Reloading bench build

[0802]

All- planning a dedicated reloading bench build. Basic bench will be styled similar to this bench.

Workbench plans
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/296815431666508326/sent/?invite_code=d072ab4a4ae063b7d096eb78229d8263&sender=348536596070442466

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/27/bf271088e4f17a2cf624d629224d64b7.jpg

I think it will be 18 inches deep, with a 6 inch deep shelf at the back. Shelf will be detachable.

I'm partial to Firebrick's shelf as seen on the bench sticky. Plan to put a shelf underneath for heavy stuff.

Also plan to put a press quick change mount on it, likely inline or rockdock systems. That will be later.

I had also considered putting aluminum T-tracks in it, but am not sure that would be necessary with the docking stations.

I am debating the height; I usually load sitting down, but am not tied to it. I had considered integrating this into an L shaped bench in the future. Plan to use the extra space for case prep or cleaning. That makes me think I should build it for standing height work.

Soliciting thoughts on the height. I'm thinking slightly above waist level for a standing bench, maybe about belly button high.

Input welcome.

[Pee Wee]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]
0802:
I prefer the sitting position, at some point I am lowering the standing station. My 2 cents.
Pee Wee

I mistakenly put in the pic of my washing table and can't get it edited out, sorry about that.

[0802]

Pee Wee -- that is an enviable setup. I think I will go to Dillon when all this is done. My scour e of wood did not pan out, so I am delayed in material procurement. Looks like I'll have to buy the wood and its not cheap here, so we'll see...

[Pee Wee]

Its taken me a few years to get everything the way it is now, I have made a few more changes since that photo was taken, My next project is to get A/C in. I live in Florida and it gets pretty hot in there in the summer. ( I'm in the Garage ) I have 4 fans and that helps.
I just have to convince the wife. Good luck with your project, it will always be a works in progress. If your like me, it becomes a disease, good thing I don't take drugs.

[0802]

I've had four different rooms in four houses, it's always evolving. Planning for the final one.

[jmorris]

I built an 18" wide "L" bench with a bottom shelf too but I went the cheap route and used box tube steel.

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

[bangerjim]

Cross-brace the legs on the sides and the back!

Remember - the triangle is the strongest geometrical shape and will prevent/minimize wobble no matter how string and big your joints are!

A single member of wood or metal will do the job for each.

banger

[Grasslander]

jmorris, "cheap route" or not, that is one sturdy bench.

What did you use for the top on the "L" section?

[jmort]

"I went the cheap route and used box tube steel."

That looks like a bridge. Wow. I'm feeling inadequate.

[C.F.Plinker]

154387My bench is similar to the one in the picture except that I had to use much simpler joinery because of my lack of woodworking skills. The top is a solid core door, the legs are 4x4s attached to the top with mending plates, and the stringers are 2x4s just nailed to the inside of the legs. The side stringers support the back stringer.

The bench top is 33" high so I use it while seated. I have a 1x10 shelf going all the way across the back between the side stringers and also screwed to the back stringer which acts as a stop to keep things from being pushed off the shelf. Make the shelf high enough that you can push a 5 gallon pail under it as a trash can. Since the shelf is not the full depth of the bench it is easy to get my knees under the top when I am just sitting at the bench. I mounted the press, now a Dillon 550B, on the end of the bench and use it looking down the length of the bench. I also have a 1x6 shelf running the length of the bench and mounted about a foot above the bench. The beam scale is on the shelf so it is about eye level when I am seated.

[jmorris]

The top is 1/8" steel plate. It's too flimsy by itself but it was drop from a paying job so I used it and just ran a few extra braces across between the trusses.

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

I also ran electrical under the bench, the switch on the left controls the dentist office air compressor the one on the right kills power to the rest of the bench.

[Grasslander]

Good thinking on the electrical. You can never have too many outlets...

That would sure be something to consider on a new build. (wish I had)

[0802]

The more I look at it, I'll mix the above design and this one. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/29/484f1cbdaeae4a8ec48a39acb0c3dce4.jpg

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/348536458641538899/

I'm thinking 72 in length for the top. Six total legs; one set of legs on center, then legs 12 inches in from each end. Mount presses directly above legs.

Raise the bottom rails enough to put floor rolling drawers underneath for 1 lb powder containers. Drawers under bench for dies. Shelves underneath bench for bulk bullets and brass.

[DonMountain]

All of these super heavy duty looking benches really look great, except for one thing. I like to roll my chair up to the bench and slide my feet and legs under it when I am sorting or doing things farther back on the bench between my presses, powder measures and scales. Even with the presses that are mounted on the edge I tend to like to stretch my legs out under the bench and don't want anything in the way there. Although I have a shelf mounted across the back of mine that is about 10" off the floor so 50 BMG ammo cans will slide under there full of shotgun ammo, but the edge is set back about 15" from the front of the bench top so my feet and legs fit there comfortably. On the bench pictured in #13 above, if the front lower cross member was taken out and a shelf about 10" wide was put across the back on the lower braces you would have what I have.

