Show your reloading benches
- Thread starter ekoso
- Start date
Finally got some mild weather so I could get in the barn to finish my bench. This started as an old bench they were throwing away at work. It was a hard looking old thing with rusted out galvanized sheething covering on top, and greasy, worn off scratched up paint.....it looked like hell,,,,but when we carried it out side I noticed how heavy it was and after takeing a closer look at it I noticed it was made of hard wood,,,4x4 legs, 2x6 sides, and the top is consructed of 1.5x2 strips on edge, laminated together,,, to me it had "reload bench" written all over it. So over the winter with some sanding, painting, and some aluminium I refinished it and added a shelf. This thing is heavy and will make a real sturdy bench to work on. All I have to do now is move it in the house and add a light to it.
Excellent work! You will REALLY appreciate those raised edges I tell ya! Beats picking up stuff that rolls off I tell ya! And that bright reflective surface will make finding stuff easy as well. What are those black bocks made of by the way? Are they painted wood? Plastic? And are those little copper things receptacles for gas checks? Neat looking design! I wish I had the space for a bench like that.
Tabacco Brook
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
The black blocks are painted wood,......and those copper things are shell holders. They are just 1/2" copper pipe flared on the end and tapped into holes drilled in the blocks. I figured while working up a load I would only be loading 5 of each charge and then change and load a different charge, so I thought why not put five holders in each block. Should work out ok,...put 5 primed cases in powder measure block,...as each one is charged set it in the press block,...seat the bullets,...put those 5 in a container with charge weight marked on it and move on to the next 5.
Thanks for the compliments guys.
That's brilliant! do you mind if i borrow that idea for my setup.
Tabacco Brook
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Go right ahead,.... hope it works well for ya.
Here's mine. behind the mirror wall is my safes, most of my loaded ammo, some of my reloading stuff and misc outdoors stuff
under the bench is the stuff i use the most often (primers, pistol bullets, dies, books etc.)
That's not an example of your reloading prowess on the floor there, is it?
Here's a dated picture of mine.....
I finally took a few hours today to make the stainless frame for my reloading bench and put it where it'll take place, until whenever I get the other shop built(out of space).
I keep most of the reloading stuff in the large cabinet but still have to reorganize it a bit better. Case cleaning/tumbling, or anything too messy remains in the shop.
Made a mount for the press that just clamps in place and can be removed and everything stored away, but it'll stay on the table most of the time, just didn't want to drill any holes in the top.
I keep most of the reloading stuff in the large cabinet but still have to reorganize it a bit better. Case cleaning/tumbling, or anything too messy remains in the shop.
Made a mount for the press that just clamps in place and can be removed and everything stored away, but it'll stay on the table most of the time, just didn't want to drill any holes in the top.
- Location
- Meaford Ontario
My happy place......
Here's my little corner of the basement.
This bench is doing double-duty: reloading and general repair/hobby work so I needed something lockable and mobile which can swallow up all my components and most of my tools. I found this bench on sale at Costco and snapped it up. I prefer to work while standing but being 6' tall, 37" is too short for a standing workbench. I added a 6'x24" countertop from Rona on top of a couple 2x4s to raise the surface to 41". The top is fastened with 4 latch clamps (although if I was going to build this again I'd use these ones)which lock everything down securely. I was initially worried about stability but with tools and components I figure the unit weighs about 400 lbs. With the wheel brakes on, it doesn't move at all.
The press is attached to a .250" steel plate with 3 3/8" allen cap-screws into Rivnuts. The plate is bolted through the 2x4s with 4 bolts in counterbored holes. The butcher block on the cabinet doesn't have any holes in its surface.
Still have to finish off the sides and front with some laminate and figure out a way of mounting the case trimmer. I'm thinking of bolting a bench vise in front of the red tool box and making a baseplate for the trimmer which can be held in the vise and contain the shavings.
