One suggestion on shelving, make the shelves for bullet storage narrower as bullets tend to be heavy. That way they won't bow in the middle. Shelves for dies and powder can be wider between supports as they tend to be bulkier in relation to their weight. I would make the cleaning bench a comfortable height to stand at and the loading bench a comfortable sitting level unless you have a decent bar stool with a back in which case you can make it higher as well.
Reloading room ideas
- Thread starter ivo
- Start date
Red Iron - great idea for the shelves for bullet storage and I think I will make all the tops the same height for gun cleaning/maintenance and barstool height at the prep/reloading station.
Jethunter - I have three little ones so 1 keyed handle and 1 electronic deadbolt!
Jethunter - I have three little ones so 1 keyed handle and 1 electronic deadbolt!
I made my reloading bench higher so it is comfortable to stand at it. I also have a (old) drafting chair which is on wheels, and comfortable to sit and reload.
The front of my bench overhangs the framework (welded rectangular steel tubing) by about 5". This permits presses to be bolted in front of the frame, and also provides knee room under the front of the bench.
I was planning on building my lower cabinets 20" deep with the tops being 24" plus 3/4" maple trim minus 3/4" for doors leaving a 4" overhang. I will probably mount my presses and larger tools (Hornady case prep center...) to T slot track routered and bolted into my countertop. I like the idea of having knee room under the countertop too.
OP I have shared your dilemma as the house I almost bought had an unfinished bedroom and I was going to make it my ultimate reloading room. I knew that I would eventually outgrow the space but turning the closet into my cabinet complete with a steel door and way more workspace that I had previously would be a huge plus. But then alas I did not buy that house and ended up splitting up with the wife so now I have nowhere to reload. Life happens, but just for conversations sake here's a few pics of what I had conjured up to make do in the small-ish space of a townhouse basement. Quickly outgrew this setup but it worked for the time being. Note the small garage cabinet with swapped out hardware for powder/ component storage and the bench both from crappy tire for under $300 total. Not included was the other wall lined with a bookcase and decomissioned DVD rack full of coffee cans and baby formula tins full of brass. It's not much but served me well for the time being.
First day I set up the bench... still virgin to the 2 single stage presses and EVERYTHING else. Just posted it as it shows the whole bench. Can be found on sale for $160 pretty much half of the year.
This is the locking cabinet that I used for powder/ primer/ bullet storage and worked out quite nicely as a mounting solution for the Dillon 650
As you can see it handled components for about 6 calibres for a while, but now a full 7 foot locking cabinet is on the dockett. 45lbs of powder took over this cabinet in a hurry lol.
Best of luck with your room, hoping my next dwelling offers at least that much room if not as much as chinbullco's level of addiction requires!
First day I set up the bench... still virgin to the 2 single stage presses and EVERYTHING else. Just posted it as it shows the whole bench. Can be found on sale for $160 pretty much half of the year.
This is the locking cabinet that I used for powder/ primer/ bullet storage and worked out quite nicely as a mounting solution for the Dillon 650
As you can see it handled components for about 6 calibres for a while, but now a full 7 foot locking cabinet is on the dockett. 45lbs of powder took over this cabinet in a hurry lol.
Best of luck with your room, hoping my next dwelling offers at least that much room if not as much as chinbullco's level of addiction requires!
The O.P. Mentioned that he was a neat freak. I can relate to that in some ways.
One thing I hate is storage/clutter under the bench! Its a pain in the ass to get stuff under the bench! Avoid that, and the bench will look far more organiized and professional.
Good luck and have fun setting things up in the man cave/vault/entertainment lair! Lol!
One thing I hate is storage/clutter under the bench! Its a pain in the ass to get stuff under the bench! Avoid that, and the bench will look far more organiized and professional.
Good luck and have fun setting things up in the man cave/vault/entertainment lair! Lol!
Last edited:
Couple of my ideas:
-Cover any available wall space with pegboard...so much stuff can be hung up where its easily accessable, not tucked away someplace.
-Put shelving around the room a foot or so below the ceiling, uses up some wasted space. I use dollar-store plastic baskets up there to keep stuff in.
[/IMG]
[/IMG]
-Cover any available wall space with pegboard...so much stuff can be hung up where its easily accessable, not tucked away someplace.
-Put shelving around the room a foot or so below the ceiling, uses up some wasted space. I use dollar-store plastic baskets up there to keep stuff in.
Depending on what you are loading, you might need HD steel tracks. If you ever might through bolt, check the dimensions of the holes mounting your press to see if the front overhang is enough.
One idea for a top is to use a solid laminated wood countertop from Ikea. They come in different sizes, are cheap and very sturdy. Solid oak or birch 1-1/2" thick 26" wide, in various lengths.
[/IMG]QUOTE]
Is that a real human skull on the top left?
If so thats an AWESOME reloading room conversation piece!!!!
OP, you mentioned using fluorescent lighting in your room. If you have an electronic scale, it has been my experience that fluorescent lights (or low voltage halogens that use a transformer) can cause variations in your readings. I have since changed all the fixtures to old fashioned incandescent lights. Maybe someone with an electrical engineering background can chime in to explain why. Just my two cents...
I was planning on triple layer birch plywood for the top and thru bolting the T slot track flush with the top layer of plywood. I'll have to make mounting plates for the presses, case prep center... but yes it will have to be close enough to the edge for the rams to clear.
The room will pretty much be wrapped with upper cabinets so I'll see if there is enough room between the cieling and the top of the cabinet for some storage. The dollar store bins are a great idea.
The room will pretty much be wrapped with upper cabinets so I'll see if there is enough room between the cieling and the top of the cabinet for some storage. The dollar store bins are a great idea.
I don't tie up any counter space with presses. Made this stand, and bases for my presses, and trimmer etc. to mount to it. They get stored by hanging on the wall.
In this pic there is still chains holding the legs, but it wasn't rigid enough and I welded solid braces in later.
It's plenty sturdy, I regularly size 50BMG brass with no problems.
[/IMG]
In this pic there is still chains holding the legs, but it wasn't rigid enough and I welded solid braces in later.
It's plenty sturdy, I regularly size 50BMG brass with no problems.
I don't mind it at all, The price was $169 on sale at crappy tire regularly priced at over $300 though. Have seen it on sale MANY times and might pick up another one as I like the pegboard and all the storage and it comes with a bench light and small power bar. Had to cut knotches in the overhang of the countertop to mount presses but that is minor. I strongly recommend securing the top portion to the wall if you plan on storing anything in the upper cabinets or on the top shelf, I had an up close and personal meeting with my auto trimmer with my skull to figure that one out
All in all though I would recommend it to someone that wants a prefab bench with storage solutions and a fairly robust package. $169 is very affordable IMO.
Costco has stainless steel benches with a solid wood, butcher block type top. Perfect for a compact reloading bench. It has two banks of drawers but one door on the right side. I checked and the door can be removed.
I seem to remember the price is $375??
I'll see if I can get a picture this week
I seem to remember the price is $375??
I'll see if I can get a picture this week
Last edited:
Lots of useful suggestions here. I basically took over a spare bedroom to set up my reloading stuff, so it came with a closet for excess storage. If you do build the bench yourself, I would suggest coming up with a design that includes bolt together components. Dismantling and moving it becomes a much simpler proposition that way. Also, unless the bench is super heavy, be prepared to lag bolt it to the wall to make it nice and stable.
That's exactly what I use, gas adjustable height too. However, have you actually see a drafting chair for sale the past decade? They went the same way as drafting tables and dodo birds ....
But you can always try craigslist and Kijiji.
