Apartment Reloaders Setup

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Nikuser

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Hi all,

Bought a Dillon SDB set up for 9mm on Boxing Day (460$) and have been looking into the best way for me to set up my reloading bench. I'm in an apartment, and since space is at a premium, I'm curious as to what you guys are doing?

Do you have permanent setups or use something you can store/move around?

I am planning on mounting the press onto a section of 3/4" plywood mounted onto my Vintage Black and Decker Workmate. I'll have photos once I build it up.

Please share photos of your setups. I'm curious to see and learn from you all.

Happy New Year!

Talk soon,
 
I'm not in an apartment but, reading your proposed setup, I'm not sure you're going to be happy with mounting your stuff on a Workmate. I've got a very solid bench in my basement that I use. It's 8'x3'6" built out of 4x4s and 2x10's with a heavy particleboard door for a top and it still sometimes bothers me because it moves too much when I'm reloading. I'd see if you can find a solution with a solid mount to the wall/floor. Maybe not possible in an apartment I guess.
 
I used a setup like you described, except I only had a RCBS Jr. press,mounted on a a piece of plywood, clamped to my old workmate bench. Used it all the way through University, grad school, and then some. Worked well enough for handgun ammo and hunting ammo.Easy to move every year when every suite we lived in was sold from under us as the housing market rocketed up in Vancouver and Toronto, happy days, not.
 
My setup started on a Workmate in the small condo. I had two old Lee Pro 1000, and one Lee turret press mounted with room to add the shotgun loader if I ever needed it.
Then I managed to shoehorn and steel bench into a corner and the Workmate became a side table/cleaning station.
Still in the same place and the wife has finaly stopped talking about the "gun" stuff when I mentioned that her scrap booking was overtaking the rest of the room.
Tried to post photos but somehow I'm not doing something right.
 
I wish I had photo's of my set-up when we were raising two kids and ourselves in a 12 x 60 mobile home (space availability was similar to an apartment). My loading station was one of those "you assemble, stand-up, particle board, two door" coat closets from Can Tire. After initial assembly I added a "double thickness" 2 x 6 bench inside at the level I wanted it, this added substantially to the rigidity of the closet. Now it has the two original glove/hat shelving units up top for powder & primer & die storage plus the one I added for the press to sit on. I only loaded for three or four calibers back then and it held all my reloading tooling easily. Next I added an ornamental lock so I could keep young enquiring minds out of it. It sat in the corner of our living room for over 10 yrs and I don't think anybody that came to visit young or old ever paid it any mind at all.
 
Here's where I'm at so far.

Seems pretty solid, but we'll see once it's loaded with brass to resize, flare, seat and crimp.

Working area, 5'x7' between my desk and elliptical machine. Workmate is much heavier than the newer versions, which should be beneficial.

I'll be adding a piece of 1/2" ply to fill the void in the workmate. Added shelf space.
20180107_123828.jpg


Rear support with a C-clamp, and you can see the raised platform.
20180107_123837.jpg


Underside, cleat and tee nuts.
20180107_124017.jpg
 
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It’s my opinion that no matter how small or large the reloading bench/station is that the powder dispenser (any type) and scale should not be operated during press operations. Vibrations from the press will cause a volumetric dispenser to vary its throw weight.
I like to separate the powder dispensing and weighing process to different tables or benches.
 
Greenjoytj said:
It’s my opinion that no matter how small or large the reloading bench/station is that the powder dispenser (any type) and scale should not be operated during press operations. Vibrations from the press will cause a volumetric dispenser to vary its throw weight.
I like to separate the powder dispensing and weighing process to different tables or benches.
Click to expand...

Although, I'm using a progressive press... that means you only use single stage? I'm planning on reloading for volume. Training and competition.
 
Greenjoytj said:
It’s my opinion that no matter how small or large the reloading bench/station is that the powder dispenser (any type) and scale should not be operated during press operations. Vibrations from the press will cause a volumetric dispenser to vary its throw weight.
I like to separate the powder dispensing and weighing process to different tables or benches.
Click to expand...

You've never used Dillon products have you? My bench moves a bit but my powder drops are perfect, every time.
 
In anticipation of future downsizing due to empty nest I put a compact bench together last year.

$5 garbage sale workmate - replaced jaws with doubled 24" x 12" x 3/4" plywood (glued & stapled). Added 4 presses and bins. Presto!

vx6hiUa.jpg
 
Congrats on getting into loading . not to sound negative but do yourself a favour and don't tell anyone in the building . it's none of anyone's business but yours. lots of idiots out there and one might tell the owner of the building and they might be antigun . it's just my opinion .
 
Greenjoytj said:
It’s my opinion that no matter how small or large the reloading bench/station is that the powder dispenser (any type) and scale should not be operated during press operations. Vibrations from the press will cause a volumetric dispenser to vary its throw weight.
I like to separate the powder dispensing and weighing process to different tables or benches.
Click to expand...

I'd have to have look like this to pull that one off

desktop-1407963907.png
 
When I started reloading I lived in a basement suite. Space was limited. I used and continue to use a Lee hand press. (I use a couple of them now) No bench required. Everything fits inside the toolbox(es) and they go back in the closet when I am done.
 
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