Advice on a new reloading bench?

[Kappy]

I'm tired of my reloading/shop area. It's messy, ugly, unwieldy, etc. I have half-finished projects, etc. I have ammo on the floor,

So I want to redo the entire thing. I'm gutting everything. Getting rid of both of my old benches (one was a $120 Lowes kit, while the other was a 2x4 Basics kit), spackling, painting, etc.

I've built benches, but I don't want to just make one out of wood. I want a setup which matches.

At present, I'm considering either Gladiator or Seville Classics. The Gladiator Bench is rated for up to 3,000 lbs. The Seville is rated for 1,000 lbs. I'll be mounting whichever one I get to the wall to make it sturdier.

The question is... will I be putting more than 1,000 lbs of force down onto the bench? If so, I'll wind up paying about 30% more for Gladiator.

If it makes any difference, I'll be using Inline Fabrication's flush-mount quick-change system for a Lee Loadmaster, a Dillon RL 550b, and an RCBS Junior. I'll be routing the top to make it fit.

I'm putting a cap at $1,000 for everything, including bench and storage. I know that'll make it a little tight.

[Citadelgrad87]

Hello the chimp.

I am not sure i am tracking. With the lever and camming of a press, the force on the pinch point of the press itself is considerable.

But the force on the bench is limited to whatever you can do with your arm strength. I think a couple hundred pounds is the most i could impart, likely far less with repetitive loading motions.

Dont forget, spreading the mounting points with an inline really stiffens things up. My little Lee o press had about a 3" bolt pattern, i mounted it to a 3/4 ply and mounted that to the countertop, and it flexed like a whipsaw.

My dillon on both the strong mount and the new inline riser mount is absolutely rock solid. The mount points are about a foot apart, and it is sound as a pound (Stirling) on a home depot laminate countertop screwed to base cabinets.

If this is somehow not what you are asking, or a faulty analysis, please disregard.

But you know me pretty well, and id probably go for the overkill.

[Kappy]

At present, my bench has a 2x4 running under the lip on its edge. I have bolts running through it. The force of the press is causing the top to flex and has (over the last few years) caused the 2x4 to flex and bow. I'm unsure of the physics, but I had assumed that a lot more pressure than just the force of me pushing down was causing the problem.

So you think the 1,000lb model will work just fine?

[TexasJackKin]

I made the top of my bench top with a solid core door, I trimmed the edges, with oak, to match the finish of the door, works great no flex. Remember SOLID CORE Looks nice and is solid.

[liber]

I'd consider using one of these butcher block tops from Woodcraft.

At $119 you can't beat it. In a pinch you could use 4x4s for the legs, but could go larger if possible and would get a really stable bench.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/161270/birch-workbench-top-112-x-27-x-60.aspx

[Kappy]

I'm not sure the wood top is going to be the weak point. I'm thinking about the legs. I'm trying to get a setup which matches cabinets and rolling carts, which is why I was considering either Gladiator or Seville. I'm just wondering if Seville can really handle it.

[jandmtv]

Are you planning on parking a car on top of the bench? If not then 1000 pounds is plenty. 3000 is overkill!

[Kappy]

Are you planning on parking a car on top of the bench? If not then 1000 pounds is plenty. 3000 is overkill!

Sounds good. Thanks!

And... who hasn't parked on top of their bench once or twice?

[jandmtv]

Was this the bench in question? https://www.sevilleclassics.com/comm...bench_ultra_hd

[dwalker]

I picked up a stainless workbench from Lowes, not expensive and looks nice.



I used t-nuts to be able to attach and remove my presses, vice, powder throwers, trimmer, etc. to the benchtop as needed.

[Kappy]

Was this the bench in question? https://www.sevilleclassics.com/comm...bench_ultra_hd

That's the one!

[jandmtv]

That's the one!

That's as perfect as a reloading bench could be. In fact, they should rename that to the ultimate reloading bench. Get it. You will be happy with it. Just bolt it from the top and bottom of the legs to the wall.

[windrunner]

Was this the bench in question? https://www.sevilleclassics.com/comm...bench_ultra_hd

Oh hell yeah! That's a real good set up. It has a nice thick top. Those storage cabinets on that page look great too.

If you set up your bench like this photo - maybe put a light assembly underneath the cabinets - you should definitely have the set up you are looking for.

[Kappy]

That's as perfect as a reloading bench could be. In fact, they should rename that to the ultimate reloading bench. Get it. You will be happy with it. Just bolt it from the top and bottom of the legs to the wall.

Oh hell yeah! That's a real good set up. It has a nice thick top. Those storage cabinets on that page look great too.

If you set up your bench like this photo - maybe put a light assembly underneath the cabinets - you should definitely have the set up you are looking for.

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback. That'll be the one, then. I'll save a bit of cash and can get some other storage as well!

[Yerman]

Roll your own...http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1199292