Setting up reloading room - a few questions

[Dynamite Monkey]

Well, no pun intended, but I bit the bullet and decided to go down Reloading Road. Picked up a Hornady LnL-AP, Hornady tumbler, and a whole slew of accessories that I figured I'd need.

I have some questions on setting up my room. I also would like to list what I've purchased so far to see if I'm missing anything important.

I have a decent size heavy duty wooden desk as my reloading bench. It is an "L" shape with one piece being 6'x3' and the other being 6'x2'. They go together to create a 9' length. The desk has several large wooden file drawers that could house the powder. I'll be fitting one with a lock. Any problem using them to store <=2kg of powder?

The room itself is in the final phases of construction. I'm going to be installing several overhead light fixtures. I prefer incandescent - any problems with that?

I'd like the switch for the overhead lights to be close by. Any problem with manual light switches in proximity to gunpowder?

Any problem with static electricity? I'll be on a concrete floor but may eventually want something like a chair mat. Should I be putting a grounding strip on the desk and strapping each piece of equipment or is that just being paranoid?

Any suggestions from seasoned reloaders about what you wished you'd put into your room before sealing everything up?

---

Here's what I have for equipment so far:

LnL AP press with shell plates and dies for 9mm and .223
Tumbler
Hornady 7th edition reloading book
32 oz cob media
Metal polish
Frankford digital caliper
Frankford digital scale: (POS... being returned... getting better one.)
Powder pan for scale
Frankford case neck lubricator with mica


No primers, bullets or powder yet. I'll worry about those another day.

Anything crucial that I'm missing? I know I'll eventually need a case trimmer. I can probably get away with 3 or 4 reloads on .223 before really needing one. (Right?) Any suggestions for a decent .223 trimmer would be appreciated. Anything else I'm missing?

FWIW: I'm obviously quite new to reloading. I'm very mechanically inclined and understand the principles behind everything. I'm going to read and watch everything I can before starting on my own and I think I have an experienced reloader who I can invite over to show me the basics. Having said that, any safety warning will be appreciated. I already know not to eat the gunpowder so we can skip that lesson.

I know there are about a dozen questions above. Whatever you can answer would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shootshellz]

DM: Congrats; you are in for an enjoyable hobby. Make sure you bench is as large as possible; you will find it rapidly shrinks over time. As far as lighting, I suggest plastic sleeves over your fluorescent tubes; you don't want shattered (hot) glass dropping into smokeless powder if the tube breaks. Some folks ground their presses; I have never felt the need but where I live there is very low humidity. Interlocking rubber mats for a concrete floor are nice to have and are a real back saver. A good comfortable chair/stool is a must. I like my Redding trimmer but if you are on a budget the Lee trimmer chucked into a hand drill does the job (just be sure you get the cutter with the wooden ball handle). Try to find an experienced reloader to show you the ropes; it speeds up the learning curve greatly and you will avoid a lot of frustration. And one last thought: NEVER force a stuck live primer.

 

[(((Echo)))]

Sounds good.
I'd throw in a couple more reloading manuals (cross checking loads) and a bullet puller of some sort. Mistakes will be made . The hammer type (inertia) ones are good and not too $$$.

(E)

 

[buffdog]

Additional tools

.
ADD
a 6 inch vernier dial calipre (to check OAL and case length)
primer pocket cleaners
a case mouth chamfering tool
A LOG BOOK TO RECORD YOUR LOADS--keep good records
if you are using military .223 brass ---get a primer pocket swage or reamer
a inside flash hole reamer
a bench loading block to hold your cartridge cases
plastic boxes to keep your loaded ammo in
a powder trickler ( for putting a few grains at a time on the scale )

A good powder measure is optional. If you are volume loading for a semi automatic or lots of varmint loads, use a powder measure. If for target loads, you can get by with the scales, but it takes a lot more time.

and most of all
A GOOD LOCK FOR THE DOOR.

 

[Dynamite Monkey]

Thanks for the responses guys. Some great ideas in there.

I guess I'll also need primer trays. I didn't think about that one until just now.

I'm going broke saving money!

 

[bnichols]

A magazine for powder and another one for primers.