Reloading bench design questions

[grey]

I am building a reloading bench in anticipation of starting to reload my own cartridges, and I would like to make a lockable cabinet as part of this for storing powder. How tall do I need to make such a locker to fit typical 1lb. powder containers?

Also, I was considering covering the surface of the bench with sheet stainless steel, but it occurred to me that this might be a safety hazard -- any thoughts?

Thanks in advance --

 

[mjn]

1lb bottle is about 6 1/4" tall..... Wood for your top. Don't want any static..

 

[66spitfire]

1lb bottle is about 6 1/4" tall..... Wood for your top. Don't want any static..

IMF and hodgdon powders may be that height, alliant is considerably taller, and although you did ask for height of 1 lbers. Once you get the bug, you may start to buy 8 lb jugs as sometimes that is all that you can find....I'll try and get to the garage later and give you the height of Alliant2400 1 lb. bottle

 

[mjn]

Alliant 9" and VV...... My bad

 

[PitBull1973]

Here is my reloading set up. I labelled drawers for organization . Powder containers are on there side which is fine . No cluter is keyView attachment 20357View attachment 20358

 

[BCRider]

For maximum flexibility I really suggest that you drill a line of holes and use the insert shelf buttons. That way you can adjust to suit a variety of items for storage. And it's amazing how soon you find you need enough room for a dozen or more bottles. So don't skimp on the room in the powder locker. Allow for a good 16 to 20 bottles.

If you go with the holes and adjustable shelf buttons then you can adapt later on if you start buying in 8lb containers.

We always have more "stuff" to store than we have room for. One way to aid in making your bench into an organizer to help with the clutter is to use kitchen drawer lower units for the supports for your work table. And in fact since you're levering on the machines fairly stoutly I'd go so far as to say that the bench itself should be done like a small kitchen counter with the lower units fixed to the wall behind and the top fixed to the lower units in turn. The top in this case being a double layer of 3/4 plywood or 3/4 MDF to produce something stable and sturdy. And I can say from experience that once you varnish 3/4 MDF with two or three coats of polyurethane with a light sanding between coats you have a very tough top which resists stains well.