New Reloading Bench completed

PaulS

I guessed that you had used "standard sizes" so I didn't take the time to count holes - but I guess I could have and gotten closer to the right length.

I had recently been looking at the same materials at Home Depot for a different project but decided that it wouldn't work for me as well as plywood.

I will be building my reloading stations in the near future but mine are completely different from any I have seen anywhere. This is a picture from someone who made one of mine for himself - he added the cabinet but I have separate cabinets that attach to the wall for storage. He left his unfinished and I will be finishing mine but the design is strong, comfortable and portable (fits through a 36" door).

Suzanne · Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:58 am Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Wow it fits next to the bed! What's the red thing on the floor.....no don't tell me.....Is the liquer in the cabinet above?

MacD

Nice job Dallan. Wish I had the room for a new bench. Where I worked we used a thin rubber mat made for metal workbenches for a non-slip surface. Could only get it in black.

My bench is simply the end of my workbench. It was fine until I got a turret press. Two presses makes it a bit cramped. I have been looking at Lee's bench brackets but figure I can do as well and maybe also raise the presses up a bit. My enclosed and vented casting station takes up the middle of the workbench so no room to expand.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Maybe this will give you an idea MacD. Good friend of mine did his bench like this using 1/2" thick aluminum plates and they work great.

PaulS · Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Suzanne wrote:

Wow it fits next to the bed! What's the red thing on the floor.....no don't tell me.....Is the liquer in the cabinet above?

That one isn't mine Suz. A guy on one of the boards I visit wanted a portable loading bench so I sent him the drawings for it. He lives in an apartment and said he didn't have much room. He seemed to like it.

The liquor is in the kitchen cabinet at my house - as for building anything close to the bed - not in my house. My benches will be out in my shop. I can't imagine what the wife would do the first time the vacuum picked up a spent primer and began to rattle around. Carpets and reloading have never seemed a good idea to me.

PaulS · Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Omni,
How did he fasten those inserts to the bench?
I use aluminum plates to help support my presses too and to hold the most common dies and tools but they just bolt on with through-bolts.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Look at "loadbench1 .jpg"

He uses the bottom side with longer Allen bolts to secure the rails to the reloading bench after he used a router to fit the rails. The bottom side anchors the rails to the bench with a dab of 242 (blue) permatex.

Suzanne · Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

How about t-slots

I use this stuff in the woodshop for all kinds of uses. Not expensive either and you can get all sorts of little gadgets to put in the slots.

You route a slot in the bench top, screw in a metal slot and it uses a t-sloted bolt that slides into the slot, that you tighten down with a hand-wheel. It makes it easy to attach and remove.

Aloysius

Omni, how does he keep his alu slots secured to the bench?

I kind of like the idea of using T-slots (as in a milling-machine), but 2 big questions:
1. how do you fix them to the (wooden) bench?
2. how do you keep them clean?

gelandangan · Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:00 am Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

LOL here is my "quick change setup"

A couple of aluminum strips milled with a notch, clamping down a steel plate on which the press is mounted.
Rough, but works well.. already use them for a few years, no problem at all.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Aloysius:

He used a router so that the rails were flush with the top surface of the board, rails are secured under the bench using T-bolts and a dab of blue 242 locktite.

Loadbench1 pic shows the underneath side of the bench anchored with allen bolt. As far as keeping clean, he bought a 5gal shop vac and works great.

If you don't have access to a router or table saw, I don't see any problem mounting the rails on the surface of the wood.

Suzanne · Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

The use of the large metal plate is a great idea, it distributes the forces over a larger area of the bench and I would think you wouldn't need a very thick bench top to work well because of it.

dhc4ever · Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

All good ideas and food for though for my next reloading bench.
My new house and shed is now happening, will need a totally different setup to what I currently have.
Roll on the 12m x 7.5m x 3m shed.......

PaulS · Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Well, I went out and built the first of two reloading bench frames today. I will build the other tomorrow. All that will be left is the table tops (hardwood plywood) and the upholstered seats. Then I will mount the aluminum plates and presses... and move all my gear from Oregon to my place here in the beautiful Walla Walla Valley - it was 100F today.

TRBLSHTR · Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 9:50 am Post subject: Re: New Reloading Bench completed

Well Paul- at least you have all of them big ol "purdy"windmills over there to keep you cool!! Laughing

I used to go thru WW on my way to lewiston and other points east.Not bad-but I like pomeroy area a bit better
for the lack of people!At least it's dryer than western washington or oregon! Very Happy