Best workbench for indoor setup
- Thread starter McCarthy
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Travis15,
Welcome to the forum.
The answer is nothing would happen. Having a solid, heavy bench bolted to the floor and wall is the ideal. Nobody could count the rounds successfully loaded on temporary an/or somewhat flimsy reloading bench setups.
For years, I loaded on a Black & Decker Workmate 225 with the top replaced with a piece of 3/4" ply. The ammo all came out fine and just as good as the ammo I am currently loading.
Unless you are having problems with your current setup, don't sweat it.
Welcome to the forum.
The answer is nothing would happen. Having a solid, heavy bench bolted to the floor and wall is the ideal. Nobody could count the rounds successfully loaded on temporary an/or somewhat flimsy reloading bench setups.
For years, I loaded on a Black & Decker Workmate 225 with the top replaced with a piece of 3/4" ply. The ammo all came out fine and just as good as the ammo I am currently loading.
Unless you are having problems with your current setup, don't sweat it.
Certainly not the end of the world, but a solidly mounted, non-moving press allows you to get a feel for each function and pull of the lever. Does that push/pull feel normal? Hard to tell if something is amiss when the bench is rocking back and forth.
Especially when seating primers. I can't imagine seating primers and not having that "feel" for them seating smoothly and completely.
Also when sizing unlubed pistol cases with carbide dies. It can take a good strong push and pull on the lever for 44 mag and tall 357 mag cases.
but that's just me.
Especially when seating primers. I can't imagine seating primers and not having that "feel" for them seating smoothly and completely.
Also when sizing unlubed pistol cases with carbide dies. It can take a good strong push and pull on the lever for 44 mag and tall 357 mag cases.
but that's just me.
Travis15,
If you look at post #3, that is my current setup. The bench is not bolted to the wall (I share an office with my wife). The bottom shelf is however weighted down with 150+ of bullets. No movement in the bench at all.
As noted before, rock solid is the ideal and the goal. But lack of a "perfect" setup shouldn't stop you from reloading great ammo.
If you look at post #3, that is my current setup. The bench is not bolted to the wall (I share an office with my wife). The bottom shelf is however weighted down with 150+ of bullets. No movement in the bench at all.
As noted before, rock solid is the ideal and the goal. But lack of a "perfect" setup shouldn't stop you from reloading great ammo.
I've got some anti-gun friends and the idea of going to a range for fun is almost beyond them. Going out in the woods plinking is over the edge for them and going gopher hunting is totally beyond their comprehension as a fun thing to do.
While they might admit someone could hunt they personally reject it on moral grounds. That someone would actually like and collect guns is again beyond them. (They also wouldn't understand anybody liking or collecting muscle cars or hot rods either.)
Some times when someone posts a large collection of guns I show it to them and they are shocked and appalled that anyone would/could have that many guns.
The idea that people make their own ammunition would seem to them to be something that should not be allowed-something that would just be 'wrong'. Your (very nice) setup would shock and appall them. That someone (an individual and not a company) would have such a complete setup that could produce as much ammo as you could without having government licenses, inspections, restrictions ("you mean a person could just go out and BUY all that equipment without passing some kind of background check???") will just blow their minds.
Please note they would have no problem at all with someone having this much equipment and spending the same amount of money on a 10-speed bike collection or a pottery barn and kiln. (I know...stereotypes but that's kind of who they are.)
I guess I do it to twist their tails a little. Shrug. Maybe I shouldn't.
Once again I think you have a very nice reloading setup there. It would be fun to have a tour of your place and see that stuff in action.
While they might admit someone could hunt they personally reject it on moral grounds. That someone would actually like and collect guns is again beyond them. (They also wouldn't understand anybody liking or collecting muscle cars or hot rods either.)
Some times when someone posts a large collection of guns I show it to them and they are shocked and appalled that anyone would/could have that many guns.
The idea that people make their own ammunition would seem to them to be something that should not be allowed-something that would just be 'wrong'. Your (very nice) setup would shock and appall them. That someone (an individual and not a company) would have such a complete setup that could produce as much ammo as you could without having government licenses, inspections, restrictions ("you mean a person could just go out and BUY all that equipment without passing some kind of background check???") will just blow their minds.
Please note they would have no problem at all with someone having this much equipment and spending the same amount of money on a 10-speed bike collection or a pottery barn and kiln. (I know...stereotypes but that's kind of who they are.)
