Reloading room re-design

[memilanuk]

Planning on ripping out the old crappy cabinets that 'came with' the detached shop. Most likely going to be going with some sort of 'L' shaped bench in the corner, with overhead cabinets, lots of drawers down below, etc. etc.

One of the sticking points right now is working out how to address the corner base cabinet area. I'm not a fan of 'blind' cabinets, because stuff gets shoved back in there and forgotten about - partly because it's out-of-sight-out-of-mind, but also because it's such a PITA to get to - nobody likes getting down on their hands and knees headfirst into a cabinet trying to reach that last item stuck in the back corner.

I've seen a few alternatives thus far... the wire-shelf contraptions with the so-called pull-slide-pull setup, a half-moon lazy susan, a 'pie' or 'kidney' shaped lazy susan (with a bi-fold corner door), or angled drawers extending into the corner. Most of these seem to be a trade-off of ease-of-use vs. efficient use of space and/or ease of construction.

For those of you with built-in or base-cabinet style benches that wrap around an inside corner... I'm curious on how you have yours set up in that area. Was it by design? Did it work the way you expected? Would you do it the same or differently if you had the chance to do it all over?

 

[Intheshop]

On one leg of the L,right in the corner,either side;

Put a low Kennedy machinist box under the main top. Pulls out to access the shelf that ran through on the other leg. I keep big containers of epoxy and some other stuff back in there. Think there's some heads off an engine in there too. Nice safe storage.

 

[MikeT49]

Lazy Susans

 

[pirate ammo]

Lowes has a corner type cabinet with two shelves,the doors turn also. their standard base cabinet height and you can get them unfinished,I had one in my old shop and it worked great.
Think of a lazy susan with doors.

 

[joshb]

30 years doing kitchens and such. In your shop situation, I’d do a drawer base on the 45 and take the hit on a custom counter top to fit it. A lazy susan set up is your next best option.

 

[Just Say Moe]

A couple of ideas like Josh mentioned:

The less complicated hardware required the better IMO.

 

[joshb]

A couple of ideas like Josh mentioned:

The less complicated hardware required the better IMO.

There ya go! The second week after I shut down my business and retired, I burned my files! 30 years worth went into the wood stove along with all my pictures.

 

[memilanuk]

Interesting... like I said, not a fan of having to get down on the ground to root around for stuff in the back of the (any) cabinet... but at least with that door design it looks like it'd be a little less of a PITA, possibly with some creative use of bins / low crates to put similar stuff in. Roll-out drawers behind the door might be an option as well? Either that or a pie-shaped lazy susan like mentioned earlier. Just not sure about how much weight those things can actually hold? Probably okay to put powder bottles / jugs on, but not bullets?

 

[MikeT49]

Interesting... like I said, not a fan of having to get down on the ground to root around for stuff in the back of the (any) cabinet... but at least with that door design it looks like it'd be a little less of a PITA, possibly with some creative use of bins / low crates to put similar stuff in. Roll-out drawers behind the door might be an option as well? Either that or a pie-shaped lazy susan like mentioned earlier. Just not sure about how much weight those things can actually hold? Probably okay to put powder bottles / jugs on, but not bullets?

Weight is not an issue with a round lazy susan. My bud has one he built. 5' diameter, expanded metal top, has had kegs of nails on it, etc. Spins with one hand. The Pac-Man shape of the shelves and two tevels (or more?) complicates things a bit. Still can be done with only two moving parts depending on how many shelves you need. You just need some pipe, tubing, expanded metal and angle iron. Welding skills would be good or you can call in a favor from a welding bud. I use venison or smoked salmon to tempt my bud welder. He's easy. If interested, I can provide more details.

 

[memilanuk]

You just need some pipe, tubing, expanded metal and angle iron.

Not exactly what I had in mind for down inside a base cabinet. Not saying it wouldn't work... just not a direction I'm interested in. I may end up making something stouter than the stock pieces I see in various catalogs, but I think I'll keep the really heavy stuff in shelves and drawers.

 

[Kurz]

I can't tell you how many spaces I've worked with trying to resolve all the questions about efficient usage of space allotted for a reloading room. I started out with a closet, by the way...

Any way you cut it, I will NOT get down on my knees to peer into a black hole which it too deep to use for convenient storage. Stuff which has been relegated to that kind of space is largely forgotten and therefore wasted.

