Apartment reloading set-up Part 1

LawrenceN

LawrenceN

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Toronto (West end)
Well, living in an apartment space is at a premium. I've had the bits and pieces collected over the years, but lacked cash and time. Thanks to the good services of a close friend, I picked up a nice small sturdy bench for free. I made an upper unit out of oak (which I'll stain later), and then got busy doing the lay out, and getting all the parts out of storage. The bench is 2' X 4' so I have lots of room to work. I have a line on a free secretary's chair which adjusts up and down, so that'll be handy. I'll also be putting a lockable door on the left side where the powder and primers are. Depending on space & future needs, I may also put another shelf below. I'll only be loading .308 and .303 to start, but my buddy wants me to load him .45ACP down the road. So let me know what you think. Any good pointers and constructive input would be appreciated.
reloadingbenchpart2002.jpg

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Looks an efficient setup. Good planning.

One point you didn't mention is that you obviously have the powder and primers out just for display (as opposed to the mandatory new locked-wooden-box-not-used-for-any-other-purpose-and-marked-with-EXPLOSIVES-on-the-outside) right?
 
ATOM said:
Looks an efficient setup. Good planning.

One point you didn't mention is that you obviously have the powder and primers out just for display (as opposed to the mandatory new locked-wooden-box-not-used-for-any-other-purpose-and-marked-with-EXPLOSIVES-on-the-outside) right?
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Of course they're locked up when not for show! I have a metal "explosive" marked container that's locked up in the storeroom when not in use.
 
I knew it. Like I said, looks like a good setup. Good use of space.

One thing I just did was to - finally - get a small Ikea fluorescent lamp for the underside of my shelf, with half a legal-size piece of paper taped in front of it to keep the glare out of my eyes. Dramatic improvement in visibility. Should have done that years ago.
 
Thanks for the "heads-up"! I keep a slightly damp paper tower over the centre spindle, and that seems to catch all (or at least most) of the particulate matter thrown off by the action of the tumbler. I'm using the walnut media they use in sandblasting cabinets for a smooth less abrasive finish and it seems to work just fine, though it does need a lot of time to do a good job. I'll post a "part 2" when the door is on and it's had a shot of stain to match the actual counter top. Thanks for the input.
 
Yours is a better set up than mine was back in my apartment days, I had a workmate for my press and a kitchen table for everything else. Good job.
 
If thats carpet on the floor lay down a heavy duty plastic or rubber section under the bench. Costco usually has clear floor liners for workshops and garages, 8x8' I believe. A good vacuum helps too.
 
fireball said:
A good vacuum helps too.
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If you look on the back of your bottles, Winchester at least specifically advises against cleaning up powder spills using a vacuum. Electric motors generate a spark. Yeah, motors is supposed to be sealed. And Toyota was supposed to be safest, too. Covering the carpet is a better idea, I think.
 
Your bench looks great. Not heavy enough for my tastes but until you've used a heavy bench, you won't have anything to compare it to. I made the same upper storage shelf as you have on my first. light bench. As time, space and funding progressed, I got a heavy bench and haven't looked back.

That upper shelf "might" cause you some concern when you run into some harder brass. Unless the whole thing is bolted solidly to the wall, the whole bench will shift and cause things to fall. I am not knocking your inventiveness in any way. It's a decent set up. I just want to give you a heads up on probable trouble. It only takes a mimimal cost outlay and an extra hour of labor to make that bench rigid.
 
Thanks for the input bearhunter. All I'm loading for now is .303 and .308 with .46ACP coming down the road. I'd counted on the possibility of the top shifting. I did a "sit" test on the edge of the table, and it didn't move (I'm about 200+ lbs) because of the legs configuration. Though the top is only about 1-1/8", it is solid laminate. If the press causes any tip to the surface, I'll fabricate a folding leg that will mount under the press and transfer the force directly to the floor so that will fix that.
 
ATOM said:
If you look on the back of your bottles, Winchester at least specifically advises against cleaning up powder spills using a vacuum. Electric motors generate a spark. Yeah, motors is supposed to be sealed. And Toyota was supposed to be safest, too. Covering the carpet is a better idea, I think.
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Yep, and Lee has a disclaimer regarding Federal primers, you can't paint anything unless its done in a lab, and there is probably a disclaimer on your ladder warning not to stand on it. :jerkit:

You can vacuum powder, though some common sense may apply, like don't build up a 3 lb charge in the bag.
 
Just a thought on your tumbler. I've read a few articles in reloading mags and on forums (I think it was guns and ammo) about the lead that tumblers throw up into the air, and how it can be pretty dangerous.

Would you think of tumbling on your deck or balcony? I've shied away from tumblers for that reason, I was thinking of getting an ultrasonic, but right now I just scotch bright the necks.

Just a thought,
Barry
 
TargetNorth said:
Just a thought on your tumbler. I've read a few articles in reloading mags and on forums (I think it was guns and ammo) about the lead that tumblers throw up into the air, and how it can be pretty dangerous.

Would you think of tumbling on your deck or balcony? I've shied away from tumblers for that reason, I was thinking of getting an ultrasonic, but right now I just scotch bright the necks.

Just a thought,
Barry
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Wet media !
 
Older primers once contained contained mercury fulminate. We know that's bad now, don't we? Lead styphnate is ussed now and leaves behind particles of lead in the cases once fired.
That gets cleaned out of and off of the fired case and goes into your media. I know that lead levels can build up on benches where tumbling occurs and I always wear gloves when tumbling and then wiping the brass after. It's there, just be careful if using around children, I haven't seen studies saying it is airborne though.
 
I have a friend who is reloading in an apartment, the building construction is concrete, and the people below can hear the tumbler when its sitting on the floor...

he finally had to place it outside on the balcony to keep the noise from being a problem - never gave any thought to anything toxic coming off it while in use so I suppose if you have a balcony you may want to stick your tumbler out there for health reasons anyway.
 
More and more primers are being made with non-lead priming compounds such as lead styphnate and lead azide. The problem remains however.

Three items on shooting-related lead hazard, the first range-related and the second leaning towards reloading, including tumbling and especially WRT casting. The third is more general on how to protect yourself, including lead effects on the body.

www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/files/lead_range.pdf

www.oem.msu.edu/userfiles/file/ABLES/LEAD HAZARDS FROM CASTING BULLETS-c07-10-09.pdf

www.oem.msu.edu/userfiles/file/Resources/MSU-HAZARDS (LEAD)rotate_final.pdf
 
Finished! And now it's in operation

It was a fun build, and thanks to all of you for your observations and comments.


LawrenceN said:
Well, living in an apartment space is at a premium. I've had the bits and pieces collected over the years, but lacked cash and time. Thanks to the good services of a close friend, I picked up a nice small sturdy bench for free. I made an upper unit out of oak (which I'll stain later), and then got busy doing the lay out, and getting all the parts out of storage. The bench is 2' X 4' so I have lots of room to work. I have a line on a free secretary's chair which adjusts up and down, so that'll be handy. I'll also be putting a lockable door on the left side where the powder and primers are. Depending on space & future needs, I may also put another shelf below. I'll only be loading .308 and .303 to start, but my buddy wants me to load him .45ACP down the road. So let me know what you think. Any good pointers and constructive input would be appreciated. I may stain it down the road, but for now, it works great. What isn't in the photo is the power bar mounted on the left leg which gives me juice for the tumbler or whatever else I may require.
reloadingbenchpart2002.jpg

reloadingbenchpart2001.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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