Location, location, location

[Denby]

Hello,

I am new to reloading and am building a reloading bench. When I setup my progressive press should it be on the left side of the bench? Middle? Right side of bench? I don't want to move it once I put it on the bench if possible. Please let me know your opinions and give me your guidance.

Oh... I am right handed if that matters

 

[new210/22]

How one sets up their space is often very personal so we could tell you what you should do, but we might be wrong. My advice would be to temporarily mount it with clamps and just use the space for a while before settling on a final location.

 

[KePet]

You’re gonna wind up moving it no matter what. Trust me…I know.
Just for info though, I have mine on the right side of the bench. I’m right handed. I work the lever with my right hand. Bullets and prepped brass sit to the left of the press. I feed the bullets/brass with my left, and the finished bullets go into the plastic case. I’ve found this works best for me. If you work the lever with your left hand you might want to do the opposite.

 

[Munkey1973]

Had the same question about a decade ago when I bought my house and made my workshop in the basement.
Glad that I left the surface of my corner, L-shaped bench (2 lengths at 4' by 2') unfinished until the past spring.... because I tried 4 different spots until I found what was optimal for my style and needs.

In my case, I angled my In-Line universal riser mount in the centre of the corner... sort of "surrounds" me with bench surface while at the press. As an added bonus it prevents me piling stuff up the corner of bench and avoids clutter.

The right side of the L has my scale and bench vise (holds trimmers, bench primer etc etc) and the left side of the L has nothing fastened to it . Left side has large, uninterrupted surface for cleaning guns, big work pieces (maybe a future mini lathe or mini CNC or whatever).

 

[m777]

Mount it to a board, clamp it down and try it out.
I only went left cause the single stage was right. My SD's are smaller then most progressives and I use Inline Fab plates. So if i need the room, they're not on the bench anyway

Clint

 

[Munkey1973]

Had the same question about a decade ago when I bought my house and made my workshop in the basement.
Glad that I left the surface of my corner, L-shaped bench (2 lengths at 4' by 2') unfinished until the past spring.... because I tried 4 different spots until I found what was optimal for my style and needs.

In my case, I angled my In-Line universal riser mount in the centre of the corner... sort of "surrounds" me with bench surface while at the press. As an added bonus it prevents me piling stuff up the corner of bench and avoids clutter.

The right side of the L has my scale and bench vise (holds trimmers, bench primer etc etc) and the left side of the L has nothing fastened to it . Left side has large, uninterrupted surface for cleaning guns, big work pieces (maybe a future mini lathe or mini CNC or whatever).

Corner, L shaped bench.
I too am right handed.
I turn right, charge a case, tilt left and seat a bullet, tilt left again an put in ammo box...
I stand in one spot with press in the corner.
I am "surrounded by bench" which keeps me focused and I can charge and seat quickly at the same time.

Trimmers, bench primer, turning lathe are bolted to 2x4 and stored off bench. Bring them out and put in bench vice when needed.

I should actually bring my scale a bit closer to the press

Lots of room on the other side of the bench to tinker around with s##t and clean guns (far away from the precious and delicate 120-i scale).

 

[alpining]

Mount it to a board, clamp it down and try it out.
...

This is a great approach.

Definitely have a look at other peoples' setups, and then try laying out your equipment a few different ways. Clamping to a bench is a great way to try things out until you decide on your permanent setup. Your layout might change if you get different and/or additional equipment.

 

[Armourall]

You’re gonna wind up moving it no matter what. Trust me…I know.
Just for info though, I have mine on the right side of the bench. I’m right handed. I work the lever with my right hand. Bullets and prepped brass sit to the left of the press. I feed the bullets/brass with my left, and the finished bullets go into the plastic case. I’ve found this works best for me. If you work the lever with your left hand you might want to do the opposite.

This is what I have done as well. Same reasons pretty well. I also have a Dillon Super Swage 600 mounted to the right of the press far enough out of the way as to not interfere with the press lever. The left of my press is clear for all the other stuff that I use for reloading as well as a work place.

 

[Potashminer]

Corner, L shaped bench.
I too am right handed.
I turn right, charge a case, tilt left and seat a bullet, tilt left again an put in ammo box...
I stand in one spot with press in the corner.
I am "surrounded by bench" which keeps me focused and I can charge and seat quickly at the same time.
...

Munkey1973 - you are much too tidy and neat! At minimum, you need about three layers of sagging shelves on that wall over the bench - out of date reloading manuals, bullets for calibers that you no longer own, piles of various brands of reloading dies that you prefer not to use any more - and a lot more "dirt" - everywhere!!!

 

[woodchopper]

Munkey1973 - you are much too tidy and neat! At minimum, you need about three layers of sagging shelves on that wall over the bench - out of date reloading manuals, bullets for calibers that you no longer own, piles of various brands of reloading dies that you prefer not to use any more - and a lot more "dirt" - everywhere!!!

now your talking

my bench is a disaster.

there is ammo in all states of case prep in bins and boxes, bullets, multiple powders, about 25 sets of dies, some mocked up wildcats and random cases, tools of all sorts, and some random gunparts that I am working on too.

3 presses set up, one just holds the powder throw. Beam scale and case trimmer cluttering up the space.

Oh and I'm in the progress of moving to a new space for reloading, easier to just abandon everything and set up a new bench then try to clean that mess up.


and as a trick I find taking an old hockey puck and drilling a bunch of holes in it works great for holding allen keys, trimmer pilots, and everything that is small and round.

 

[Potashminer]

Another use, on loading bench, for a hockey puck - in this case was a "new" old that got "borrowed" from Grandson...

 

[KePet]

Munkey1973 - you are much too tidy and neat! At minimum, you need about three layers of sagging shelves on that wall over the bench - out of date reloading manuals, bullets for calibers that you no longer own, piles of various brands of reloading dies that you prefer not to use any more - and a lot more "dirt" - everywhere!!!

 

[Munkey1973]

Munkey1973 - you are much too tidy and neat! At minimum, you need about three layers of sagging shelves on that wall over the bench - out of date reloading manuals, bullets for calibers that you no longer own, piles of various brands of reloading dies that you prefer not to use any more - and a lot more "dirt" - everywhere!!!

LMAO.. fair enough !

My reloading room was reno'd in the early spring ..... and still kind of work in progress.
Next things to add is a bar and stripper pole .... reloading room and Gentleman's Club all in one!

It inadvertently started when I bought the Liberty safe...."well I may as well paint the wall behind it" " if I am painting the drywall and studs, then may as well smooth/grind-off and paint the concrete walls tooo ... Ok I may as well hit the ceiling with some flat black while I am at it...of course I can't leave the floor like this..... this room is nice by my bench looks like hell ..better find some Formica and build some shelves"

All kidding aside, IMO, having one's press in the corner of a L shaped bench is the best way to go about it

This was 25% into the reno... my bench often used look this cluttered