I guess I do it to twist their tails a little. Shrug. Maybe I shouldn't.
Once again I think you have a very nice reloading setup there. It would be fun to have a tour of your place and see that stuff in action.
Thanks (again) for all the input guys. I really like this forum so far. So many really helpful and experienced people.
For now I have ordered the workbench table linked in my first post. The only reason being that I'll have something I can start with. I will design and build my own benches as soon as I have moved into my new house this year. I'm currently living in a rental house and don't want to start over with a custom build after the move.
I'll actually order a floor plan with an additional room, just for reloading, large gun safe and whatnot.
This mentioned heavy duty table will be shipped next week from CA. I'll install the Redding first and start cranking out 10mm. The UPS and FedEx guys probably don't like me anymore. I don't recall a single day within the past 3 weeks where they didn't have to drop off loaded boxes from Midway, Cabelas, Natchez, Amazon, Dillon, eBay and gun shops in OH (Pistol Power hint). I also added a 686+, HK45, G20 and HK 762 to the list for the next couple months.
Looks like I'll be living at the range and sleeping in the loading room from now on. Good thing my ex-wife has no say in all this.
For now I have ordered the workbench table linked in my first post. The only reason being that I'll have something I can start with. I will design and build my own benches as soon as I have moved into my new house this year. I'm currently living in a rental house and don't want to start over with a custom build after the move.
I'll actually order a floor plan with an additional room, just for reloading, large gun safe and whatnot.
This mentioned heavy duty table will be shipped next week from CA. I'll install the Redding first and start cranking out 10mm. The UPS and FedEx guys probably don't like me anymore. I don't recall a single day within the past 3 weeks where they didn't have to drop off loaded boxes from Midway, Cabelas, Natchez, Amazon, Dillon, eBay and gun shops in OH (Pistol Power hint). I also added a 686+, HK45, G20 and HK 762 to the list for the next couple months.
Looks like I'll be living at the range and sleeping in the loading room from now on. Good thing my ex-wife has no say in all this.
sawdustdad
New member
I guess I'm lucky or maybe it's where I live and work, but I don't really know or associate with any real anti-gun zealots. Most folks, even if they don't own a gun, have no bias against them. They just are not interested.
9MMand223only
New member
Here is the best one I ever seen for the money, because its like modular and customizable.
http://www.amazon.com/2x4basics-901...TF8&qid=1422804290&sr=8-1&keywords=work+bench
You then go to THD, have them cut 3/4 plywood and 2x4 to size, then you just put it together.
I have powder up top, bullets in second to high rack, and brass down below with tumbler.
I have the 550b screwed into the table in the front, and LED lighting below the top shelf.
I believe this is one of the cheapest sturdy bench solutions, coming in at about $140 assembled, and its quite large.
http://www.amazon.com/2x4basics-901...TF8&qid=1422804290&sr=8-1&keywords=work+bench
You then go to THD, have them cut 3/4 plywood and 2x4 to size, then you just put it together.
I have powder up top, bullets in second to high rack, and brass down below with tumbler.
I have the 550b screwed into the table in the front, and LED lighting below the top shelf.
I believe this is one of the cheapest sturdy bench solutions, coming in at about $140 assembled, and its quite large.
double bogey
New member
I have 2 of the above mentioned benches (http://www.amazon.com/2x4basics-901...TF8&qid=1422804290&sr=8-1&keywords=work+bench).
One has the upper shelves and has a bullet sizer, a Square Deal B, a Lee classic turret, and a single stage Lee. The bench is about 7' long.
The other one is 3.5' long, doesn't have the upper shelves and has a Dillon 650XL on a strong mount on it.
The beauty of these benches is you can make them any length and depth. You can use any countertop you like. And they are sturdy, no need to attach to wall studs.
One has the upper shelves and has a bullet sizer, a Square Deal B, a Lee classic turret, and a single stage Lee. The bench is about 7' long.
The other one is 3.5' long, doesn't have the upper shelves and has a Dillon 650XL on a strong mount on it.
The beauty of these benches is you can make them any length and depth. You can use any countertop you like. And they are sturdy, no need to attach to wall studs.