Corners where two runs of cabinets meet is a nearly insolvable problem. There is either wasted space or some less than optimal attempt to use that space. Having tried many such 'solutions', I find them to be wanting for any number of reasons, one of which, the tricky cabinet solutions, are far more expensive than the need for a solution.

But, if you really have to have something in that corner, I have used a corner connection table or cabinet.


This simply an example of the shape and NOT the style obviously. I have used this as a computer/media space where I can work, with the screen at the back and the keyboard under the top. The desktop PC goes underneath on either side in a device made to hold it attached to the side wall above the floor. Wires go into the rails or through management clips attached to the back and side panels. These units can be purchased or home built using plywood if that's your thing.

The only base cabinets I have used in the past are those with drawers only. No doors concealing deep, dark recesses where components and tools go, only to lost and forgotten. (I don't get on my knees, remember?) Cabinets with drawers can be configured to your needs and liking.

Nowadays I use work benches with thick laminated wood tops which come at standing height since I don't work sitting down. The only tool I use sitting down is the computer. These benches have support legs spaced to allow for rolling tool chests to slide under the bench. The drawers in the chests can be accessed while under the bench or the box can be pulled out to use as an additional work surface when needed. The doorway into this room is in the corner so I don't have to contend with that corner storage problem.

No, my reloading room doesn't look like my kitchen or den with fancy wood cabinets. But I don't cook or entertain in my reloading room either.

Enjoy the process of discovery!

 

[Papa Charlie]

I can't tell you how many spaces I've worked with trying to resolve all the questions about efficient usage of space allotted for a reloading room. I started out with a closet, by the way...

Any way you cut it, I will NOT get down on my knees to peer into a black hole which it too deep to use for convenient storage. Stuff which has been relegated to that kind of space is largely forgotten and therefore wasted.

Corners where two runs of cabinets meet is a nearly insolvable problem. There is either wasted space or some less than optimal attempt to use that space. Having tried many such 'solutions', I find them to be wanting for any number of reasons, one of which, the tricky cabinet solutions, are far more expensive than the need for a solution.

But, if you really have to have something in that corner, I have used a corner connection table or cabinet.

View attachment 1188660
This simply an example of the shape and NOT the style obviously. I have used this as a computer/media space where I can work, with the screen at the back and the keyboard under the top. The desktop PC goes underneath on either side in a device made to hold it attached to the side wall above the floor. Wires go into the rails or through management clips attached to the back and side panels. These units can be purchased or home built using plywood if that's your thing.

The only base cabinets I have used in the past are those with drawers only. No doors concealing deep, dark recesses where components and tools go, only to lost and forgotten. (I don't get on my knees, remember?) Cabinets with drawers can be configured to your needs and liking.

Nowadays I use work benches with thick laminated wood tops which come at standing height since I don't work sitting down. The only tool I use sitting down is the computer. These benches have support legs spaced to allow for rolling tool chests to slide under the bench. The drawers in the chests can be accessed while under the bench or the box can be pulled out to use as an additional work surface when needed. The doorway into this room is in the corner so I don't have to contend with that corner storage problem.

No, my reloading room doesn't look like my kitchen or den with fancy wood cabinets. But I don't cook or entertain in my reloading room either.

Enjoy the process of discovery!

I like the idea of using a corner as a work station(s). However, I would prefer to have either side be available for you to work from. So you would not be restricted to using the corner only, but could use either wall as the direction you were facing. Essentially extending the work surface three feet from the corner either direction.
That would also allow you to have supplies readily available on the opposite side from where you are facing. Quick mounts would allow you to repurpose the area simply and the rest of the area could be drawers or shelving. I even like the idea of using rolling tool boxes.

Going to keep this in mind for my reloading room, when I get around to it.

 

[Kurz]

I like the idea of using a corner as a work station(s). However, I would prefer to have either side be available for you to work from. So you would not be restricted to using the corner only, but could use either wall as the direction you were facing. Essentially extending the work surface three feet from the corner either direction.
That would also allow you to have supplies readily available on the opposite side from where you are facing. Quick mounts would allow you to repurpose the area simply and the rest of the area could be drawers or shelving. I even like the idea of using rolling tool boxes.

Going to keep this in mind for my reloading room, when I get around to it.

