Reloading Bench Complete

[badmoon692008]

http://www.zjstech.net/gunstuff/reloadbench.html
This is how I would do it if I was going to go whole hog... I had planned on doing this, but then got lazy and just made an ugly table with some unfinished sanded plywood and drilled some holes...

[NugginFutz]

No smack. I just don't want to see you burn your house down, man. That powder is a little flammable and it will build up in that carpet.

Allow me to apologize for being a bit defensive, then. I appreciate your genuine concern. I've had to wait a long time to get an indoor space to reload, and the last thing I wanted to hear was someone tell me that my newborn was ugly. To your point - carpeting has the wonderful property of deadening sounds in a room, so I intend to keep it. I am going to lay down an office style chair mat or two, though, and see how that works.

http://www.zjstech.net/gunstuff/reloadbench.html
This is how I would do it if I was going to go whole hog... I had planned on doing this, but then got lazy and just made an ugly table with some unfinished sanded plywood and drilled some holes...

I'd actually seen that same bench while deciding on what to build, but chose against it due to the materials he chose for his mounts. I just do not believe melamine (or any other particle board composite) is a good choice for sliding fixtures, especially with dovetailed edges. Eventually, the edges will start crumbling and introduce more and more slop.

I've always been taught that if you're going to build something, build it once and build it to right. I still have some furniture and cabinets built by my grandfather. It is these items against which I often compare my own efforts. Of course, he had an entire wood shop to work with, so I don't feel too bad when I can't produce the quality he did.

[NugginFutz]

Awesome bench!

I have to second the recommendation for the Inline Fabrication quick change mounting system. Very solid, functional, and high quality.

...

Here's some pics of mine to give you an idea of my setup. Don't laugh at my bench...maybe someday I'll build a nice one. I did make the top for this one.

Thanks. I see from your pics that you, too, are a subscriber to the axiom of "If it's worth building, it's worth over building!" That top is not going to flex.

I also notice that there is a definite connection between your username and the item just in frame of the last picture. Did it come from your practice? And why would you want to keep such a thing? It's clearly mounted in a "place of honor".

[bwaites]

Happen to have a picture of this? I'd not even considered mounting below the bench.

I'll take some tonite. Think trailer hitch receiver on a smaller scale, with a plate mounted to bar stock that slides in, and is then held in place by a Thumb screw or piece of bent, threaded 5/16" rod.

Then I have a piece of angle iron with similar pieces of square tubing mounted above head height on the wall (I have lots of grandkids who love to help grandpa and don't want them messing with the presses) That piece can hold as many as 6 different presses. (I have presses for each different pistol caliber I load.) It make more sense in pictures.

[cory]

Thanks. I see from your pics that you, too, are a subscriber to the axiom of "If it's worth building, it's worth over building!" That top is not going to flex.

I also notice that there is a definite connection between your username and the item just in frame of the last picture. Did it come from your practice? And why would you want to keep such a thing? It's clearly mounted in a "place of honor".

Over designed??? What's over designed? H*** y'all should see the workshop/ covered patio I started this summer. Now it's over designed, but it's the only way I know how. Bahaha But seriously, y'all are starting to make me feel like my reloading setup is incredibly inadequate.

[Dentite]

Thanks. I see from your pics that you, too, are a subscriber to the axiom of "If it's worth building, it's worth over building!" That top is not going to flex.

I also notice that there is a definite connection between your username and the item just in frame of the last picture. Did it come from your practice? And why would you want to keep such a thing? It's clearly mounted in a "place of honor".

Yeah the top is a little overbuilt. Yep, that's an old dental unit from the '30s. I am a dentist but I'm too young to have used anything like that. It was a gift from some friends of my parents. I realize not everyone would want it in their house but I think it's kinda cool.

[NugginFutz]

I'll take some tonite. Think trailer hitch receiver on a smaller scale, with a plate mounted to bar stock that slides in, and is then held in place by a Thumb screw or piece of bent, threaded 5/16" rod.

Then I have a piece of angle iron with similar pieces of square tubing mounted above head height on the wall (I have lots of grandkids who love to help grandpa and don't want them messing with the presses) That piece can hold as many as 6 different presses. (I have presses for each different pistol caliber I load.) It make more sense in pictures.

Well, Bill was quite accurate in his description. Here are the pictures he'd sent tonight.

Receiver, as seen below the bench.


Bare plate, partially inserted.


Lee Press, fully inserted.


Overhead storage rack.


I'm amazed at the growing variety of solutions. This only needs someone to adapt a U-Haul receiver. back the truck up at the range, and get down to some serious on-site high volume reloading!

