Building a reloading area in the garage - Insights Needed

[SeanT]

Happy New Year to all. My new year resolution is to build an ultimate reloading area in my garage. I would love to see pictures of your reloading area that would provide me with a starting point to build mine.

It would be helpful, if you can provide along with your pictures, what would be three things you would do differently knowing what you know.

Thank you for your time.

Best,
Sean

 

[LRPV]

One word of caution for doing this in a garage is humidity. Especially if it’s an actively used garage. Humidity is bad for everything related to reloading from powder to equipment.

 

[Bill Norris]

One word of caution for doing this in a garage is humidity. Especially if it’s an actively used garage. Humidity is bad for everything related to reloading from powder to equipment.

Yep, need a dehumidifier for sure.

 

[F Class John]

My three points would be:

1) Agree on keeping the room temperature controlled if possible. I had a mini-split hooked up to my garage and it's been great. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Wasn't very expensive and totally worth it all year long for any number or reasons.

2) Buy the sturdiest benches (whether it's tables, cabinets or other) you can. You can save money with less but NOT worth it long term. Reloading involves too much movement of stuff and when your bench shimmies around it's just annoying at best and counterproductive at worst.

3) Be prepared that no matter how much you plan it out, be ok with it not working right the first time and having to shuffle things around. You never know until you start reloading.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Fasten the bench to wall, easy with exposed studs. Level and correct height is important.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Like my Barn ?
Building inside the building
Heat , LED Lighting ?

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I'd show ya a pic of mine, BUT, I am remodeling right now. I'll end up with 14 feet of counter space and a few new cabinets.

 

[Bill Norris]

My mancave is a 12' X 20' lean-to off the rear of my shop. I am fortunate to have 100 yds. out the window to shoot. Can't think of anything I would do differently.

 

[ISS]

We got a new refrigerator about 20 years ago. I cut the power cord, and turned it into a powder storage unit in our garage.

 

[LRPV]

I forgot to mention it in the first post but I have always had an old HEAVY metal desk in my room. I think they're referred to as "tank" desks but our teachers used to have them in classrooms and various offices. Anymore they are getting hard to come by but they are usually free when they come up. The heavier the better. The drawers are handy and there's a lot of real estate. I normally use it for a work station more than have presses mounted on it. Scale/thrower is on there etc.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Yep, need a dehumidifier for sure.

Not if you're in an area like Phoenix, AZ.

 

[M-61]

5th bench so far. Maybe one more move. One more for just cleaning, and another for working.

 

[rwj]

It would be helpful, if you can provide along with your pictures, what would be three things you would do differently knowing what you know.

Only thing I would do different, and did the last time I moved, was establish an area somewhere in the household living quarters. Ease of access and environmental control are compelling reasons.

 

[centerlineseal]

Not if you're in an area like Phoenix, AZ.

Or Boise!

 

[MDT6BRA]

You can’t have enough space and I mounted the gun cradle on a lazy Susan to spin a rifle for cleaning scope mounting, of course it don’t look this clean now

 

[GetReal]

Random thoughts:

1. Def humidity controlled
2. Rock solid benches
3. LOTS of shelving / storage
4. Great lighting
5. Think: work flow

I have a dedicated workstation for deprming rifle cases. Another for annealing and charging cases / seating bullets. Powder dispenser is wall mounted so working on the bench wont disrupt powder throws. 3 separate benches. Dillon 550 shares same bench as depriming station. One bench is dedicated to firearm repair / upgrade, etc.

I got a computer desk in same room for research / load data storage.

Again... with bullets, cases, powders, dies, primers, etc you cant have too much storage.

 

[Sniper338]

Ugh, I cant wait to build a new house and build in the gun room again. Best thing i ever did when I built my first..

Storage space, work flow. Counter top space.. wall cabinets are phenomenal storage up above.. lots of 120vt plugs

 

[J.d. Popkes]

What do you do standing vs sitting?

How much room ya got?

How handy are you and what tools do you have for building this thing?

“Reloading” is a relative term. Some can do it in a phone booth, some a large room. How many reloading processes, steps, tools are we talking about here? The press and a trimmer start up pack? Or the precision ammo factory guy that’s so far down the rabbit hole he’s never to be seen again?

Are you an organized ocd fella, or do you feel more comfortable with crap spread out all over hell but you “know where everything is”?

Does this garage have air moving around, drafty, forced air hvac? Beam scale or electronic scale, lab balance?

Where’s the beer fridge go?

I need more details.

 

[ELR LVR]

Only thing I would do different, and did the last time I moved, was establish an area somewhere in the household living quarters. Ease of access and environmental control are compelling reasons.

Agreed here
My first reloading room was in a nice walk in closet, installed a long table top against one wall
---
current set up is in about an 8'x8' cubby of my downstairs large bedroom that has a wood stove across the other side of the room so as not to be near the powder etc but keeps things climate controlled
---
The cubby is like a washer/dryer area of the room that has plenty of space for a solid table bolted to the wall
Shelving, bookshelf
Its cozy and warm and relaxing being in my bedroom with the wood stove going while reloading

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I dont know how I would survive without inline fabrication stuff. The quick change plate with a dock in the wall for the press is a must. I also put the rails for the bins all across the face of the loading bench. Some attached to the wood top by the press and some attached to the metal underneath. This 8ft husky bench is so heavy its fine not attached to anything, but I would screw it to the wall if this was not a rental.

Husky benches and cabinets are ok, but the brand they have at sams club is better and cheaper. I have those in the garage. There are a bunch more on the website.

If I was setup in a garage for sure would have a utility sink. Sizing wax, graphite, and gun cleaning chems have me washing my hands constantly and it makes the sink filthy.

I agree with the climate control. Move the wife and kids in the garage and put the reloading room in house!