As I said, this is just an idea to play off of. Here is the furniture design I used in an office environment a while back. The corner unit has connectors underneath to which you can attach various types of work surfaces. These start at 3 feet long and go to 6 feet, I think. I had filing cabinets on wheels underneath each side of mine. It was an extremely inexpensive solution to overpriced and bulky office furniture. Clean and minimalist.

https://www.globalindustrial.com/g/office/desks/steel/global-office-furniture

I work out of the drawers much more simply than cupboards...

When I need cupboard type space I use a storage unit:

Enjoy!

 

[284winner]

I really like the cupboard idea. I didn't have any to use when I built my newest bench. I think it would be a dark place( with doors on them) under my bench that I'd probably misplace items and not find until after buying new ones. Sounds like a great plan and looks nicer than open shelves under a bench. Mine is open and I can see everything I have. No misplacing items as it's open and light makes it easy to see everything. I'm pretty happy with my latest set up. My bench sits on 4 walls in a spare bedroom. Pretty nice but I'll run out of room...Again, eventually.

 

[memilanuk]

my reloading room doesn't look like my kitchen or den with fancy wood cabinets. But I don't cook or entertain in my reloading room either.

Mine is in the corner of (what purports to be) a wood shop, in a 24x32 detached building - so it's not exactly part of the living area, nor is it in a spare bedroom or family room that needs to be kept 'nice'.

That said, I'm kind of sick of slapped-together-but-functional shops (for me). I want this to be some place I actually *want* to sit down, relax, and reload, tinker with the bang sticks, etc. I'd like it to be something worth being proud of, in and of itself, not simply because of all the cool guns and reloading stuff

FWIW, I do like the 'open' corner notion... that actually makes a certain amount of sense for this application, as I have had a lot of benches that were just flat across the front, all doors/drawers - no knee space - which works find for when I'm actually loading, since I do most of that standing (most tools are already on strong mounts or similar risers). But when I'm doing any kind of prep, sorting, or inspection... I prefer to do that sitting down, at a somewhat normal height, scooted in to a work surface like a desk.

There's also an ulterior motive at work here as well... the cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms in the house are getting kind of dated. Figured with a shop full of tools, spending $15-20k just for the kitchen cabinets alone (not counting install, countertops, etc.) seems a little silly. Doing some nice cabinets for the reloading area is sort of a trial run, to work out some of the kinks, figure out if I need any other tools (like guns, the correct answer to that is *always*... ), and just generally wrap my head around the scope of the job.

 

[joshb]

You could just build a big desk. This sucker holds almost everything. Back up supplies are in a closet.

 

[hoz53]

Mine is in the corner of (what purports to be) a wood shop, in a 24x32 detached building - so it's not exactly part of the living area, nor is it in a spare bedroom or family room that needs to be kept 'nice'.

That said, I'm kind of sick of slapped-together-but-functional shops (for me). I want this to be some place I actually *want* to sit down, relax, and reload, tinker with the bang sticks, etc. I'd like it to be something worth being proud of, in and of itself, not simply because of all the cool guns and reloading stuff

FWIW, I do like the 'open' corner notion... that actually makes a certain amount of sense for this application, as I have had a lot of benches that were just flat across the front, all doors/drawers - no knee space - which works find for when I'm actually loading, since I do most of that standing (most tools are already on strong mounts or similar risers). But when I'm doing any kind of prep, sorting, or inspection... I prefer to do that sitting down, at a somewhat normal height, scooted in to a work surface like a desk.

There's also an ulterior motive at work here as well... the cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms in the house are getting kind of dated. Figured with a shop full of tools, spending $15-20k just for the kitchen alone seems a little silly. Doing some nice cabinets for the reloading area is sort of a trial run, to work out some of the kinks, figure out if I need any other tools (like guns, the correct answer to that is *always*... ), and just generally wrap my head around the scope of the job.

Ive had a couple corner benches like you describe. To me Josh's two suggestions are the best of the "normal" ways to do it. If i built another corner unit I would do it like the drawing im enclosing. Its Top View.
Id build the corner shelf unit from floor to ceiling. I could then walk right up to it and get what i wanted. Coarse I like shelfs instead of drawers and cabinets. No matter how u stack it there is wasted space with a corner unit.

 

[Kurz]

Some additional thoughts:

Much higher end gun room/reloading room:

 

[flintcreek6412]

google super susan. Nothing to get lost unless you stack stuff recklessly.

 

[Cecil S.]

The Tool Box idea is interesting. Could be rolled out for another work surface.