New reloading setup - plastic bench

[aleng888]

Dear OP

If you think this might be a short live hobby why not go with a single stage press. They run around 80-150 dollar you can try it out. if you don't like it you can always resell it. you should get about 70-80% of you money back.

Some reasons:

1. It may be a short lived hobby. Depends on CA laws and ammo supplies. I have paid more for a Coke bottle than a gallon of gas in CA. You never know.

2. Not a big deal punching holes in plastic. Just want to make sure if I punch it would it work (stability)?

3. Would the hole in plastic be as stable as solid wood. (looking at bad experience with particle wood). Not sure if my table is Chinese made particle plastic.


I know Dillon is expensive. Only reason I chose Dillon 550 over Lee Pro 1000 is the caliber versatility. In case the hobby is short lived, I believe that a 550B will retain it's value like Honda and Toyota

[damndave]

Spend a Sat afternoon and build a nice workbench out of 2x4s and some 3/4" ply. Materials should cost no more than $60 which is near what that table costs at Walmart.

[NorCalFocus]

[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/14/badegaru.jpg

Just wondering why I got facepalmed, when 90% of the post in this thread share my opinion.

Oh yeah, this is CalGuns thats why.

[Bumslie]

Just wondering why I got facepalmed, when 90% of the post in this thread share my opinion.

Oh yeah, this is CalGuns thats why.

I apologize, it wasn't meant to be directed at you. It was in addition to your comment to the OP

[NorCalFocus]

I apologize, it wasn't meant to be directed at you. It was in addition to your comment to the OP

Ah, that makes more sense lol.

I was reading his post and thought, thats like putting 4 for $150 tires on a Lambo.

[Psychbiker]

Lots of workbenches on Craigslist in the Bay Area that would work. When I realod I park outside and I have a two car garage.

That black decker workmates work well. It needs to not be able to lift. Some cases like rifle have mor force up than down. You'll flip that table right over.

[klewan]

If you have a kitchen table, use the plywood mounting board and clamp it. Most kitchen tables are heavy. Use it for a couple of hours and then unclamp and store it. Put a place mat under the plywood...

[stilly]

Ah, that makes more sense lol.

I was reading his post and thought, thats like putting 4 for $150 tires on a Lambo.

HEY! WTH?
Nothing wrong with that!

My '98 Countach just got a used set of Eagles for $218...


Oh yeah, this is calguns...


OP:

I was just at a friend's house last night and they had that Harbor Freight Bench Grinder Stand. IT IS VERY NICE for $39.00 AND they have three presses mounted to it, AND, it is anchored into the floor with three red heads. I got photos. When my headache subsides I will make the move to post them here for you. But he said he loved it. and he just rotates the top to switch to a different press. FWIW, it felt very solid.

[Brave Sir Robin]

If you really want to cut cost and avoid a traditional work bench just go with the franklin portable reloading stand. It has a super sturdy polymer top piece and runs about 75. It is pretty small though, but cool thing is you can take your reloading setup anywhere you go. I wouldnt advise in setting everything up on a folding picnic table or whatever that pic was. Your asking for headaches in the near future.

[iam01pbm]

I don't mean to offend anyone, and I mostly read and not post but..... I can tell you from experience that if your table, no matter how big (let's say under picnic table size) isn't secured to the wall or the floor your asking for problems. I use a Forster co-ax, great leverage and everything on my table moved with every throw before securing it to the wall on two sides. That plastic table will flex, no getting around it. If you want to try and secure it with weights, cinder blocks, sand bags, a dead cow, it doesn't matter, it all means problems and frustration. I use a solid coffee table 2'x2' I got off Craig's list ($15). Put longer legs on it so I can stand or use a bar stool. Put it in a corner with a right angle bracket on each side and I'm good to go. All other equipment goes on a second small table. Try not to learn from your mistakes, learn from other peoples mistakes!! Good luck!

[CGT80]

It is very hard for my brother and I to move my reloading bench, without the 12 filing cabinet size drawers in place or the material in the drawers. The bench is 8' long and made of 3/4" oak faced plywood. I screwed the base to the floor where my 550 press is. The press is on a homemade welded stand that is bolted to the plywood top. The other end of the bench has a 1050 bolted to it. You should see the press move, when someone else loads on those machines. I was surprised when I had a friend over a week or so ago. The presses work great, but they still move. I bought a steel plate to mount the 1050 to because I need a little more height and wanted a bigger footprint on the plywood bench. I haven't tried it yet........

Go with a sturdy bench, and then make it 10 times more sturdy, then you will have what you need.

