Reloading Bench

[kinacool.com]

Hello All,

I am starting in reloading and I have all pieces except the reloading bench. I do not have the saw so can not build one that needs heavy cutting. I am looking for some thing sturdy so it does not move a lot and is around 4 ft width. I looked at Home Depot and Harbor Freight and did not not see any one that is an absolute match.
If you can recommend other retailers that I should check out or a do it your self project which involves getting pre cut wood from Home depot. Thanks

 

[pikespeakgoat]

You might look at the benches that Sam's Club has. I know it's longer than you want, but maybe they have a shorter one too:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-heavy-duty-workbench/prod1490086.ip

 

[stool]

how and where will the bench be >>
a 2x4 stud attacjhed to teh wall makes a nice start for a hinged or fixed top.
high density particle board is great stuff....it is just over 4x8.....have them cut your top to your size and then use the cutoff to laminate to double thickness on as much of the front as practical. glue/screw clamp
4x4 or doubled 2x4 make good legs..but cabinets are better as they give you storage...even used from a kitchen remodel

sams sells a $200 work bench with metal legs and wood top....bolt to the floor or rear wall...

a used SOLID door works

 

[kinacool.com]

how and where will the bench be >>
a 2x4 stud attacjhed to teh wall makes a nice start for a hinged or fixed top.
high density particle board is great stuff....it is just over 4x8.....have them cut your top to your size and then use the cutoff to laminate to double thickness on as much of the front as practical. glue/screw clamp
4x4 or doubled 2x4 make good legs..but cabinets are better as they give you storage...even used from a kitchen remodel

sams sells a $200 work bench with metal legs and wood top....bolt to the floor or rear wall...

a used SOLID door works

The bench will be in my walkin basement next to my safe. I have about 4ft of space after inopen the safe door.

 

[Nodak7mm]

At home depot... Go to kitchen cabinet aisle, find the base cabinet you like for < 100$, then go look at the formica counter tops to place on top, check the scraps out too. (if too long, get cut to your length there..


Easy peasy turn key reloading bench with storage from home depot for under 150$..

 

[BaconFat]

Buy a narrow, unfinished base cabinet from HD or Lowes. While you're there wander over to the lumber section and there's an isle that has 1/2" thick panels that can be used for your work surface. Get a piece of plywood to act as the support leg for the opposite end of the worktop. Attach a 2x4 to the back wall for extra support. Your reloading bench doesn't have to be super strong. I used a dressing table for my reloading bench with my Co-Ax press clamped to the end.

 

[stool]

most kitchen counter tops have a raised edge..they are not flat...so i pass....
even when i had my kitchen re done ..i went with flat surface...yep water can run off...big deal.
build solid.......i don't like benches that go creak...

At home depot... Go to kitchen cabinet aisle, find the base cabinet you like for < 100$, then go look at the formica counter tops to place on top, check the scraps out too. (if too long, get cut to your length there..


Easy peasy turn key reloading bench with storage from home depot for under 150$..

 

[hotrodlouie]

Buy a cheap Skil-Saw and build what you really need, next project you will have a saw.

 

[M-61]

Quote:
"....so it does not move a lot and is around 4 ft width.
....The bench will be in my walkin basement next to my safe. I have about 4ft of space after inopen the safe door."

I assume this is a bench 4 feet LONG.
I noticed you said you don't have a saw. Provided you are handy the purchase of a "Skil"type saw may be worth it. Lots of uses once the bench is built in adding shelves, drawers etc. And you wind up with exactly what YOU want...not limited to what is out there.

 

[landry260]

Gladiator work benches sold at Sears.
2'Wx6'Lx 28"-42" H. 1.750 Thick maple top.
They are not cheep.
Landry260

 

[nhm16]

You might look at the benches that Sam's Club has. I know it's longer than you want, but maybe they have a shorter one too:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-heavy-duty-workbench/prod1490086.ip

I use one, and you're right, it's almost too much bench space, I use about 2/3rds of it tops. Also, I mount all my presses and powder measures to plywood and C-clamp it to the bench to avoid having to drill through the top and also to give me flexibility.

 

[Toolbreaker]

+1 on the kitchen/bathroom base cabinets. Check your local yellow pages for cabinet shops. They should have pullouts or seconds that would fit the bill & the price should be right.

 

[Jeff Von Rosenberg]

I have 2 of the Sam 's benches and the short tool box and tall cabinet. They are first class I love mine

 

[stool]

yeah..but he would have to cut it to 4 ft and that aint gonna happen with the design.
..and i agree a $40 saw is not a bad investment...hit some garage sales and really score..i go a nice 1/2 drill for less than 10 bucks last weekend.

I have 2 of the Sam 's benches and the short tool box and tall cabinet. They are first class I love mine

 

[timeout]

Frequent some 2nd hand office furniture stores, St. Vinnies, etc. I bought a heavy duty office desk for 40 bucks. It has 3 drawer storage space on one side and an upper middle drawer. They will fit your space requirement and look nice as well. I purchased a much longer bench with a heavy duty top and drawers both sides off Craigslist for a pittance. Or, you could buy a saw and 100 bucks worth of materials to build your own. ;D Then there is my covered pool table that hasn't seen the light of day in three years. This gun and reloading thing sort of evolve into a monster!

 

[RAFII]

I'll also recommend second hand! Being from SE Wisconsin, we have "Restore" Stores. That is where mine came from. Is actually a laminated solid core door! Thought about a scrap counter top (which they have plenty of.) But found issue with the thickness and the irregularity with the underside of the lead edge. (Would have to build it up, for everything to clamp on it). A local club also uses smooth solid core doors in their reloading shed.

 

[Big Mc]

Bullets.com has reloading benches. Tommy Mc..

 

[stool]

so i guess i will have to do the math for some of our viewers...

four feet is 48 inches

 

[johnnyi]

Here is a bench at Lowes. only 46" wide. However with the drawers and the plug on one end leaves only one option for side mounted press.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_2218-55738-LWWB08-3D4563_0__?productId=1235425&Ntt=workbench&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dworkbench&facetInfo=

Here is an "any size" workbench kit that you cut the length you want...

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200226224_200226224

There are also some tool boxes at Lowes and Home depot of various sizes that have nice work bench on top of the tool box. Possibly another option??

 

[kinacool.com]

Thanks for all the replies, between all them I am sure I will find a solution. I will keep you posted which way I went.