Portable reloading table

[BrutalAB]

Over the past year i found myself reloading less than id like because my bench is in a seperate building, with no cooling for summer and almost less than ideal heating (combo of propane, kerosene and a 5k watt ceiling heater)

So im thinking about a portable folding bench that i can use in the house and store in a closet or something. Ive seen a few plans from searches, but they used rather expensive folding saw tables.

I have 2 of these




Id rather use what i have so im looking for input from anyone that has already made / used / attempted folding folding benches with the cheap stuff.

[jmorris]

Looks like a copy of the black and Decker workmate. Should work fine.

[Rcmaveric]

The workmates will work great.

That looks like the Harbor Freight one and it won't work. I tried with the cheap Harbor Freight one bent the legs the first day.

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[AZ Pete]

I used a similar B&D Workmate for a couple of years. Cut a top out of 3/4" plywood, glue and screw a 2x4 cleat to the bottom, that you can clamp with the Workmate, mount your stuff and go.

[BrutalAB]

Ill check tonight when i get home for exact brand. Used the harbor freight image because its in the same price range as mine are.

[onelight]

You have it give it a try, just need a small piece of plywood and 2X4 for a cleat .

[mdi]

Used this several years until I got a dedicated place to reload;

[AlHunt]

Plenty of people use the WorkMates and they work fine. If you could scrounge a window AC you might get more use of your shop. Unless it's like mine, too big and drafty to heat or cool ...

[country gent]

The work mates are good another thing is if you can build the seat into the portable bench so when in use your weight is added to it to help stabilize it. set up beside a table and set up the scales on the table not on the bench.

[country gent]

We had an old timer at the club that did a lot of loading behind the rifle range. he had a 2" square tubing tee. Slid into the hitch on his truck and bolted thru, had a screw jack and plate on the bottom. and a wood top. leg was long enough so when mounted the end gate could be down. He slid it into the hitch and pinned it with the screw jack he literally raised the back of the truck up 3-4" lowered end gate and he could load there with a very stable bench

[tankgunner59]

Man I love this place, we have a lot of ingenious folks here.

[BrutalAB]

Got off work early.

Starting on this now.



Guess ill know in a little bit if its strong enough.

Shop is the size of my first house and only insulated with a single layer of blue sheet foam. Its not cheap to heat or cool and takes a while.

[BrutalAB]

Ive tested it starting with sizing 350 legend and worked up to 30/06.
Then tested with boolit sizing.

Works fine.

Gonna use it starting this week.

Pretty happy i got this going with zero extra purchases.

Ill make it pretty after ive loaded a few hundred on it.

[richhodg66]

A gun store nearby had an estate sale close out from someone who was obviously an avid praire dog shooter, had a thing welded together which you sit on and the weight of the operator held it stead so you could sit and reload in the field. It had a complete Lyman Tru Line Jr. set up on it, so I assume he was loading .222 or similar and only neck sizing.

I'm surprised one of those work mates is heavy enough, good to know.

[onelight]

Ive tested it starting with sizing 350 legend and worked up to 30/06.
Then tested with boolit sizing.

Works fine.

Gonna use it starting this week.

Pretty happy i got this going with zero extra purchases.

Ill make it pretty after ive loaded a few hundred on it.

You formatted yours just as I would have . With the operating lever inside the footprint of the stand . And the ability if sitting , to put a foot on the cross brace to hold the table down on the upstroke of the lever .
I bet that setup will work great !

[Green Frog]

This design has been around for 25 years or more... I've been "planning" to build one for at least 20 years!
Froggie

[richhodg66]

This design has been around for 25 years or more... I've been "planning" to build one for at least 20 years!
Froggie

Is this based on a Work Mate or similar?

Oops, guess I should have clicked on the plans and read it first. Thanks.

[BrutalAB]

You formatted yours just as I would have . With the operating lever inside the footprint of the stand . And the ability if sitting , to put a foot on the cross brace to hold the table down on the upstroke of the lever .
I bet that setup will work great !

Ive nearly tipped over a full size bench before (both towards and away from me, it was poorly designed, by me). I was watching out for it this time around.


Really surprised at how light this is. I do feel its just barely strong enough though. Hopefully i dont find out otherwise.

[Davy Sprocket]

I picked up this Dewalt table recently. It's 34"x24" on top not including the handle that sticks out the right side. It feels very sturdy. Still working on how I'm going to mount those two presses. It will be just shotgun stuff and cast boolit sizing though.

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[fatnhappy]

Attachment 274522

Stiffer than a teenager on prom night. I use it at the range all the time. I have a stab adapter so I can pop it into a 2” Reese hitch should I wish. It’s actually convenient so I don’t need to load it into my car.