My Reloading Bench...

Zey

Zey

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Location
Kitchener, ON
Ok so I want to get into reloading, but I have no where to do it. This calls for a project!!! So with any project the first step for me is always to plan carefully. After about 20 hours sitting in front of Lappy, I designed from scratch, this bench.

It uses 8 sheets of 11.5mm, 2 foot x 4 foot Russian plywood that can be bought at Home Depot for about $20 each. 14" drawer slides from Lee Valley for $10. 36" florescent utility light from Chinese Tire for about $45. The table top is a laminated white chunk of an old solid core door. The entire design is based on the efficient use of materials(the plywood).

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Here is the cutting scheme for the materials(Yes, I know, I need expensive mental help from someone very experienced with the clinically insane.)

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Nice looking design - but you might want to start reloading before you build it. Mother Necessity might require that you re-invent it a little. The two greatest forces that it must withstand are the downstroke of the press lever and the upstroke of the press lever - the second being the most upsetting - upsetting everything if the bench is not very very heavy, or fastened to the house.

One of those doored shelves might be for powder storage and a different place for primers I suppose - but where can we put the scales - just a little lower than eye level?

It is surprising how reloading can be done anywhere, using anything - a bracket bolted to a telepost in the basement is super-secure, and an old filing cabinet or buffet or dresser will hold the junk. A hall closet with a light or two wired in and a strong shelf or two can be closed and tidy in seconds. I could imagine setting up shop in a decent sized refrigerator - likely someone somewhere is using one as a gun locker.

I like a very tidy area - light coloured floors and no junk around, so I can find that tiny spring or primer that gets away. A trash can needs a lid on it. Maybe close in the kick plate on your design - stuff will hide down there - and it likely would help to screw it to a wall. A little light from over your shoulder is nice to have.

Designing is fun - and addictive, but really, we only need one thing - a secure mount for the press - the other work can be done on most any flat surface.

Nice design - nice program - whatever you used - but if you build it, lots of us will hate you for having all the ambition around here. I think most guys just use what is handy - I use an old desk and a tall dresser.
 
That's decent advice anchor. I would start reloading before the bench, but I have litteraly nothing else to use right now as a bench. Yes my design will be screwed to the wall for sure. The CAD program is solidworks. I've built a custom coffee table, a table saw, a large general workbench and numerous other smaller things using this software. I also designed my 700 in this program just for fun... Some say I chose the wrong career path. lol.

I'm quite fortunate to have a reloading department in the house already. My landlord/friend shoots rifle and has a setup so I can look at his, getting ideas for how things are laid out on the bench. I would simply use his equipment but he has all his trimmers and dies setup for his chamberings... and I want to load target rounds, so I need my own equipment.

Right now there's a light under the cupboard area. The height of the upper shelf is to facilitate storing reloading manuals. The Cupboard is because I can store Powder and a tray with in progress cartridges. Drawer for various tools like dial indicator, micrometer, deburring tools, brushes etc. Under shelves are more for storage of other crap not shooting related.. maybe a sonic bath if I ever got one.
 
Zey - Naw - if you enjoy something, don't do it for a living - it messes with the enjoyment - it becomes a job.

It is fun having a need to fill. Invention will provide solutions - needs are scarce.

Preplanning the use of something limits the usefulness sometimes - it can for some strange reason limit versatility. Generous covered, yet accessible storage - and a stout press mount, and the rest will shortly fit like an old pair of gloves.

Have fun.
 
Zey, That is a nice cupboard for card making but not reloading. Make a strong heavy bench for mounting your press. Use 2" (or more) thick lumber. It should be heavy. You can then make nice cupboards to mount on the wall above but not connected to the bench for storing your other reloading equipment and supplies. Of course that's just my way of doing things. Have at it and enjoy the project.
 
No way I'd make it with 11.5 mm material. Is that a 2X4 sheet of Baltic birch? We can only get it in 5X5 sheets here. It's the best plywood around, but I would be more tempted to go cheap and thick. Mine is a section of countertop with a 4" wide piece doubled up plywood, on edge, around the perimeter to prevent warping.

Your design looks good though. I'm not interested in getting good enough on the computer to do my own drawings.
 
If you stick with a solid-core door for your benchtop, that should be sturdy enough. If it eventually proves flimsy (unlikely), you could always turn it upside down and glue a properly-sized sheet of 1/2" ply to the bottom where it wouldn't show. I think however that that won't be required.
 
Gota be at least 3/4" ply in my books, the bench has got to be strong as hell, think my bench top is 2 1/4" thick,braced with 2X4s underneath
 
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