to tidy up when it is time to load - at least that's my theory. Once my basement renovations are done, I'll be doing up another and this will get relegated to the garage.

The connectors are Simpson strong tie mounts, all 2"x4" with two plys of 5/8" plywood screwed and glued together with a plastic laminate top. Simple to throw together and solid.
All of the home reno crap on the bottom shelf weighs it down nicely.:D
 
Cerdan said:
Here's mine, couldn't be happier!

Bench.jpg
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Nice Job Cerdan. Have you got any other ideas for it now? I trust you have done a few loads now right.;)

I want to make a similar bench but the back shelf unit only as high as your powder storage space all the way across. About 72" long and a 24 to 32" deep work surface. The end of the table will go against the wall and then there will be work suface on the back side for the vice and tools etc. A chunk of peg board will be on the back of the shelf area for hanging tools for tinkering etc. Again, 24" wide work area. Much more and they tend to gather crap. It will be about 42" high. Some bar stools would be great and easier on the back than my old oak chair I have.

I like to cut a hole in the table for my press to fit into. Being a clutz this helps prevent spills from getting to the floor as well as those wild primers from getting away.
 
cbabes said:
Can you elaborate on the "full time job keeping track of everything" comment? How many rounds of .45 can you expect to reload in four hours?
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I have no idea how many rounds I reload in four hours. I'm more concerned that the primer seat properly (If in fact one slides down) and there is powder in each case. When I load 9 mm the case does not always feed into the expander properly and the case gets crushed. A bullet also has to be placed in the charged case.

Don't get me wrong for the money this not a bad press. I have been fortunate to receive some great advise on this site for things to look out for to make this thing work and I listened.

Does that answer your question? Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner I didn't check out this thread for a while.

Wasn't beating up on the Lee, its all I have and I can make it work .
 
Some of you might burst into laughter...
anyway here is my Reloading Bench...
Works perfect in restraint space, comes with two weels, is very sturdy and costs only $59.00 (IKEA)
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polaris said:
Some of you might burst into laughter...
anyway here is my Reloading Bench...
Works perfect in restraint space, comes with two weels, is very sturdy and costs only $59.00 (IKEA)
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If it works that's all that counts! Looks like some nice solid wood. Hey, I got mine in the garbage! LOL
 
As promised here are the pictures of my bench. Just finished mounting my Dillon RL550B. I still need to add the bottom shelf but it's good to go for reloading.
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Bench1.jpg
 
Does a bench need to be mounted to the wall?

I have a finshed bedroom with carpet (no choice) that is going to be my gun room.

When I move out, I hope to have the room in good shape.

So far all I have is a single stage press. Kinda concerned about "yanking" on the handle and the table/bench moving around......................
 
It would be nice to have it mounted to the wall, although a heavy sturdy bench can make up for that somewhat. I have the same problem, I rent and don't want to mount to the wall, and I get by.

There is some concern about static with carpet, so I got one of those mats for office chairs. Also don't load shotshells in a room with carpet, you will never get the shot back out of it, and you will spill shot.
 
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