I built mine from plans in "The Shooter's Workbench" by John Mosher. An older book but lots of good ideas. I modified the plans in the book to build mine. Mostly I just used a special material I had for the top. It is 2 1/8" thick.
I built mine from plans in "The Shooter's Workbench" by John Mosher. An older book but lots of good ideas. I modified the plans in the book to build mine. Mostly I just used a special material I had for the top. It is 2 1/8" thick.
John
W.TN
Don.....it was......big eyes when I was young.....bit off more than I could chew (build)....things change when you get old.....especially the old eyes. My uncle was a military pilot in WW2.....it was HIS fault! Time? Nearly out of it.
My bench is a version of a Torsion Beam bench, which I posted once at THR resources: (downloadable plans if anyone wants them)
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.ph...ench-how-to.6/
My favorite reloading room poster....wife approved....barely.
Last edited by GWS; 04-09-2020 at 11:32 PM.
That is much more material efficient than my bench which relies on a lot of wood and a humongous top that by itself weighs over 150 lbs. I calculated it one time but have forgotten. The material is a very dense particle board used in large power transformers.
John
W.TN
Love the pin up GWS.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face!" - Mike Tyson
"Don't let my fears become yours." - Me, talking to my children
That look on your face, when you shift into 6th gear, but it's not there.
GWS,
That is an excellent design...close to what I made up but better.
One thing I intend to incorporate is a 2x4 ledger beam on the wall that is 3/4" above the table top. That way I can mount seldom used presses, and things like my trimmers, Dillon primer swager, RCBS bench primer etc on 3/4 plywood bases and slip them onto the bench when needed. Saw it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsAQ-AObp4w
I was going to get a commercial QC system (like In-Line) but it gets a bit costly The idea above is cheap and gives a completely open surface when desired. I am not a big fan of using C clamps to hold stuff down as shown in the video. Will see how well Quick Grip Clamps work. I may just use a T slot rail if I need to.
Don Verna
Watched the video.....that's a great idea as long as you can keep it tight.
IMO, there's a better way than clamping the front with clamps....I would drill holes in the benchtop, press Tee Nuts in from underneath and just drop bolts and fender washers and use a hand hex driver to snug it down. Buy a hex driver to hang on the wall close by for just only that use. Lastly, I'd redrill the removable tops bigger to make it easy to position. (the fender washers will handle that.) and if you keep the bolts short....only a few threads catching....it'll remove faster than screwing in a clamp.
One more thought: What if you used angle iron instead of a 2X4...and screwed them into the wall 3/4" up. Then you could mount parts bin cabinets above the angle iron....instead of having to raise it 3 1/2" up? Neat Idea you found......
Tee Nuts: https://www.fmwfasteners.com/product...BoCHywQAvD_BwE
Last edited by GWS; 04-10-2020 at 08:54 PM.
My girlfriend bought it at Ross years ago. Don't know if anyone else carries them.
https://www.rossstores.com
Warning: I know Judo. If you force me to prove it I'll shoot you.
That ledger idea is cool but the tools are going to take up a lot of room w/ the plywood attached. The Inline Mount definitely costs money. But tool storage takes up a lot less space since the plates are small. Mine are mounted w/ bolts and wing nuts. This way I can remove the mount quickly if I need a larger area to work in.
Tool storage becomes a major issue as you add to your collection. I had to reorganize everything when I switched to Inline. Even though the plates are small they take up more room and I can’t store presses as close together as I used to. I should have stopped buying presses a long time ago
if you have a Habitate for Humanity store in your area, take a look. I found an 8' x 4' island countertop for $40.00 about new. Also found old Government metal desks, 7 drawers. linolium topped that are bullet proof for $20.00 ea. On garbage day, somebody put out a 3' x 5' butcher block countertop, 2" thick. The island is my workbench, the desks great for storage and gun cleaning and the butcher block my loading bench. Be cheap ---- recycle !
Great idea Swiss Shooter.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face!" - Mike Tyson
"Don't let my fears become yours." - Me, talking to my children
That look on your face, when you shift into 6th gear, but it's not there.
ive got one more single (the big one is two bolted together). All have 3/4 in plywood on top. The double one has a single piece tieing them together. The casting bench has a 3/4 in plywood top with ceramic floor tile on top to prevent any chance of fire. note the stickers. Shop pic isn't right though. Its in my garage before the loading room in the pole barn was done. Much nicer now. Couple more benches for gunsmithing in it now and one more for shot gun loading. Presses sure aren't so pretty and clean though. This was all new stuff I had to buy after my first pole barn burned to the ground.
Last edited by Lloyd Smale; 07-12-2020 at 08:24 AM.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |