RELOADING BENCH PICTURES

[TakeAbackRoad]

We just purchased our first house, and I just built this. Hoping to have my press set back up this weekend!

[polo.45]

like I said ... Slowly working on mine.

[Whiterabbit]

Here's a tip, polo. Since you already laminated the top (I would have made it thicker as a double layer, but too late now really, but that is OK), you can give it a nice edge. Whatever the wood is on top as the veneer (assuming it is veneer ply, otherwise you can use the best quality pine you can find), you buy some 1x2's in that wood. Miter and install as edging. It will make the top look thicker as well as hide the ply edging, and make everything a bit tougher.

Gives the table a much more finished look.

As another tip, and consider doing this anyways, red oak isn't too expensive at the home depot and makes for a MUCH better edging. I've done doug fir, ash, poplar, red oak, and pine for edging like this and red oak by far gives the toughest edge. Ash is great too and might be better in this case unless your top is already oak.

Miter looks better than a butt joint. And you can choose to add a roundover via router but it is absolutely not needed. A chamfer looks really nice as a finish too and only needs 10 passes with a hand plane. Also a square edge is just fine.

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If you can take the top off, here's a trick:

Take the top off, lay some .75" MDF under it. glue together, then trim with a patternmaker bit. Then laminate the 1x2 edging.

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Here's a really slick tip, and what I did with my own bench:

take that top off. Glue down some 1/2" MDF. Then cut a piece of 1/4" MDF or hardboard to size. Where your press is gonna go, cut out an 8"x8" square. Or roughly so. Glue in place, and trim flush with a patternmaker bit.

Then buy a roughly 8"x8" plate of mild steel and glue in place. Epoxy or silicone, doesn't really matter. It will be captured in place at the end of the day and never move. Weak is OK. Laminate the top with your 3/4" veneer ply (or void-free, I cant tell what you have there, and it doesn't matter). Then skin the edges with your 1x2 of a hard wood.

To mount your press, mark the holes and drill the ply with a slightly oversized bit. It will hit the metal and you stop. Then, swap drills for one that is the right size for a 1/4-20 tap, or 5/16-24, or whatever thread you want to use, it makes no difference. Best to use the maximum size that fits of course. Drill the metal all the way through the table and then tap the metal.

Use machine screws to secure the press. it will sandwich the press and steel plate around the ply.

it will be SOLID.

[polo.45]

Thanks for the tip white rabbit ...I like your idea ...I used red oak ply .. But I can add another red oak ply and the 1x2 edge .. Slow project ...Next weekend ill have time off .. Thanks again.

[sdkevin]

.. what was I thinking, totally have to update with to the "girls with guns" theme.

[Whiterabbit]

red oak, perfect. just like my workbench.

If you have to buy material, I suggest MDF. it is dimensionally stable and cheaper than fine ply. it's the under-layer. And of course red oak for the edging.

My workbench has survived countless woodworking projects, torch, hot pans, multiple meetings with molten lead, half the chemicals available at Home Depot, and even pig's blood.

Can't beat red oak ply with a good finish sealer.

[bsumoba]

This is probably the most compact reloading bench you'll see...

This is the press, swager, and trimmer on one wood block, clamped down solid to a bench.




i have powders in a "safe" location, separate from primers.

This is where my dies, puller, calipers, scale, etc are stored, right behind the bench i sit on when i reload.


This is the cleaned brass in containers


These brass are in some sort of stage in the brass prep.


This is where the bullets and primers are stored, under the bench i sit on when reloading.

[dweir247]

Welding bench?????????



or Reloading Bench?????????????




Its both. haha

[1gunnut]

elite bench.jpg
this one i built for the local gun shop all steel about 300 lbs
my bench.JPG
this is mine in my livingroom

[Whiterabbit]

Welding bench?????????
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Its both. haha

I spy......

Gunpowder. And PAM cooking spray. On your welding bench

[revco33]

Hey. It works! lol!

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[jimhs]

Well here's my setup. It started out small back in the 70's and has grown to this, and I really need more room. This is in my garage. When I get the shop built behind my house all of this will be moved into it and there will be even more stuff like a second bench and lots of cabinets to keep everything in. Right now it's pretty crowded.

[jimhs]

Here are some more.

[DuknBucks]

My little set up....pretty happy with her! I mean it...

[jchappies]

my bench
I haven't been reloading that long but i'm doing .40SW, .223 and .308