Red heads are rated at many thousands of pounds of sheer strength and also a very high pull out strength. They are what makes a small, sturdy, stand so great. Steel doesn't flex nearly as much as wood. The red heads are like adding thousands of pounds to the bottom of that steel stand.

The reloading bench that I used before and still use for my single stage press, is made of 2x4's and plywood. The bottom shelf is made of fence boards. It is screwed together and is quite sturdy. I made it when I was 14 years old and had a lot less money. The old hollywood universal 12 position turret press in mounted to an old stovetop griddle that is at least half an inch thick cast iron and maybe 24"x36". The griddle is bolted to the 2x4 frame. I added a few shims between the wall and bench and put a screw or two into the wall to keep the bench from moving at the top. The bottom has a lot of supplies and bullets on it. A very strong 2x4 shelf that is screwed to a wall, could be better than a light weight table. If you do it right, you will only have a few screw holes in a wall to patch, later.

There has to be something better than a plastic table. Do an internet search for reloading bench pictures.

[energizer]

Ah, that makes more sense lol.

I was reading his post and thought, thats like putting 4 for $150 tires on a Lambo.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to save money by going cheap.

I lack space!

The table is already in place so I mentioned it.

[stilly]

It is very hard for my brother and I to move my reloading bench, without the 12 filing cabinet size drawers in place or the material in the drawers. The bench is 8' long and made of 3/4" oak faced plywood. I screwed the base to the floor where my 550 press is. The press is on a homemade welded stand that is bolted to the plywood top. The other end of the bench has a 1050 bolted to it. You should see the press move, when someone else loads on those machines. I was surprised when I had a friend over a week or so ago. The presses work great, but they still move. I bought a steel plate to mount the 1050 to because I need a little more height and wanted a bigger footprint on the plywood bench. I haven't tried it yet........

Go with a sturdy bench, and then make it 10 times more sturdy, then you will have what you need.

Red heads are rated at many thousands of pounds of sheer strength and also a very high pull out strength. They are what makes a small, sturdy, stand so great. Steel doesn't flex nearly as much as wood. The red heads are like adding thousands of pounds to the bottom of that steel stand.

The reloading bench that I used before and still use for my single stage press, is made of 2x4's and plywood. The bottom shelf is made of fence boards. It is screwed together and is quite sturdy. I made it when I was 14 years old and had a lot less money. The old hollywood universal 12 position turret press in mounted to an old stovetop griddle that is at least half an inch thick cast iron and maybe 24"x36". The griddle is bolted to the 2x4 frame. I added a few shims between the wall and bench and put a screw or two into the wall to keep the bench from moving at the top. The bottom has a lot of supplies and bullets on it. A very strong 2x4 shelf that is screwed to a wall, could be better than a light weight table. If you do it right, you will only have a few screw holes in a wall to patch, later.

There has to be something better than a plastic table. Do an internet search for reloading bench pictures.

Oh sure, why not brag about that giant metal bird you made too? What did you call it? A Metaldactyl or something. It screeched at me and then grabbed the neighbor's rott and flew off for breakfast the last time I was over!


Hey OP, Check out these pics for some ideas...

This is the harborfreight bench grinder stand apparently. The one for $40
It has a large top.


Here is the bottom, damn I musta been drunk... Redheads holding it down.





Here is the plate underneath, he said that he drilled and tapped another hole or two to further lock it down else when he pressed up and down to resize it would wobble a little bit. I asked him why not just drill all the way through and secure it even more, he said he could have done that too.


Here is a central top pic. This just shows all the room on this thing. I imagine that IF you had a dillon you would still have enough room to mount this. If not, it is nothing a piece of plate steel bolted to the top could not fix.


Here is his RCBS Uniflow mounted to his Lee Classic Turret. He loves it. He loosens the bolts below and rotates the top for the press he wants, then just tightens it all down and starts processing.


I dunno why I am SO drawn to this holder. Damn, that IS a sexy beast though...



The redheads DO make it damn strong. That thing is stuck to the floor, I will say though, there IS just a TAD bit of flex if you hit it from the side, but reloading should do nothing like that.

[DS94901]

Check out the reloading bench thread. Plenty of budget solutions there for people with limited space. Also, if you want something sturdy and compact but don't want to build it, check out thrift stores for small cabinets, bedside tables and things like that. Small, sturdy and probably less than $20.

[Mot Mi]

I dont understand op he states he has no space but is willing to buy a plastic table that is at least 6-8 foot long. Why not just build a bench with 2x4 and plywood or do what I did and get 4x8 and 1/2 thick mdf. Its sturdy enough and you can size it to how much space you have. I have my workbench in a closet for crying out loud.