Home built reloading bench ideas/suggestions/pics?

[Quinc]

Father in law is going to build me a reloading bench for xmas and he needs some ideas. I'm hoping you guys can post up what you like and dislike about your benches as well as some pictures. Also I live in a VERY small house so the smaller the bench the better.

[XDRoX]

Here is my old bench.



With everything open.



A newer picture. I took off the Lyman single stage and replaced it with a turret.



Here is my new bench that I just made over Thanksgiving break.



If I had limited room I'd get one or two of the white cabinets I used. That would be plenty of room for one press.

[freonr22]

I used a wood office desk, removed the top for mine. It was about 1 1/2" thick, I am jus saying, they are stiff enough, you can always modify them to your needs

[uscbigdawg]

I have a killer design for a work bench that you can make in less than a day. It costs less than $100 and you can build with some fairly simple tools.

However, the butcher block work bench with steel frame from Costco/Sam's Club is great. It's not too expensive and is more than stout. If you're at all concerned about its stability, add a couple of angle clips to the top anchored to the studs. On my bench I have 2-RL1050's, an XL-650, a Casepro roll sizer, Rock Chucker and a bench vise. Setup the feet correctly and you don't get so much as a wiggle. It's been a great bench.

Rich

[Quinc]

I have a killer design for a work bench that you can make in less than a day. It costs less than $100 and you can build with some fairly simple tools.

Rich

Well what is it?!?!


I will be using a single stage press (RCBS) and reloading .45acp .223 and .357

[NoJoke]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=reloading%20bench&source=web&cd=9&sqi=2&ved=0CIoBEBYwCA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shotgunsportsmagazine.com%2Fdownloads%2Fbench_plans.pdf&ei=K_PbTrLiN6SCsgLClemDDg&usg=AFQjCNHrIcu2DcIKVRt9FD2P8bXGuI9o4g

[freonr22]

no joke, those plans are well thought out!

[damndave]

I think I built this for around $40.

[1in9twist]

If I had limited room I'd get one or two of the white cabinets I used. That would be plenty of room for one press.

[NoJoke]

no joke, those plans are well thought out!

Although I did not build that bench, I integrated as much of the build detail as possible. I particularly liked the front edge 2x4 "T" construction for both horizontal and vertical forces (used in reloading).

Mine is rock solid.

[uscbigdawg]

Well what is it?!?!


I will be using a single stage press (RCBS) and reloading .45acp .223 and .357

If you have AutoCAD, I'll send the file.

In simpler terms, start by finding a Restoration Re-Store. It's a home building supply shop operated by Habitat for Humanity. You can find solid core wood doors for about $40 there.

1 - 4x4x16' PT piece of lumber. Cut into 4 equal pieces for legs.
X - 2x4x16' KD lumber. These will be used to make the "leg frames" and then tie the legs and top togehter.

All of it is held together by either nails or lag bolts for ease of take down.

Send me an e-mail and I'll get you a sketch with materials list. When I came up with the design, I had minimal tools and had Home Depot do all the cutting for me.

With all the pieces cut, if you have a drill, you can knock out everything in about 30 minutes.

However, since you're only running a single stage press, this is WAY overkill. I'd look at a used base cabinet that used to house a single lav in a bathroom.

[BrianRodela]

Like XDRoX put it.

[Bongos]

In simpler terms, start by finding a Restoration Re-Store. It's a home building supply shop operated by Habitat for Humanity. You can find solid core wood doors for about $40 there.

1 - 4x4x16' PT piece of lumber. Cut into 4 equal pieces for legs.
X - 2x4x16' KD lumber. These will be used to make the "leg frames" and then tie the legs and top togehter.

All of it is held together by either nails or lag bolts for ease of take down.

However, since you're only running a single stage press, this is WAY overkill. I'd look at a used base cabinet that used to house a single lav in a bathroom.

+1 on on the 4x4 legs, I would use glue and screws (remember to drill first before screwing in). The plywood top, you can add another layer underneath the top(unseen) to give you the 1.5" think support you might need.

As far as over kill, I don't think so, we reloaders tend to add equipment over time, I went from a single stage to a 550B to now a XL650 in addition to the single press.. it can and most likely will happen, plus you dont want to rebuild another bench when you want to add eq a few years later. Cost is mrginal at best if not the same ($80-$100).

[Quinc]

Sweet thanks for all the pics!

[Lead Waster]

I made a semi-portable reloading bench. It actually started life as an overbuilt 2x4 based rack that I made for holding my recycle bins before the garbage company replaced them all with rolling bins. Works great and stable, good height EXCEPT that when I use my 550b, when I push the handle forward to install a primer, the bench tends to tip/skitter! So a single stage is fine since I'm just pushing the handle downwards, but pushing forward tips it. I jury-rigged a solution of putting two 5 gallon water containers on the shelf below, but I think I'll need to add anti-tipping feet onto it.
Alternatively, I could bolt the front down to a board and stand on the board.

The reason I mention this is to point out that with a press that requires you to push on the lever, you will probably want a bench that is fairly wide front-to-back, or attached to the wall, or someway so that you are not actually just pushing the front of the bench over. Normal downward lever movements with most presses is not a problem.