[Hafast]

I built the National Reloading Manufacturers Association bench in the late seventies - not as well as you though. I use a 12"x24"x 0.75 piece of steel to mount my presses and other equipment to. I just drill and tap mounting holes where appropriate. I'm quite the fan of Dillon's equipment. I have 2 SQB's, a 550b, and 2 650's. I can have any three of them mounted and ready to go with no crowding.

[NugginFutz]

I really appreciate the various ideas offered for press mounting, and I believe they have led me to a satisfactory choice.

I went with a dual approach. For the presses, I decided to use the InlineFabrication mounts, anchored into the 2x6 frame. After looking the system over, it really was a no brainer. While the Lee Bench Mount system looked promising (and cheaper), it was rejected because it cannot accommodate my Hornady LNL AP. Bwaite's trailer hitch solution was astonishingly effective, but my circle of friends does not include welders and metal workers.

As far as other bench accessories go, I mounted these onto sections of the 3/4" plywood, drilled to allow star knobs to secure them to the bench. Yes, I actually managed to poke a few more holes, but it was easier once I had the press setup made. Felt feet on the bottom of the wooden mounts help reduce additional marring of the bench top.

Again, many thanks to the Horde for their enthusiastic advice.
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[pinetreebbs]

There are some great press mounting ideas in this thread. Years ago I couldn't decide how/where to mount my press and my workbench was not dedicated to reloading only. My 'temporary' solution was to mount the press on a length of solid 2x8 yellow pine lumber. To use the press I c-clamp it to the bench. It still works well.

[bwaites]

I really appreciate the various ideas offered for press mounting, and I believe they have led me to a satisfactory choice.

I went with a dual approach. For the presses, I decided to use the InlineFabrication mounts, anchored into the 2x6 frame. After looking the system over, it really was a no brainer. While the Lee Bench Mount system looked promising (and cheaper), it was rejected because it cannot accommodate my Hornady LNL AP. Bwaite's trailer hitch solution was astonishingly effective, but my circle of friends does not include welders and metal workers.

As far as other bench accessories go, I mounted these onto sections of the 3/4" plywood, drilled to allow star knobs to secure them to the bench. Yes, I actually managed to poke a few more holes, but it was easier once I had the press setup made. Felt feet on the bottom of the wooden mounts help reduce additional marring of the bench top.

Again, many thanks to the Horde for their enthusiastic advice.

Nicely done! Lots of ways to skin this cat!

[dmsims21]

That is really nice. I like how you lot the lower shelf.

[NugginFutz]

There are some great press mounting ideas in this thread. Years ago I couldn't decide how/where to mount my press and my workbench was not dedicated to reloading only. My 'temporary' solution was to mount the press on a length of solid 2x8 yellow pine lumber. To use the press I c-clamp it to the bench. It still works well.

Funny how it works out that way, isn't it? In software, we say that there is no such thing as temporary code. I've seen more lines of "temporary" code than I can count. As far as a piece of 2x8 goes, it's hard to argue with what works, especially when the replacement costs 20x - 100x more.

That is really nice. I like how you lot the lower shelf.

Thanks. It really helps with these tired, old fart eyes when I've looking for things under there in the evening hours.

[Dentite]

Nice! I just left my RCBS Prep Center on it's rubber feet on the bench...so far I haven't need any more stability than that. Now it's time to spend a little more money at Inline and get an ergo roll handle.

[NugginFutz]

Inline Fabrication just announced their Black Friday deals.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale!
15% off EVERYTHING sitewide thru Monday!

Enter code: blackfriday15 at check-out to receive discount
Code is good now thru Monday 11/30

Free gear! All orders placed from now until Monday will be entered into a random drawing where ( 3 ) orders be refunded and shipped 100% free!

These guys really treat you well, and make some top quality stuff. I've been very happy with my mount, and thought the Horde might be interested in ways to spend your blackfridaybucks on some good reloading accessories.

And no, I am not compensated in any way for posting this. Just trying to spread the joy.

[LRRPF52]

It's beautiful!

[1075 tech]

I guess I have to get started on mine. Having no where else to set up, I put together a (very) small "bench" from part of an old bookcase. I had this set up in the corner of my bedroom. Now my wife is tired of having it there and has strongly "suggested" that I make a room in the basement and move my reloading stuff there. I will have nearly a 10'x20' room to work with. Guess I gotta make her happy!

[dfp23]

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Threw a little color on mine

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...and with my junk on it

[cory]

Very nice! Be careful about the powder build up that will happen in your carpet. I'd a t a minimum put a large rubber mat under your table.

[dfp23]

Yep already found out the hard way! Cleaned it up before the ol lady saw it- haha