Thinking about downsizing my bench...

[anto]

Currently I reload in an apartment on a modified B&D Workmate 225.




While this setup is compact, I hate breaking down and reassembling the press when I want to crank out a few rounds - I'd rather just leave it assembled and away in a corner somewhere.. problem is that I just don't have enough room. Currently the desk sits next to my bed/nightstand. I actually started to just sit on my nightstand to reload vs. using a chair. It's pretty cluttered & I'm looking for a more simplistic setup..

This is what I'm thinking of doing:

http://www.harborfreight.com/universal-bench-grinder-stand-3184.html

Mount the press and two of the red bins on the stand like that, and weigh down the entire lower shelf with something heavy/components (bullets, ammo cans, etc), mount a shelf on the wall above me and consolidate everything there, such as primers, scale, press parts. Mount dies on wall rack:




Get a small stool for sitting, and stash / sell the workmate. Workmate tabletop is about 25"x25" & the legs are about 30"x30". The base of the new bench grinder setup would be around 18"x20", with the top being much smaller at 8"x9", and the stand would only run $25.

What do you guys think? Anyone ever downsize for apartment loading like this?

[SixPointEight]

I'm having the opposite thought haha. What bins are those you're using?

[G1500]

Seems like it is going to wobble all over the place with that bench you are looking in to.

[anto]

I'm having the opposite thought haha. What bins are those you're using?

6 pack from Sears, came with two 3x mounting brackets and six bins, for something crazy like ~$5. They work effing awesome, after a while the weight starts to put small indentations in the back of the bins & they sag, but it's easily fixed by putting those small hard rubber cabinet bumpers on them.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM209369766P?sid=IDx20101019x00001e&srccode=cii_0&cpncode=00-14094668-2

Seems like it is going to wobble all over the place with that bench you are looking in to.

That's what I thought, but there's some pretty good reviews on there regarding the metal gauge & stability as well, plus the addition of all my component bullets on the shelf.. should be ok? If it's not sturdy, I can always return / get a bench grinder pedestal. I've seen a thread where a guy ran a LNL AP on it a-ok. Luckily there's a HF near my house that just opened.

[damndave]

[anto]

I've seen that too.. but at $100 it's a little steep for me right now. Honestly, it looks pretty much the same as the HF one.. I'm assuming weight will play a factor in how thick the metal is, and if you look at the HF one, shipping weight = ~20lbs, Lee=~16.5lbs, metal should be up to par on both. We'll see tomorrow..

[SDawson]

Factory Sales has the Lee Reloading Stand on sale for $74.59

https://factorysales.com/

[anto]

So I picked up the stand & got a free multimeter yesterday for ~$21, after a 20% off coupon. Assembled it today, this thing is pretty damn solid. Weight limit says 100lbs, I'm 165 and sat on this thing no problem. Metal is nice and thick too.

Did some slight fitting:

How it sat before



after 45 mins of slow dremeling & fitting:


closer fit:


hit it with some black paint to cover exposed areas, I also ground off some sharp points on the lower shelf


Just need to get some shorter screws for it, I'll post back later when it's done

[noylj]

Don't forget the concrete block--it sets just the right ambiance.
I liked the original stand. Think almost everything on your bench needs to be in drawers or on wall-mounted shelves. If you use a beam balance, make sure there is a place at eye-level for it. I had worked in a right-hand corner decades ago, so I mounted the balance over my right shoulder. Of course, that was before I got my Ainsworth digital balance back in very early '80s, I think. For a digital, you need the scale off your work bench and, again, I like it to my right. Start reloading and let your needs determine where to mount stuff.
I would have used the Lee bench mount so that I could pull the press and mount other tools such as a small lathe-type trimmer or the small Lee Reloading Press for use with the Lee Bulge Buster or, if I sized my cast bullets, with the Lee Bullet sizing kits.
There is NEVER enough work space and cleaning, sorting, and re-arranging are never-ending chores (especially for a slob like me).
I had one 1050 press mounted in a spare room and two out in the garage for loading 9x19 and .45 Auto. Found that once I got used to being comfortable, I stopped using the presses in the garage.
I got an 8 foot long table to mount all three so I could reload indoors. Mounted my 3 Dillon 1050s and suddenly had no bench space left. Love the 1050. I can remove 4 bolts (used wings nuts on all of them), remove the press from the table, and it stands on its own on the floor and I have about 3 feet of free space.
I looked at thrift stores and such to find a table. Ended up with a fold-up table with a 5/8" particle board top with vinyl "wood grain." Put my bullets along the back of the table and it is sturdy enough.
Had thought about getting a large butcher block "kitchen island" from one store and mounting the presses "in the round" but decided that I had a wall for an 8 foot table so why not.
Saw lots of tables and cabinets that were old and sturdy with thick wood tops, all would work for reloading indoors.
If I knew where to look, I would look for scrap granite counter tops or old slate lab bench tops. I love granite.

[anto]

Believe me, once I get a house my bench will be huge, but having it in your room with all my+gfs stuff gets messy.

Mounted a 12x12" 3/4"thick piece of oak bc it was flexing a teeny bit, also put big square steel plates on the bottom. $12 total, oak was $8 itself. Bought two S hooks to weigh down the bottom with an ammo can full of bullets. works pretty well, I love it. Still have to get my die rack in and mount it, but so far the setup is great.

[cbaer5]

wow those are some serious washers under there dose it put that much force on the stand?

[anto]

I actually wanted to get a big square steel plate and mount it under there, but I found those square ones instead for less than $1/pc. Washers are there to try to even out the load, I didn't want to make two trips so I put a buncha metal there. Probably a tad overbuilt but the thing is solid & adds a little weight.

[Rwnielsen]

I think you did a great job. My stuff takes up 3/4 of my spare bedroom and I only load for 4 calibers.

[bumpo628]

Believe me, once I get a house my bench will be huge, but having it in your room with all my+gfs stuff gets messy.

Mounted a 12x12" 3/4"thick piece of oak bc it was flexing a teeny bit, also put big square steel plates on the bottom. $12 total, oak was $8 itself. Bought two S hooks to weigh down the bottom with an ammo can full of bullets. works pretty well, I love it. Still have to get my die rack in and mount it, but so far the setup is great.

Maybe you can attach a piece of wood to the wall between two studs under the back edge of the wood top. Then screw the top to the wood. That ought to make it a bit more rigid.