Finding a good bench...

gorky

gorky

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Lethbridge, AB
Not sure where else to put this, but I figure everyone here has a good bench for their reloading. I used to use this old solid desk, with two layers of 1" plywood to reinforce the desktop. I want something new to put into my almost finished gun room and I want something that is both highly functional and good looking.

I spent most of today checking out various businesses to find ANYTHING that could serve as a proper base and came up with squat. Holy hell, I couldnt even find a decent workbench, nevermind anything that would work for a reloading press. I think I am going to be forced to build my own. What designs have you guys used ? Right now I am planning a 6'w x 3'd bench, 2x1" plywood with one layer of 3/4" oak on top, based on three 4x4 frames with perpendicularly running 2x6 supports, all clad in oak. I will be building a separate oak shelving unit for misc. stocks and barrels and all my misc. brass, primers, and so on. Any other ideas ?

EDIT: I saw the thread on the crappy tire bench.... not my cup of tea in terms of aesthetics and, quite frankly, if I have to modify it in order to get it to suit my needs, I am probably better off building from new.

2nd EDIT: The one item I found that might have worked was actually at Costco.
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10319482&lang=en-CA
I can get this for $200. All shelves are adjustable so I can create a cavity for the presses and vice. I would have to cut some plywood to mount the presses to (it is wire mesh right now), but at least this thing is solid. Aesthetics are also a bit of an issue....
 
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Here's mine. 1 1/2" angle iron, 3/4 maple plywood with 10 coats of clear and an old electrical cabinet (now with lock). I mounted powder measure on a portable base (stainless plate and block of steel). Princess Auto has a teardown bench that is HD.


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I've loaded about 4-5000 rounds on an old pressboard desk that just happened to be in the basement. I don't see it lasting forever, but it doesn't look any worse than when I started with it.
 
loading benches

I have two loading benches one I bought at a garage sale 15 years ago and I presume that the preveious owner had it for a fillet table it stands 38' high at the top and is aprox. 3'x4' with 1/8" broke stainless top that I have my p/w shotshell rig mounted to . And my other bench (kinda) a shame but it is about a 5" length of a shuffleboard playing suface, 3" thick hard maple mounted to the wall with 1 1/2" strap iron brackets and I have my Hornady LNL mounted to one end , a rcbs rockchucker in the middle and a Lyman 4500 lubesizer at the far end . Lots of room when it's clean and nice and sturdy !!!
 
loading benches

I have two loading benches one I bought at a garage sale 15 years ago and I presume that the preveious owner had it for a fillet table it stands 38" high at the top and is aprox. 3'x4' with 1/8" broke stainless top that I have my p/w shotshell rig mounted to . And my other bench (kinda) a shame but it is about a 5" length of a shuffleboard playing suface, 3" thick hard maple mounted to the wall with 1 1/2" strap iron brackets and I have my Hornady LNL mounted to one end , a rcbs rockchucker in the middle and a Lyman 4500 lubesizer at the far end . Lots of room when it's clean and nice and sturdy !!!
 
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I built mine out of wood and painted with a plastic enamel. The top is plywood, but where the press is and along the front about eight inches in is re-enforced with a 2 x 4 for the length and 2 x 6 doubled up and screwed/glued.

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This is my primer bucket. Spent primers are decapped by the press, go through the flexible tubing and into the bucket for easy clean up. I think it will take me about two years to fill the bucket lmao.

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http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/FWNPDFfree/011181054.pdf

Take a look at this do-it-yourself plywood bench from Fine Woodworking Magazine.

I built one using a circular saw and a good straightedge instead of a table saw. It is a very straight-forward build and well within the skills of most "handymen".

I replaced some of the screws with carriage bolts. It turned out to be a very solid and heavy-duty bench. I think it looks a lot better than the cheap metal knock-down benches from CTC or Princess Auto.
 
Some alternatives.

FWIW, here are several alternatives for those of you wanting to spend a little more money. I would have linked some images, but I'm lazy.

Rubbermade Base Garage Cabinet, $129.99 (Canadian Tire)
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...R~0681265P/Rubbermaid+Base+Garage+Cabinet.jsp

Husky Metal Front Base Cabinet, $129.00 (Home Depot)
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

Mastercraft Base Metal Garage Cabinet, $299.99 (Canadian Tire) [My personal favorite, but expensive]
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...24P/Mastercraft+Base+Metal+Garage+Cabinet.jsp
 
"...one item I found..." That won't be strong enough without some reinforcement. Sheet metal flexes fairly easily. Too expensive too. There a reclaimed building material shop in Lethbridge? There's all kinds of stuff in those shops. Have a look in Princess Auto too. 2950 32nd Street South.
"...pressboard desk..." Must be better particle board than the $30 bench kit I bought at Beaver Lumber, years ago. Friggin' top broke the first time I used it. Bolted a square foot of 1/4" mild steel plate on it.
 
Oh BTW, I think CDN Tire has their standard work bench on sale for $100 ($100 off) this week. I think I remember seeing that in their flyer (Ontario)
 
I built my own. Frame is welded square tube, top is 3 layers of particle board with top layer maple veneer, solid maple framed around the edges to cover the particle board ends. 5" overhang on the front to mount presses.

If you can't find one to buy, consider having someone make a frame for you. Then all you need to do is put together at top. (The solid core doors is a good alternative)

It won't be much more expensive than trying to find a GOOD HD table, and then you will have exactly what you want.
 
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If you can come across a section of laminated beam in 2X4 dimensions you'll have the best bench top possible.
It will be heavy but you can build steel tubing legs and have a bench that doesnt move a millimeter under whatever stress you throw at it.
 
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