Lee loader work "bench"

[Bmi48219]

This may have been covered in an earlier post but here goes,
I load .30 carbine, .45 acp & 9 mm with my Lee Loader Classic kits, Redding #2 scale & Lyman 55 measure.
I complete each reloading step on all brass before moving to the next step. One day I'll get a real loading press but don't have room for it now in my limited garage work area. My " workbench" is based on 3 cheap kitchen cabinets & a piece of recycled counter top, pretty flimsy to be pounding on but good enough from scales, measures, loading blocks & the like.
I started using a 4 x 4 for a base for the loading steps that require pounding.
Then I noticed clearing the spent primers from under the shell base was a pain, if you don't get rid of them every 3rd or 4th case they clog the drop hole. So used a 3/4" wood paddle bit to counter sink a 1/4" deep recess in the top of my 4x4, then used a 3/8" bit to drill an angle hole down from the center of the recess out the side of the 4x4. Now the spent primers fall into a waiting bucket.
I added a second recess to hold the die steady while pounding the brass in to size it.
the shell base gets screwed down as shown so it doesn't bounce around while pounding the brass in & out of the sizing die.
i move the shell base to the blind recess for bullet seating, if left screwed down it effects the seating depth, not to mention my concern the screw head might fire the primer. Another hole for the depriming pin & priming pin as required.
the 4x4 is C clamped to my stool.
Not a very elegant solution but it's sturdy, keeps things in place & lets me use both hands with a lot less putting things down & picking up.
172005172006172008

[Pine Baron]

Very ingenious. I really like the 4x4. Well played, my friend, well played indeed.

[myg30]

Also much more sturdy and quiet then beating on table top which has give. Great idea for the limited space work area. Keep up the good work and thanks for posting your ideas. Good portable reloading with the Lee loader for those without dies and hand press.

Mike

[WebMonkey]

Nice setup for the classic loaders.

[Traffer]

Thanks for sharing. I am just getting started and bought a Lee Precision. This looks like a great way to do it.

[Wayne Smith]

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby or by internet get one of their cheap 1ton arbor presses. You can support your tabletop with a couple 4x4's to carry all the weight you need to operate the Lee dies with it. And a whole lot cheaper than the Sinclair setup, with a better arbor press.

[725]

I use a 4x4 piece of cherry with a thick metal top. Great anvil, but your idea of primer removal is dandy. Well done.

[Bmi48219]

A few after thoughts to add:
1) actual OD of shell holders and sizing dies is 13/16 th. I didn't have a paddle bit that size so used 3/4" and oscillated the drill to enlarge hole. Snug fit, but worked out well since I didn't want she'll holder bouncing out while I sized brass.
2) sizing die will fit in shell holder recess but after sizing a couple hundred cases there, the primer drop out hole has to be reamed out, better to have a separate recess for sizer.
3) I use this set up on a concrete floor. Probably not a good idea on tile, wood or other finished surfaces.

[victorfox]

Ingenious! I don't load metallic but shotshells and have quite a similar setup for 410. But i use a scrap of 2x4 as the bench and use assorted trash as tools. Only store bought is a hand resizer which I whack hulls and cases into. Generally i reload over a table but did some reloading on a friends farm camp. My kit fits a small camp stove case (same size as a power drill case). Great job!

[gwpercle]

Well Done ! This has to be the most compact set up for the Lee loader I have ever seen.
I would sit on the concrete garage floor and pound, this lets you stand , or sit on a stool, and load.
You could even make a deluxe model...... a 6x6!

You get a great big ATTABOY for this one !
Gary

[RogerDat]

Nice set up, I took apart a stool and spent most of a Saturday working to make a Lee Loader work table out of it, and it was not half as elegant solution as yours when it was done.

I have a press and bench but also still have and sometimes use the wack-a-mole loaders, your solution was just added to my someday list of projects. Getting a good height for using the mallet is important to having the work be easy and comfortable.

[Bmi48219]

Rodgerdat,
youre right about the height, my set up would be more user friendly if it was 3 or 4 inches lower, but I've sized a couple thousand rounds on it and the work surface is still ok, when it gets too beat up I'll cut it down a couple inches & start over.
btw, we lived near Howell for 20 years before heading south. We were there in June visiting the kids.

[Bmi48219]

[QUOTE=gwpercle;3707109]Well Done ! This has to be the most compact set up for the Lee loader I have ever seen.
I would sit on the concrete garage floor and pound, this lets you stand , or sit on a stool, and load.
You could even make a deluxe model...... a 6x6!

Gary,
i thought about using a 4x6 for a multi-station model, but a 6x6, ....now we're talking turret!

[victorfox]

172146

Hopefully you can see my field kit LOL

The piece of 2x4 is not shown as I added later. All that stuff fits the case but is not very confortable. Not even close to the OPs bench setup but hey it works too hahaha

[W.R.Buchanan]

This is exactly what this site is all about!

Another Great Idea! and well executed also.

This just shows that you don't have to be rich to enjoy a hobby to it's fullest, you just have to use your head.

Innovation comes from within and is generated by necessity, not the bank.

Randy

[Old Ironsights]

Well Done ! This has to be the most compact set up for the Lee loader I have ever seen.
I would sit on the concrete garage floor and pound, this lets you stand , or sit on a stool, and load.
You could even make a deluxe model...... a 6x6!

You get a great big ATTABOY for this one !
Gary

+1 :redneck:

[Walter Laich]

love the fact you are pounding onto concrete--that is about as solid as the make it.

great innovation there

[builderofstuff]

Brilliant! I'm going to get started on one of these 4x4 stands pretty soon as I really enjoy using the Lee Classic Loaders. Thank you for sharing.

Chris

[fiberoptik]

Here's my work bench from scrap. Only bought some screws/lock-washers/nuts. Rest scrounged.


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[fiberoptik]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161002/981dbd45201a67319d30a359c6fecb26.jpg


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[fiberoptik]

Used an old 8-track deck for it's plywood box, along with a dented bread-box for holding scales, dies.


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[Texantothecore]

Two stacked rubber mulch filled Home Depot buckets topped with a 15 lb anvil from Harbor Freight.

Small footprint, the buckets are also used for pellet gun target back stops.

[fiberoptik]

Used an old 8-track deck for it's plywood box, along with a dented bread-box for holding scales, dies.


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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161015/d76f185b4d981cceab87c0e933e1dab2.jpg



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[country gent]

When loading with the Lee tools I had a piece of log cut square on the ends at the hieght I needed to work at sitting down. It was 18"-24" in dia. This came off the base of a big Oak trunk and was very stable and solid. I still have a piece on the deck and in the garage for kenetic bullet pullers and such. Jus a very handy thing to have to hammer on.

[WILCO]

Any chance of a video? Would love to see this in action.

[Bmi48219]

Any chance of a video? Would love to see this in action.
WILCO,
Grandaugher is staying with us Saturday, will see if she wants to do a video, had her loading .30 carbine rounds with me last month.