Need solid workbench recommendations

[Rusty_Shackleferd]

Hey everyone. It's finally time for me to upgrade from my plywood foldout table "workbench" to a proper solid reloading table. I'm pretty handy with tools, and I've built tables before, so I'm leaning in the DIY direction at the moment. But, I've seen some beautiful setups on this forum, so I must ask: what kind of bench do you guys use for reloading? Did you DIY, or did you find a nice pre-built that acts as a solid anchor for all of your mounted hardware?

I've also seen some benches that have two train track metal strips that run the length of the table. The purpose of these strips is to facilitate a modular mounting surface, so one could add/move/remove vice grips, case trimmers and vices from the table. If I were to DIY, I'd install these metal train tracks, but is there a company that makes these tables too?

[TexasJackKin]

Mine has 6X6 Mahogany legs, and a solid core door for the top. It's braced and cross braced, very solid, and bolts together with angle iron brackets. Very solid and stable, before I built it, sometime in the '70s, I had a bench that flexed. I hate that! This one has no flex.

I also built a nice shelving unit for the back of the bench, with custom sized shelves for die boxes, powder, scale, and what not. Of course, my collection has grown over the years and now fills the downstairs bedroom!

[mikeyr]

I went with 2 " x 2" legs and 1" x 4" for the runners and welded it all up. Its what I had in scrap steel at the time. On top of that I put a 1/2" plywood and 3/4" plywood again because its what I had so the top is 1 1/4" thick, then routed 1/2" deep grooves every 10" for the t-slot track.

Its quite solid and I love the t-track setup. If you had to buy the steel I bet it would be under a $100 total but like I said its what I had in the shop at the time, its a little overbuilt.

[waawaaweenie]

just build one, there is no set plan for a loading bench. I used steel pipe legs with flanges on the top and bottom to screw into the bench top and floor.

I made the top out of a full sheet of 3/4" plywood ripped down the middle and glued and screwed together and laminated with white formica type laminate on top. I lag bolted a 2x4 along the wall in the back and set the bench top on that and screwed another to the bench top in front of that before laminating so it is removable if need be but incredibly solid.

just look at what people have pictured and make one that fits your needs

[mrbigsteel]

I used this kit:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Strong-Tie-Workbench-or-Shelving-Hardware-Kit-WBSK/205177374

Very sturdy. Uses 2x4s, plywood, and pegboard. You can probably use this as the frame and customize however you like.

[NorCalFocus]

The tracks your referring to are called T-Tracks. The usually fit a 1/4-20 bolt head into them. Lots of online places sell them. They're very popular with wood workers for fence tracks.

[kcstott]

2X2" 16 gauge square tube and a mig welder.

Order a butcher block top from McMaster Carr.

Not cheep but you'll never need another work bench again

[stilly]

Hey everyone. It's finally time for me to upgrade from my plywood foldout table "workbench" to a proper solid reloading table. I'm pretty handy with tools, and I've built tables before, so I'm leaning in the DIY direction at the moment. But, I've seen some beautiful setups on this forum, so I must ask: what kind of bench do you guys use for reloading? Did you DIY, or did you find a nice pre-built that acts as a solid anchor for all of your mounted hardware?

I've also seen some benches that have two train track metal strips that run the length of the table. The purpose of these strips is to facilitate a modular mounting surface, so one could add/move/remove vice grips, case trimmers and vices from the table. If I were to DIY, I'd install these metal train tracks, but is there a company that makes these tables too?

I had a DIY work bench that we put in the garage one day when we were cleaning it out and decided that I needed a work bench. It works and is very nice, without being very nice. It was the first time I had built a work bench and it was put together with what I had on hand, minus some 2x4s that I went to the store and got to be cut up... My friend , now ex? friend for some reason, helped me put it together. He knew how to do it, I was along for the ride. I am happy with it. When I see setups that look all picture perfect and all, I think, nobody who REALLY reloads reloads on that...

[alabamacoastie]

I built my bench from scratch... All the lumber came from HomeDepot. HomeDepot and Lowes give 10% discount for vets and active duty military in San Diego. They may give the same discount in other cities.

My legs are 4X4s. Everything else is 2X4s. I chose a solid piece of wood that measured about 5 feet by 2.5 feet. That became my table top. I built the frame "around" the table top so that one day, when the original table top is beat up, I can just yank it out and drop in a new one the same size...

[packnrat]

i started with two budget steel slap together worktables (total length of just over 10 feet long) sold at a hardware store.
screwed down there trash wood top. then added two layers of 3/4 in plywood all screwed down. and lacquered on top.
all this is bolted to the wall.
can not move the bench. solid as a rock.

added plenty of lights. so no leds needed on the press. most every tool i need is on the wall behind the presses. (have more than one press).

[wbunning]

Go wade through the thread in this forum on bench photos for ideas before you build! Tons of good ideas and hacks there.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=252444

Meanwhile, here's mine: 48" x 24". 4x4 legs, 2x4 cross pieces, 1 sheet of 3/4 a/c interior ply for the top, shelves and back. Lag screws to hold the 2x to the 4x, wood screws for the plywood. About $100 for the basic materials. LED light overhead. Rock solid, this thing does not move or vibrate.

[area51]

Go wade through the thread in this forum on bench photos for ideas before you build! Tons of good ideas and hacks there.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=252444

Meanwhile, here's mine: 48" x 24". 4x4 legs, 2x4 cross pieces, 1 sheet of 3/4 a/c interior ply for the top, shelves and back. Lag screws to hold the 2x to the 4x, wood screws for the plywood. About $100 for the basic materials. LED light overhead. Rock solid, this thing does not move or vibrate.

Looking good !


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[Whiterabbit]

Hey everyone. It's finally time for me to upgrade from my plywood foldout table "workbench" to a proper solid reloading table. I'm pretty handy with tools, and I've built tables before, so I'm leaning in the DIY direction at the moment. But, I've seen some beautiful setups on this forum, so I must ask: what kind of bench do you guys use for reloading? Did you DIY, or did you find a nice pre-built that acts as a solid anchor for all of your mounted hardware?

DIY. Top Tip:

Take a plate of 1/4" steel about 12"x12", drill a hole in each corner, and screw it to the underside of your bench. When you want to make a solid mount, drill your holes in the top, through the steel, then run a tap through it. Use machine screws to bolt your press or whatever down, not lag screws into wood or bolts with nuts on the underside.

The spread-out of force is huge, and makes the mount so solid, nothing flexes. Nothing. And scrap steel plate is cheap and/or free.

---------------------------

my bench is a double layer of .75" mdf surface, with no shortage of 2x4 underneath for the legs (2x glued together for a 4x4 for each leg) and support beams. The whole thing is really, really heavy and utterly stable. Both weight and stability combine for an excellent work surface when you plan on putting a huge moment over the table in the form of hundreds of pounds of force directly under the press ram.

[sand spaz]

I have one for sale that has heavy duty steel drawers that can lock. Locks need replaced from any home depot. Top is very sturdy fiberglass swim step off of a yacht.
Very solid Bench. See link to craigslist
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tls/5670414991.html