This bench is doing double-duty: reloading and general repair/hobby work so I needed something lockable and mobile which can swallow up all my components and most of my tools. I found this bench on sale at Costco and snapped it up. I prefer to work while standing but being 6' tall, 37" is too short for a standing workbench. I added a 6'x24" countertop from Rona on top of a couple 2x4s to raise the surface to 41". The top is fastened with 4 latch clamps (although if I was going to build this again I'd use these ones)which lock everything down securely. I was initially worried about stability but with tools and components I figure the unit weighs about 400 lbs. With the wheel brakes on, it doesn't move at all.
The press is attached to a .250" steel plate with 3 3/8" allen cap-screws into Rivnuts. The plate is bolted through the 2x4s with 4 bolts in counterbored holes. The butcher block on the cabinet doesn't have any holes in its surface.
Still have to finish off the sides and front with some laminate and figure out a way of mounting the case trimmer. I'm thinking of bolting a bench vise in front of the red tool box and making a baseplate for the trimmer which can be held in the vise and contain the shavings.
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Here's my apartment size setup. Feel free to reproduce. I live in a bachelor sized one bedroom so space is at a premium. I originally got the idea from another website where a guy made a bench with a piece of plywood for base, a steel pipe for the center stand and plywood again for the top.
What I did is i went to a used restaurant equipment supplier and picked up a used banquet table stand. They are rated based on what table size they are supposed to support, i went with the second biggest based on the support platform and leg length. Cost me $30. Got a set of adjustable leg supports for a few bucks at home depot and i raided my parents garage for plywood (3 x 3/4) and bolts and screws and such. Thankfully my dad has plenty of that kind of crap lying around and he likes makeshift projects. Glue and screw the plywood with the bottom two layers predrilled and the secure it to the table base with the same first two layers predrilled. Cheap, easy and fairly sturdy. I had no trouble resizing about 1k pistol brass so far and loading a few. The overspill of components, tools and other crap goes on a collapsible plastic table. Best of all it is fairly portable. Can be turned around when resizing to watch a movie or moved to a bedroom when expecting company.
The top is roughly 16" x 16". The legs are 30" end to end making a 22" x 22" base.
8 lag bolts to secure the base to the top and 9 screws + glue to hold the top together (the lag bolts go through all three sheets of plywood as well). And to the OCD crowd yes i did turn the plywood 90 degrees for each layer to get the layers to match.
There is a weakspot though. The legs are secured to the red base with a single threaded rod through the center and the round hollow tube around it. If something breaks this will be the first thing to go. Im still thinking of a way to reinforce that. If anyone has an idea please let me know.
What I did is i went to a used restaurant equipment supplier and picked up a used banquet table stand. They are rated based on what table size they are supposed to support, i went with the second biggest based on the support platform and leg length. Cost me $30. Got a set of adjustable leg supports for a few bucks at home depot and i raided my parents garage for plywood (3 x 3/4) and bolts and screws and such. Thankfully my dad has plenty of that kind of crap lying around and he likes makeshift projects. Glue and screw the plywood with the bottom two layers predrilled and the secure it to the table base with the same first two layers predrilled. Cheap, easy and fairly sturdy. I had no trouble resizing about 1k pistol brass so far and loading a few. The overspill of components, tools and other crap goes on a collapsible plastic table. Best of all it is fairly portable. Can be turned around when resizing to watch a movie or moved to a bedroom when expecting company.
The top is roughly 16" x 16". The legs are 30" end to end making a 22" x 22" base.
8 lag bolts to secure the base to the top and 9 screws + glue to hold the top together (the lag bolts go through all three sheets of plywood as well). And to the OCD crowd yes i did turn the plywood 90 degrees for each layer to get the layers to match.
There is a weakspot though. The legs are secured to the red base with a single threaded rod through the center and the round hollow tube around it. If something breaks this will be the first thing to go. Im still thinking of a way to reinforce that. If anyone has an idea please let me know.
