? reloading bench for smaller area - suggestions

[bheadboy]

having moved to Fl in home with no basement I am resolved to have a loading bench in the garage, thus with all else considered am downsizing from what I have built in the past when I had a basement.

I am thinking of 5ft long, and question the top width, in th past I had 30" but that is too much here- ? in your experience is 24" too narrow for cleaning guns, reloading (including shotgun with a hornady 366) - I have a Hor l-n-l and rcbs rock chuck, which are mounted on plywood that can be "c" clamped to the bench and removed when through.

thanks for your experience.

Bob

 

[AndyTaber]

You can do a lot with a little creativity and lower expectations. Up here in Northern Michigan I wanted my loading area inside the house rather than an unheated garage. My bench is in a small utility room, measures 50 inches by 14 inches. I have two 4 inch shelves above and a small set of drawers underneath. The brass tumbler is in the garage. With this setup I load over 2000 rounds a year. You might also consider a Black & Decker workmate for cleaning. It can be folded and hung on the wall for storage.

 

[Nomad47]

I recently moved out of a 43' motorhome which I lived in for 6 years. I reloaded 2000 rounds per year while living in it.
Primers & powder was done at the kitchen table and the Mrs knew to sit still while the powder dispenser was running. Bullet seating and all brass prep was done outside (our MH was always parked where the weather was nice) on my portable shooting bench which doubled as a reloading bench.

 

[dickn52]

I do all my work in the garage too, and I live in Ocala FL. I simply took a corner, installed a set of kitchen style cabinets with 2x3/4 inch sheets of plywood for the top for 1.5 inch finished top. Placed an 8" overhang on one of the ends, and attach the press there. I also installed two T channels and use that for gauges and other odds and ends that don't need a permanent home on the desk. Computer in the corner, lazy Susan under and over in the corner for storage, shelves etc. Oh and the next year I installed the overhead cabinets for additional storage, placed LED strip lights under those to light the bench top. Could have been better, but I can store my vibrator, US cleaner and a host of supplies out of the way. This is the corner with the overhang.

 

[Shynloco]

bheadboy,
I too do the garage thing and I see others have built some very ingenious benches because of space issues. The only thing I'd add is consider using an old solid core door as a top and attaching presses is no problem and solid to boot. Cut it to whatever size you want the bench top to be. That's what I have and use and it works very well. The other thing is consider buying a CHEAP cart (local cheap tools store) that is small/narrow, tall enough and mobile for cleaning your guns. I have a Caldwell Lead Sled that I sit atop the cart, strap my rifles onto it and clean my rifles there. I use an old dog collar that works great for holding the rifles in place. My patches, rods and cleaning fluids sit atop the reloading bench next to the cart that I can push anywhere because it has wheel/wheel locks. Just some ideas to consider.

 

[bheadboy]

Dickn52, looks very good, and I like th idea if using a corner.
? how deep is the top, front to rear? I am thinkin of 24"


Bob

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I use a 2'x5' butcher block top I got off craigslist. It is plenty big. Any deeper and you just have stuff start to pile up. Look into a butcher block top, they are very hard and smooth. Perfect top for reloading.

 

[dickn52]

It is 24". I did add an edge to it though. It adds maybe a .25 inch to it all. Shoe molding qtr. round at the back to keep stuff from falling behind the cabs. Standard Home Depot pine cabinets for the bases, 2 3/4 inch sheets of Plywood tops. Stained everything Pecan and took 4 days to dry. The beauty of all this is that I have a drawer, storage under and over, 24" peg board between the two on the long side. Lighting is LED so no interference with the Chargemaster electronics etc. Using the lazy susan corners added some useable space as well. Send me an email and I'll fire off pics as I get them done today. PM me or dickn52@yahoo.com

 

[dickn52]

The overhang and press is on the right. Annealer, Tumbler and everything else in between.

 

[Zale]

Take a look at a Seville Classics HD Workbench from Sams Club...I used one and just put a metal plate top and bottom where my loader is attached...So far, I am very happy...They are tall however and require a stool and not a chair...

 

[Kodiak99317]

You can always mount your presses to a smaller table top, this is a bar table with the top removed

 

[bheadboy]

Thanks for your input, I have settled on 5ft x 2ft top, double 3/4 ply, 36" tall, two shelves below, one just off the floor and one 14" up.

also 1x8 shelf 7" up in the back against the wall.

Thank you.
Bob

 

[KenO]

I snowbird in Florida and built a bench in a room. I used a 2X10, 10', and cut it in half for the top. The top is around 18"X 5'. I made the shelves out 2X8s. The price of the solid wood 2X10s was cheaper than plywood. You could use 2X12s if you think you need it wider.

I mounted a shelf to the wall for the scale, don't want it bouncing around on the bench when using the press. A suggestion, many make their benches too low, elbow high is about right for the press, and makes it easier to see what you are doing. Here is a pic of my bench, a little cluttered, but holds a lot of stuff.

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi bheadboy,hi all
I have the same problem,room...And in a near future I'll do as follows:in any room that I'll choose to settle my bench,I sure won't invade the whole place,thus,the plan is to install the whole thing(3 presses,powder dispenser,21st century run out controller(I forget the exact name,sorry folks),Forster trimmer),on a bench that will occupy only one corner of the room,composed of 3 2"x7" planks screwed on 2"x5" beams,planks will be planed to exact same thickness,under which there will be a shelf about 2/3 ",where all powder stock will sit;above it on 1 or 2 shelves identical to the lower one,I'll put all books,paraphernalia(calipers,micrometer,primers,dies) whatever little tools and what not that we can't seem to be able to do without.I realise it can't be your solution to the problem you have,but since nobody seems to have mentionned the corners,I thought it might help....A happy new year to all of you gentlemen.

 

[Ringostar]

I've been dealing with the space thing for years. I've had my 2 presses bolted to a 2'x3' 3/4 plywood that I clamp to my dining room table. I wasn't happy with the flexing of my single stage press. I thought about a heavy cart on wheels, or make a steel stand for press. I just bought a bench grinder stand at Harbor Freight $30. It has heavy cast iron base and top. I can put it in the corner when not in use, then set up next to table.

 

[Shynloco]

I snowbird in Florida and built a bench in a room. I used a 2X10, 10', and cut it in half for the top. The top is around 18"X 5'. I made the shelves out 2X8s. The price of the solid wood 2X10s was cheaper than plywood. You could use 2X12s if you think you need it wider.

I mounted a shelf to the wall for the scale, don't want it bouncing around on the bench when using the press. A suggestion, many make their benches too low, elbow high is about right for the press, and makes it easier to see what you are doing. Here is a pic of my bench, a little cluttered, but holds a lot of stuff.

IMHO, looks GREAT, especially for a restricted area reloading center. Perhaps no thrills and chills as what others may have, but gets the job done!

 

[bheadboy]

Well here are pictures of the finished project thanks to your suggestions.

top 5ftx2ft double thickness
materials cost $63 at Lowes
1- 4x8ft 19/32 premium ply for top and shelves
3 2x4x10's frame and legs
1 2x4 8ft braces and support
1 8"x8ft top shelf above work area
1 1"x2" 10ft

 

[Shynloco]

Well here are pictures of the finished project thanks to your suggestions.

top 5ftx2ft double thickness
materials cost $63 at Lowes
1- 4x8ft 19/32 premium ply for top and shelves
3 2x4x10's frame and legs
1 2x4 8ft braces and support
1 8"x8ft top shelf above work area
1 1"x2" 10ft

Great job bheadboy! Looks good and should serve you well.

Alex