Reloading bench

[Gussy]

For those needing a 5' loading bench, I just got a Harbor frt wood workers bench. It's laminated hardwood (Chinese of course) but it does seem to be well built. It has 4 drawers and a wood workers end vise with bench dogs (holes in table top). I'm not using it for reloading, but it looks like it would work very well. On sale, $139.

A suggestion: Put glue in each part as you put it together. It will last much longer and the screws holding it together won't work loose. That's a must on the drawers (take that from a life long wood worker).

[ACrowe25]

Maybe it's just me... I build a much "stronger" 5' bench for way under $139. Took me one night in the garage if that, and I ain't even crafty. Just a redneck building as I went. Was under $70 IIRC and that is overestimating.

[CastingFool]

My reloading bench used to be my dad's workshop bench, so I know it's well built. Before I got it, I was using a workbench I made out of 4x4's for legs, and full 2x6x6ft long oak boards. Very sturdy, but everything would get sawdust all over, as it was in my woodshop.

[jmorris]

I built one from 3/4" box tube that was pretty cheap and stronger than any wood bench I ever had.

[Fire_Medic]

I built one from 3/4" box tube that was pretty cheap and stronger than any wood bench I ever had.

Do you have pics/details on this?

I'm going to be redoing my bench in the garage soon and looking for better ideas. The current bench is 2 feet deep and 5 feet wide made out of wood for less than $70 in supplies and some of my time, but I have had it since 08 and I want something bigger now and sturdier that I will mount to the wall if necessary.

Thanks
FM

[jmorris]

The key to strength is making the truss. The "wing" bolts to the main table so I could get it inside. The material would run around $200 if you had to buy it new. If you have "stuff" to put on the bottom shelf, no need to bolt it to anything.


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/reloading/IMAG1210.jpg

Electrical runs under the bottom. The switches on the left side, one controls the air compressor the other kills all the outlets.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/IMAG1238.jpg

When I first put it in the house.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/IMAG1256.jpg

[jmorris]

The little hairless head in the lower left of the above photo has gotten a little bigger since then but still stands at the door to watch when a 1050 is loading.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/IMG_20130718_135216_122_zpsdead8f17.jpg

[Petrol & Powder]

There's about as many ideas and designs for benches as there are people building benches. The members of this forum seem to be particularly clever. A good bench is sturdy and functional. I have found that anchoring the bench to the wall is a benefit. I used a 2" x 6" with a couple of carriage bolts protruding towards the bench. The 2x6 was attached to the studs with 3" deck screws. That set up allowed me to attach the bench to the wall with nuts on the carriage bolts but still be able to remove the bench if needed.