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Crankgrinder
New member
I could not possibly care less about what shocks and appalls anti gun hippies, and I started out reloading on a foldable "workbench" not much more than a wooden TV tray with a piece of old plywood screwed to its top. A bench made of 2x6s with a piece of plywood screwed to its top made to whatever dimensions you like should serve your purposes well.
Thought I would post a picture of my reloading bench. I am not done with it yet. Still on the to-do list: Install trim on the edge, cover screw heads with spackle, sand and paint. Oh and install my press. Inline Fabrication delivery is this week.
The bench is mobile with retractable wheels on both sides. My plan is to bolt it to the wall, but I will use strap toggles so I can unbolt it, remove the press and use it as a work bench for special projects.
The design is based on a set of plans I found on an airplane building website. http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/worktabl.htm
I modified the size to fit my one car garage and added the second plywood top and hardboard. It took me a day to construct.
The bench is mobile with retractable wheels on both sides. My plan is to bolt it to the wall, but I will use strap toggles so I can unbolt it, remove the press and use it as a work bench for special projects.
The design is based on a set of plans I found on an airplane building website. http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/worktabl.htm
I modified the size to fit my one car garage and added the second plywood top and hardboard. It took me a day to construct.
Attachments
Here's a second vote for the NRMA bench plans. I built one in 1999 and it's rock solid. I thought I'd have to bolt it to the wall, but I didn't have to.
I liked it so much, I built a second one without the hutch and use it for a regular work bench. My vise, grinder, drill press and casting equipment are on the second bench.
I also bought the HF wood working bench. It's surprisingly solid for Chinese goods. Very well built in my opinion. Since I've got the other benches tied up, I use this one for trimming brass, mounting scopes, and the like. I also store my range stuff on the bottom shelf; targets, spotting scopes, range bags, etc.
I might even use for wood working since I got back into that when I retired.
Sawdust and primers in my garage, as mentioned by a previous poster.
I liked it so much, I built a second one without the hutch and use it for a regular work bench. My vise, grinder, drill press and casting equipment are on the second bench.
I also bought the HF wood working bench. It's surprisingly solid for Chinese goods. Very well built in my opinion. Since I've got the other benches tied up, I use this one for trimming brass, mounting scopes, and the like. I also store my range stuff on the bottom shelf; targets, spotting scopes, range bags, etc.
I might even use for wood working since I got back into that when I retired.
Sawdust and primers in my garage, as mentioned by a previous poster.
Best WorkBench for indoor set up
I'm amazed at good construction posted here.
I bought a half sheet of 1 in AA plywood long ago and had them cut it a six inch and a 12 inch piece off one length.
Glued and screwed from bottom the 12 in piece on bottom aand the 6inch piece as a back on the other long side.
Sanded to perfection and rounded front corners. Sealer and several coats of poly steel wooled between coats. Almost to pretty to drill.
I put it on a steel cabinet with doors that phone company got rid of.
The reinforced piece scoots right up nest to the cabinet. I have plenty of leg room if I want to sit. Messed up my finger drilling holes for flush screws to mount the cabinet though.
Measured for my RCBS Rock Chucker and powder measure while I was sitting.
Had plenty of space for Lee Progressive when I bought it.
All my dies ended up at rear neck to backsplash or whatever and poswer and lots of other stuff underneath.
Took my time and enjoyed making it
Not nearly as elaborate as these seen here. Have to make room for the.
Dillon this time and Rockchuker.
Got time to think about until Son moves out.
I'm amazed at good construction posted here.
I bought a half sheet of 1 in AA plywood long ago and had them cut it a six inch and a 12 inch piece off one length.
Glued and screwed from bottom the 12 in piece on bottom aand the 6inch piece as a back on the other long side.
Sanded to perfection and rounded front corners. Sealer and several coats of poly steel wooled between coats. Almost to pretty to drill.
I put it on a steel cabinet with doors that phone company got rid of.
The reinforced piece scoots right up nest to the cabinet. I have plenty of leg room if I want to sit. Messed up my finger drilling holes for flush screws to mount the cabinet though.
Measured for my RCBS Rock Chucker and powder measure while I was sitting.
Had plenty of space for Lee Progressive when I bought it.
All my dies ended up at rear neck to backsplash or whatever and poswer and lots of other stuff underneath.
Took my time and enjoyed making it
Not nearly as elaborate as these seen here. Have to make room for the.
Dillon this time and Rockchuker.
Got time to think about until Son moves out.