Refurbishing My Old Reloading Bench

[Gtrubicon]

I hit the dry poly with 0000 steel wool and laid another thick coat on it and let it flow out. It's looking good. Can't wait to get it all put back together.

His and hers riding lawnmowers! Smart man

[steve urquell]

His and hers riding lawnmowers! Smart man

Ha,ha! She's banned from my tractors. Finish mower on the left, brushhog puller on the right

[steve urquell]

I decided I wasn't going to make myself crazy on the RCBS color, went to HD and bought a can of Rustoleum Spring Green paint.
Old dilapidated looking press:


Disassembled and grungy


Degreased and wire brushed all rusty/discolored steel. Scotchbrited the shafts. Cleaned the primer tray. Also painted the bottom cast block flat black. The bicycle guys taught me how to remove plastic grips. They easily blow off (and on) with an air blower.


Couple of coats of the Rustoleum. Pic taken in Australia style lol. . Not worried about the color since it's the only RCBS piece on my reloading bench.


I'll reassemble in a couple days after the paint is completely dry. Rustoleum says 24hrs.

[Gtrubicon]

That’s gonna look really good.

[steve urquell]

That’s gonna look really good.

Thanks. That green matches the plastics on it perfectly. If I really wanted to make this look like RCBS paint I would have bought some model paint. I actually had this in my Amazon cart but removed it since I was not willing to pay $14 for a 3oz can of paint.

[steve urquell]

Just a lil throw together to get a sneak peek, I took it back apart to allow the press paint to fully cure. Looking a bit better though.

[45workhorse]

Jr is to purty to use!

[steve urquell]

Jr is to purty to use!

Thank you sir. It's nice to have a press that looks like a new one for the price of a $6 can of paint and a little elbow grease.

[country gent]

Looks good. Youll want to wear gloves handling and using it.

[steve urquell]

Looks good. Youll want to wear gloves handling and using it.

Ha, ha! Not me, I use stuff as intended and just refinish it later if needed.

I reassembled it tonight oiling all moving parts as I did. Looks much better on the new bench.

[GWS]

Looks like a well thought out and worthwhile project! Only one problem .......... it never ends.......

My old motorcycle engine repair bench became my reloading bench once I sold my motocross bike many years ago.....and "remodeled" it for reloading.

It went from this:



To this:



2' x 8' bench.....with remodeled drawers at one end......plenty of room for anything, right?

A few years later.......



Then I found the Lee APP and a year later the Lee 6 Pack Pro..........and at the same time I discovered 3D printing.......



The 2' x 8' bench is too crowded now......at bench height and above bench height with all those inexpensive feeders! (5 so far) the Hornady cost more that all four of the 3D printed ones and they work better.....so I remodeled the Hornady too.



Just a friendly warning........it can get out of hand.....funner than hell.....but out of hand it is......now I'm having to build one more "bench" for case prep only......hope there's a reloader's heaven.

BTW.....I love your new RCBS green! RCBS ought to copy that! Congratulations...your bench looks great.....but do you have that much self control? I obviously don't.....and I've had a lot of years to develop it.....oh well....

[steve urquell]

Looks like a well thought out and worthwhile project! Only one problem .......... it never ends.......

My old motorcycle engine repair bench became my reloading bench once I sold my motocross bike many years ago.....and "remodeled" it for reloading.

It went from this:



To this:



2' x 8' bench.....with remodeled drawers at one end......plenty of room for anything, right?

A few years later.......



Then I found the Lee APP and a year later the Lee 6 Pack Pro..........and at the same time I discovered 3D printing.......



The 2' x 8' bench is too crowded now......at bench height and above bench height with all those inexpensive feeders! (5 so far) the Hornady cost more that all four of the 3D printed ones and they work better.....so I remodeled the Hornady too.



Just a friendly warning........it can get out of hand.....funner than hell.....but out of hand it is......now I'm having to build one more "bench" for case prep only......hope there's a reloader's heaven.

BTW.....I love your new RCBS green! RCBS ought to copy that! Congratulations...your bench looks great.....but do you have that much self control? I obviously don't.....and I've had a lot of years to develop it.....oh well....

Looks like you have a great setup. Mine is a bit more spread out and I only bring what I need to the bench as needed. No plans on expansion. I reloaded way back in 1985 with a friend then gave it up for years then picked it up again 10 years ago. Pretty much can do all I want with what I have.

Thanks on the RCBS. That press is a hand me down from my FIL. It originally was bought ~1970. He said it had a textured plastic coating on it as new and was a "creamy green"' color so it never was the hammered silver-green like the newer stuff. Below is a close-up of the texture.

[Bazoo]

Awesome refurbish. The Press looks great! Table top not too shabby either.

[steve urquell]

Awesome refurbish. The Press looks great! Table top not too shabby either.

Thank you sir. Makes me more aware of keeping it tidy. I was getting bad about leaving stuff all over the top and not putting it up after a loading session.