New Reloading Bench
- Thread starter Demonical
- Start date
That's exactly how mine is done, after the screws are tight just fill the heads and paint..
I've already made one more minor modification; first time I loaded, I found the powder scale was sitting just a bit too high. Rather then remove every on the shelf and lower it, I added a small extension, screwed to the bottom of it.
That puts the scale right where I need it and also moves it a bit closer, so it's easier to see & reach.
dude I might have to pick up some stuff for when I come up end of the month to visit
Yes! Definitely. Bring as much as you want and we'll load some bullets!
That puts the scale right where I need it and also moves it a bit closer, so it's easier to see & reach.
dude I might have to pick up some stuff for when I come up end of the month to visit
Yes! Definitely. Bring as much as you want and we'll load some bullets!
Is that single lamp the primary source of lighting for your bench? If so, get a set of tubes and put it up on the ceiling for better lighting and use the lamp for detail work areas. (Or a couple 12" to 18" tubes mounted on the bottom of the lowest shelf, for a brighter working area.)
A great job!
A great job!
Jarlath, those 2 el-cheapo clamp-on lamps, I bought, actually light the shelves pretty well. But the bench area needs more light.
So I'm gonna check out under-cabinet light fixtures, to put under the bottom shelves. If I find something I like I might get some of those. The room my bench is in has a small ceiling fixture; another option I have is to install a bigger-brighter fixture there.
Paulinski you got a ways to go man!
Demo,
I used PL400 glue to stick two layers of 5/8 PLywood together and then screwed the 7/8"x 6" Oak down on top of that. Screw are #14 IIRC predrilled in from the bottom. It is one solid little table. Did not glue the oak down in case a spilt or broke a board I could just replace it. With reno's going on in the basement it ended up doing some real nasty jobs and took it all in stride. Has some scratches and a couple nicks from the hand planes slipping into it but thats what it is for.
Hope this helps.
*Edit
Oh wait, I am way to slow seeing this thread and just found the bench is all done! LOL
Nice job Demo. I am almost done my Bat Cave but it is not nearly as contemporary.
Looks great!
I used PL400 glue to stick two layers of 5/8 PLywood together and then screwed the 7/8"x 6" Oak down on top of that. Screw are #14 IIRC predrilled in from the bottom. It is one solid little table. Did not glue the oak down in case a spilt or broke a board I could just replace it. With reno's going on in the basement it ended up doing some real nasty jobs and took it all in stride. Has some scratches and a couple nicks from the hand planes slipping into it but thats what it is for.
Hope this helps.
*Edit
Oh wait, I am way to slow seeing this thread and just found the bench is all done! LOL
Nice job Demo. I am almost done my Bat Cave but it is not nearly as contemporary.
Looks great!
^ Got any pics?
Only a couple right now. Old hutch in the back ground has the dies, brass, and bullets etc. Built by my Gramma's brother in the 20's or 30's (?)
Barrel still has that sweet high test aroma.
These are from a couple months ago, it has progressed and changed a fair bit from there, complete with monster gunsafe, the Great Grandparents old display case for memorbilia and of course an old wood heater (just for looks).
Hardly what most folks would want in their loading room but until I find a way to get out of Dodge I will bring the farm into my basement.
Noel, you're going for the rustic look, eh?
I love the wood in your table top your presses are mounted on! Are those Lyman Crusher II's?
I've got the old Orange Crusher; it's a great press. It's a bit tight for longer cartridges like the .458Lott, but I'd never part with it!
I love the wood in your table top your presses are mounted on! Are those Lyman Crusher II's?
I've got the old Orange Crusher; it's a great press. It's a bit tight for longer cartridges like the .458Lott, but I'd never part with it!
My only critique - I'd have notched the bottom of the leg so it was tight to the wall.
Nice setup.
Nice setup.
Noel, you're going for the rustic look, eh?
I love the wood in your table top your presses are mounted on! Are those Lyman Crusher II's?
I've got the old Orange Crusher; it's a great press. It's a bit tight for longer cartridges like the .458Lott, but I'd never part with it!
Yeah, rustic...grass roots cabin feel I guess. The wood was recovered from a couple big pallets at work, it takes hard hits and barely leaves a mark. Not sure what kind of oak it is but it is hard. In the white it had a faint yellow tint.
I had the Rock Chucker kit for a lot of years but when I saw the Lymans on for 130 at Bass Pro I took the plunge. I'd say they are both equally as strong but I like the tight feel the RC had over the Lyman. Lymans plus is the pivot arms are covered which stops spent primers and powder from getting trapped.
They are brand new Crusher II, less the ugly hammered finish paint. They are now bare cast.
One fail in the project is my shelf for the powder dump and scale. Nice to have it at eye level but the vibrations are magnified more than I thought. Quite often a friend is over doing some loads and we are giving their rifle a cleaning at the same time, was hoping this bench will let us do both projects at the same time.
That's where mounting off the wall with shelves like you did works better...and anchoring the bench to the wall as well.
No matter, my bench is around 170# right now, once it is full with whisky it will be much more stable. Well as long as Boer Seun doesn't stop by.
^ Noel, I have looked at those Crusher II's, they have a lot of 'play' in the ram, compared to my old Orange Crusher. After 15 years of loading, the ram on my Orange Crusher is still tight. No 'play' at all, which is why I'd never get rid of it.
The dimensions of the Crusher II make handling larger cartridges easy; on my old Orange lad, with longer cart' like the Lott, I have to reach up into the opening above the ram to get the bullet into the cartridge, when seating bullets.
But it's the only disadvantage they have. They take all standard shell holders without requiring any stupid adapters.
If you ever run across a used Orange Crusher for sale, snap it up!
Fall Guy, I agree. Don't know why I didn't notch the baseboards. There's another 4 legs along the wall the same...
The dimensions of the Crusher II make handling larger cartridges easy; on my old Orange lad, with longer cart' like the Lott, I have to reach up into the opening above the ram to get the bullet into the cartridge, when seating bullets.
But it's the only disadvantage they have. They take all standard shell holders without requiring any stupid adapters.
If you ever run across a used Orange Crusher for sale, snap it up!
Fall Guy, I agree. Don't know why I didn't notch the baseboards. There's another 4 legs along the wall the same...
Holy SH*T was my first response on seeing those photos. Now THAT's a gunroom ;-) Great look to it too!
Only a couple right now. Old hutch in the back ground has the dies, brass, and bullets etc. Built by my Gramma's brother in the 20's or 30's (?)
Barrel still has that sweet high test aroma.
My only critique - I'd have notched the bottom of the leg so it was tight to the wall.
Nice setup.
Butcher!
I'd cut the baseboard tight to the supporting leg.
Or better yet miter the baseboard around the supporting leg.....
I see I will have to post pictures of how to properly construct the man cave!
