Opinion on work bench - New to reloading

srnm

srnm

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I need some help and input from the reloaders here.

I'm completely new to reloading and I'm looking seriously looking at getting into it this spring. I'm mainly planning on reloading 5.7x28mm and down the road 9mm, 357magnum, 45acp, and 5.56. I'm looking at the Dillion XL650 as a reloading press. Right now I do all my firearm maintenance on a cheap ikea desk in my gun room which isn't suitable for reloading on and I've been looking for an excuse to get rid of it. Right now I'm looking at this work bench from Canadian Tire https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-bench-with-wood-top-0686099p.html#srp. I'm NOT a fan of mastercraft and I was originally planning on building one but these tables go on sale every other month for $180 and I roughly have $160 built up in Canadian Tire money and gift cards. Do you think this will be sturdy enough for a proper bench vise, the reloading press, and a case tumbler? I don't care about the storage as I have a industrial metal lockable storage cabinet and flammable storage cabinet (can I store powder in here?) and almost a whole wall of pegboard. Do you think this table will be suitable enough or should I go ahead and just build one? Is there anything I should be considering when looking for a reloading bench? Is the Dillion XL650 a good press to learn on and will last me down the road, any other presses I should be looking at? Anyone here reload 5.7x28mm, what should I be aware of when reloading for this round?


Thank you
 
Tons of information and examples here . . .

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/848736-Show-your-reloading-benches

My bench is Oak TV/entertainment center that I cut to the height I wanted then laminated the sections cut out to the insides.
These entertainment centers are worth nothing today and there is lots of storage space.

As to the 650 . . . find someone who has one and get some hands on experience and instruction.
 
I use a commercial /industrial quality computer desk that my neighbor want to get rid of. Its really heavy and solid with a 1 1/2" thick top, and I doubled that thickness were the press bolts down. It suits my purpose very well.
The Mastercraft bench will work , but I'd still beef it up with som extra bracing and wood under the top.
 
I have two of those Mastercraft benches in my workshop. They are plenty sturdy, plenty heavy. The one bench is my reloading bench, and has a drill press, vise, grinder, wet tumble, press, and all my other reloading kit attached. Zero issues.

They do sit rather high though, so I bought a draftsman's chair so I could reload in comfort and it works beautifully.
 
I bought a sheet (8'x4') of 3/4" plywood with Oak Veneer on one side at Home Depot.

They cut it for me into 2' x 4' pieces on their fancy saw. Glued / screwed them together, added some trim around the outside edge and mounted it to the existing wall studs with some 4x4 angled legs. Then added some stain & clear coat. End result - rock solid reloading bench for under a $100.

Bench.jpg


Bench2.jpg
 
Built this when I got my Dillon 650. It's 6ft by 8 ft. and cost about $250 to make, I even got home depot to cut the plywood to size, so it was basically cut 2x4's and assemble. Unfortunately it hasn't looked this neat since the first day I made it
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RePete said:
Yes, a closed metal cabinet becomes a bomb.

Read the storage comments on the powder manufacturers web sites. You can ask your local Fire Chief.
Click to expand...

Nothing about wood...

Considerations For Storage Of Smokeless Powder

Smokeless powder is intended to function by burning, so it must be protected against accidental exposure to flame, sparks or high temperatures.

For these reasons, it is desirable that storage enclosures be made of insulating materials to protect the powder from external heat sources.

Once smokeless powder begins to burn, it will normally continue to burn (and generate gas pressure) until it is consumed.

D.O.T. approved containers are constructed to open up at low internal pressures to avoid the effects normally produced by the rupture or bursting of a strong container.

Storage enclosures for smokeless powder should be constructed in a similar manner: 1. Of fire-resistant and heat-insulating materials to protect contents from external heat. 2. Sufficiently large to satisfactorily vent the gaseous products of combustion which would result if the quantity of smokeless powder within the enclosure accidentally ignited.

If a small, tightly enclosed storage enclosure is loaded to capacity with containers of smokeless powder, the enclosure will expand or move outwards to release the gas pressure - if the powder in storage is accidentally ignited.

Under such conditions, the effects of the release of gas pressure are similar or identical to the effects produced by an explosion.

Hence only the smallest practical quantities of smokeless powder should be kept in storage, and then in strict compliance with all applicable regulations and recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association (scroll down to read)
 
Recommendations For Storage Of Smokeless Powder

STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. Be sure the storage area selected is free from any possible sources of excess heat and is isolated from open flame, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc. Do not store smokeless powder where it will be exposed to the sun's rays. Avoid storage in areas where mechanical or electrical equipment is in operation. Restrict from the storage areas heat or sparks which may result from improper, defective or overloaded electrical circuits.

DO NOT STORE SMOKELESS POWDER IN THE SAME AREA WITH SOLVENTS, FLAMMABLE GASES OR HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.

STORE ONLY IN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROVED CONTAINERS.

Do not transfer the powder from an approved container into one which is not approved.

DO NOT SMOKE IN AREAS WHERE POWDER IS STORED OR USED. Place appropriate "No Smoking" signs in these areas.

DO NOT SUBJECT THE STORAGE CABINETS TO CLOSE CONFINEMENT. STORAGE CABINETS SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED OF INSULATING MATERIALS AND WITH A WEAK WALL SEAMS OR JOINTS TO PROVIDE AN EASY MEANS OF SELF-VENTING.

DO NOT KEEP OLD OR SALVAGED POWDERS. Check old powders for deterioration regularly. Destroy deteriorated powders immediately.

OBEY ALL REGULATIONS REGARDING QUANTITY AND METHODS OF STORING. Do not store all your powders in one place. If you can, maintain separate storage locations. Many small containers are safer than one or more large containers.

KEEP YOUR STORAGE AND USE AREA CLEAN. Clean up spilled powder promptly. Make sure the surrounding area is free of trash or other readily combustible materials
 
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