Bench flex

[memilanuk]

Been bored lately, and in the process of cruising thru a number of reloading videos on YT I've noticed that any number of those setup shimmy and shake like crazy. I mean, some of these setups, I'm pretty sure my old B&D Workmate 425 is more stable than they are. Drives me *nuts* seeing the person run the handle on the press and have the whole press tip forward and back as the bench top flexes.

I realize it probably doesn't *really* matter that much to the finished product, but it's awful distracting to see in action

 

[Adam in WI]

I made a steel platform just big enough for my press and a handful of cases. This is bolted to one of those steel jack posts that you would typically use in your basement to support the floor. Rock solid.

 

[memilanuk]

My current bench top is three layers of 3/4 MDF glued together, with red oak edgebanding, sitting on a heavy base built from 4x4 legs and 2x stringers. Plenty stout, and fairly 'dead' to any vibration. Before I moved to this house last spring, it was actually a general purpose utility work bench that I had built.

Previous one was 2 layers of MDF, with a replaceable hardboard skin, atop a 2x6 sub frame that went from wall to wall and lag screwed into the studs on both the back and the sides. I added a couple 4x4 legs at strategic points to avoid any flex in the middle of the span. Again, the edge trimmed with hardwood for durability.

If I had metal working tools available - and if I'd used those skills more recently than 25+ years ago, I'd probably go that route

 

[Rustytigwire]

Solid core door on old steel desk.
Unscrew the feet, set on wood blocks.

 

[watercam]

I bolted an 10"x12", 1/2" aluminum plate to the top of an old, heavy office desk and bolted the press to that. Then inserted 1" steel angle under the desk top. Got to love winter boredom...

 

[drano38]

Mine is two layers of 3/4" plywood glued together, on a 2x4 frame. Pretty solid.
My Redding Big Boss is bolted to a 4x6 steel tube that's ~ 12" long. The other end of that tube has holes to mount my Hornady LNL AP (which has been in a box for about 10 years). The 4x6 tube is threaded for 1/2 bolts, which come thru the bottom of the bench. I simply end-for-end the tube for the press I want to bolt onto it.

 

[PhilC]

2.5" thick chunk of bowling alley slab set in a 2x6 frame supported on 4x6s, finished dimensions 87 x 34 x 40. Solid as a rock. Rear shelf/cabinets not finalized yet, but fully functional as it sits. Variation of NRMA bench.

 

[oley55]

I made a steel platform just big enough for my press and a handful of cases. This is bolted to one of those steel jack posts that you would typically use in your basement to support the floor. Rock solid.

View attachment 1151765

Sorry but distracted by rough sawn actual 2X4s and old lathing tracks. How old is the building you are reloading in?

 

[Adam in WI]

Dunno, 1960s perhaps. That's the basement.

 

[jackson1]

Don't know your special size requirements, but I have built 4 benches I my gun room. All have a common theme; 2"x 12" planks, 4'x4' legs, with Masonite tops, with 1"x 4"s surrounding the outside surface of the top, set 1/8" higher than the Masonite. With planks below for storage. Also used Masonite to enclose each bench. In my old age got smarter and used screws rather than spikes to assemble them. When I pass my boys will have fun moving my stuff.

 

[Shinbone]

No bench flex here:





Edge-to-edge 2x12's laminated with Titebond III between two sheets of 1/2" plywood.

 

[powderbrake]

I used two layers of 3/4 plywood, with a 10" wide X 3/4 thick aluminum plate inset into the top. But the real important part is the bench is lagged into the concrete foundation. NO movement.

 

[Falfan2017]

I use the Forster coax it seems to produce very little torque on the bench compared to other presses.