[shooter93]

154497154496Here's a couple pics of the last reloading room I built for a friend. Everything is behind doors and then clamped to the top at the loading areas except for a Dillion 650 which is sitting between the two upper cabinets on the one end.

[dragon813gt]

I don't like tops that aren't a solid piece. Even if you plane them it's more work than needed. I built mine out of four pieces of .75" plywood. It's glued and screwed together w/ the top being a sanded sheet for a nice appearance. At 2'x8' and 3" thick it's heavy and doesn't flex.

I'd go this route for a top and mount it to whatever type of base you make.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/5EB57A85-3B67-4A60-A27B-1049979FCB4A.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/dragon813gt/media/TimeToMakeAmmo/5EB57A85-3B67-4A60-A27B-1049979FCB4A.jpg.html)

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/779257D2-E256-41B3-BEBF-2F613B3DDA45.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/dragon813gt/media/TimeToMakeAmmo/779257D2-E256-41B3-BEBF-2F613B3DDA45.jpg.html)

[petroid]

My bench isn't fancy but it works. A 3/4"sheet of plywood ripped in half lengthwise and screwed and glued together makes a cheap sturdy surface. 2x4 supports and legs. I didn't put shelves underneath so I can stretch my legs out.
Not as nice as dragon's but it works for me

[David2011]

I'm thinking 72 in length for the top. Six total legs; one set of legs on center, then legs 12 inches in from each end. Mount presses directly above legs.

Raise the bottom rails enough to put floor rolling drawers underneath for 1 lb powder containers. Drawers under bench for dies. Shelves underneath bench for bulk bullets and brass.

That's a good size; 96" long is better if you have the space. You'll eventually want it. If you have six legs you MUST have adjustable feet on all of them or they will not all sit firmly on the floor and the bench will probably rock. I have a very heavy lathe bench with six legs and had to put (wet) concrete under them as I leveled it to get firm contact at all six points. I built a general purpose workbench and put rolling drawers under it for all my power tools. I love them.

Mounting the presses above the legs is a good idea- nice and stiff. My sitting bench is 30" high and the standing bench is 42". I determined the height of the standing bench by finding out how high the Dillon presses needed to be with the handles in the full down position so I didn't have to bend my back to get full extension. Your ideal height will probably be different.

David

[jmorris]

All of these super heavy duty looking benches really look great, except for one thing. I like to roll my chair up to the bench and slide my feet and legs under it when I am sorting or doing things farther back on the bench between my presses, powder measures and scales.

I would have built mine different if it were not just a loading bench, I have an office desk across the back of the room with my reloading bench and a work bench on either side.

Keeps my reloading bench free of a bunch of junk I don't need to load ammunition.

[DerekP Houston]

My bench isn't fancy but it works. A 3/4"sheet of plywood ripped in half lengthwise and screwed and glued together makes a cheap sturdy surface. 2x4 supports and legs. I didn't put shelves underneath so I can stretch my legs out.
Not as nice as dragon's but it works for me

Sounds like mine. Took an old computer desk we weren't using and slapped 2 layers of 3/4" ply on top with glue and screws. Guess I should add some stronger legs eventually.

[beeser]

This makes an excellent reloading bench with the 6 adjustable legs and 1 3/4" solid hardwood top. You can sometimes find them for less than $200.
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-heavy-duty-workbench/prod1490086.ip?navAction=

[flashhole]

I've posted this pic before. You want your press mounted over the vertical upright where the upright absorbs all the stress. These uprights are the fake wood deck material. Heavy and solid. I straddled them with steel. Solid as a rock with zero flex. Your initial thinking would allow you to use the bench in Island mode like mine. Access to all sides of the bench is a big plus. Other benches can be used for other things.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/GuideGun/MainReloadingBench.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/GuideGun/media/MainReloadingBench.jpg.html)

[0802]

Flash hole-- I've seen this one around, I like the design. Does it bother you to only have bench space on one side of the press? That seems like it would be challenging to me.

[flashhole]

No bother at all. The smallish size forces me to keep it clean.

[flashhole]

A few years ago I bought an Alaskan mill for my big Husqvarna chainsaw. I've milled some sizeable slabs that are roughly 5" x 12" x 16'. I'm thinking about cutting one in half and using it as a bench top gluing and bolting the two pieces together with threaded rod to make it 24" wide. I have a couple of really stout timbers I milled that I can use for the legs. They have aged for about two years and I think they are ready to use.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/GuideGun/BeamSlabsinGarage_zpsd751b1c1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/GuideGun/media/BeamSlabsinGarage_zpsd751b1c1.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/GuideGun/Meinpic_zps36d3c6bf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/GuideGun/media/Meinpic_zps36d3c6bf.jpg.html)

[Grasslander]

Wow flashhole, if you do that, it would just about be the ultimate bench!

I really hope you go through with your plan!

[flashhole]

There is another guy who already did it with even larger timber. Hell bent for stout but pretty much a permanent fixture to his basement. He had to use a tractor with a front loader to get it in his house. I would have to do the same.

[0802]

Now that is an interesting proposition. I've got access to some walnut that could be used this way. I had envisioned very light wood (or even white paint) to make for good lighting, but that is a great idea.