Here's my apartment size setup. Feel free to reproduce. I live in a bachelor sized one bedroom so space is at a premium. I originally got the idea from another website where a guy made a bench with a piece of plywood for base, a steel pipe for the center stand and plywood again for the top.
What I did is i went to a used restaurant equipment supplier and picked up a used banquet table stand. They are rated based on what table size they are supposed to support, i went with the second biggest based on the support platform and leg length. Cost me $30. Got a set of adjustable leg supports for a few bucks at home depot and i raided my parents garage for plywood (3 x 3/4) and bolts and screws and such. Thankfully my dad has plenty of that kind of crap lying around and he likes makeshift projects. Glue and screw the plywood with the bottom two layers predrilled and the secure it to the table base with the same first two layers predrilled. Cheap, easy and fairly sturdy. I had no trouble resizing about 1k pistol brass so far and loading a few. The overspill of components, tools and other crap goes on a collapsible plastic table. Best of all it is fairly portable. Can be turned around when resizing to watch a movie or moved to a bedroom when expecting company.
The top is roughly 16" x 16". The legs are 30" end to end making a 22" x 22" base.
8 lag bolts to secure the base to the top and 9 screws + glue to hold the top together (the lag bolts go through all three sheets of plywood as well). And to the OCD crowd yes i did turn the plywood 90 degrees for each layer to get the layers to match.
There is a weakspot though. The legs are secured to the red base with a single threaded rod through the center and the round hollow tube around it. If something breaks this will be the first thing to go. Im still thinking of a way to reinforce that. If anyone has an idea please let me know.
If you can take a pic of this, I probably have something laying around you can use. I just can't picture what you're trying to depict about the weak spot.
07blackwater
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
Spawn-Inc said:
Mind = BLOWN!
Here's my little corner of the basement.
This bench is doing double-duty: reloading and general repair/hobby work so I needed something lockable and mobile which can swallow up all my components and most of my tools. I found this bench on sale at Costco and snapped it up. I prefer to work while standing but being 6' tall, 37" is too short for a standing workbench. I added a 6'x24" countertop from Rona on top of a couple 2x4s to raise the surface to 41". The top is fastened with 4 latch clamps (although if I was going to build this again I'd use these ones)which lock everything down securely. I was initially worried about stability but with tools and components I figure the unit weighs about 400 lbs. With the wheel brakes on, it doesn't move at all.
The press is attached to a .250" steel plate with 3 3/8" allen cap-screws into Rivnuts. The plate is bolted through the 2x4s with 4 bolts in counterbored holes. The butcher block on the cabinet doesn't have any holes in its surface.
Still have to finish off the sides and front with some laminate and figure out a way of mounting the case trimmer. I'm thinking of bolting a bench vise in front of the red tool box and making a baseplate for the trimmer which can be held in the vise and contain the shavings.
Beautiful and very clever use of the rolling bench. Its nice to be able to have everything in one place eh. I don't understand the need for the clamps though. Do you work on a different surface for when you're doing other work?
Thanks! Yea, it's been really convenient so far. The drawers are rapidly filling up though. I may need to get a second one.
The top (counter/2x4) only weighs about 20lbs, and I used caul clamps to glue it all together which left it slightly bowed in the middle: so working the press would move the top back and forth if it were not secured to the cabinet. I needed a clamping mechanism to suck the countertop down to the butcher block. Lags and bolts were out because a) access to the underside of the butcher block is difficult, especially on the drawer side of the roll-around, and b) I didn't want to drill holes in the top of the brand new butcher block. Plus my dad is a woodworker, so I've got an inherited unhealthy obsession with different types of clamps. Modularity is a happy by-product of this set-up too. While storing a few different workflow-specific countertops could turn into a bit of a chore, the option is there to swap different tops in and out if necessary. The ultimate plan for all this gear is to install the reloading counter-top on some stationary cabinet boxes in a gun-room and have the roll-around chest as a garage workbench.
I gave this some thought today and it'd be tough to weld as the base is very likely cast.
