How high should I build my loading bench?

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Franksauto

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Finally getting around to building my reloading bench. I have a 4"x 9' storage room in my basement. I'm building the bench across the back wall 4' wide. I know its all a little tight but I'm going to give it a shot. It really is a perfect little room. Plenty of lighting, power and a locking door to keep the family out. My question is how high should I build it. I believe 36" is the standard height but was wondering if I should go a little taller since I'm 6'4".
I'll post pictures of the progress.
Thanks guys.
 
You should decide on whether you will sit ( like on a bar stool ) or stand...to use the press....and pick your height accordingly.

If you put a case feeder on the press ( like on a Dillon 650)...consider the overall height to fill the case feeder with brass...so you have clearance to ceiling.

Personally I like "bar counter height" and sitting on a "bar stool" ...when I reload.
 
I agree I like a bar counter height myself. That way I can work sitting on a bar stool or standing.


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36' might be OK for sitting. I have used a 2'x3' metal frame shelving unit as the frame for my reloading station. I used 3/4" plywood for the top 2 shelves and screwed then to the frame. The top is 44" height with the reloading press raised 3" above the rest of the surface. I'm 6'2" and stand at my reloading station.

Previously I used a small desk that was about 32' tall. That was too short and I have found that I prefer to stand.
 
The standard for benches and table tops is about 30". That said I have a son who is about 6' 6" and 42" works much better for him. Check your kitchen table height. If it comes in about 30" think about what would work well for you, even if it involves piling some books on the table. Once you have a comfortable height I would be looking for a comfortable stool. I like a stool with a swivel to it. That is how I would approach it. While my son is fine with dinner at a 30" table anything else requiring manual dexterity sucks for him on a low table.

Ron
 
My reloading bench from plans out of a reloading magazine back in 78 works well for me. I am 6' tall and have loaded from a barstool but prefer standing. The height works well for both. When operating my rockchucker I can move the handle full stroke without any bending of my back.

The bench top is at 42 1/2".
 
Pardon me for being useless,but make it the right height for YOU to work!

Start with either standing or choosing a stool,or even an office chair if that is what works for you.I suggest a barstool with your feet on the ground and a back support,but something else may work better for you.IMO,feet on the ground,there is a stool height that gives you good power pulling the press arm.

Hunching over is terrible for me.Does bad things in my neck and between my shoulder blades.I need to work with my head up.

I need for my eyes to be able to see what is going on in the press.For me,the dies somewhere near chin height would be a place to start.

If you are going progressive,consider some mount to risers,which may indicate a little lower bench.

You will have good leverage on a fairly tall bench,but holding your arms up 100 % of the time may get old.

I put bicycle hanger hooks up from below into the bench top and hang cutout laundry soap jugs or small paint pails from the hooks,one on each side.

I drop a hand down to pick brass out of one,pprocess it,and put it in the other.

Dropping my hand down is a moment of relaxation.It can be sustained .

So I'm saying,instead of asking for a number of inches,get the right stool you are happy with.Sit on it.If you can dummy something up using a couple of shelf brackets and a board,great!! Sit down,pretend to reload.C-clamp a press down,if you have one.
Find your own sweet spot.
Then tell us the best height for a reloading bench!!

A late thought: For your space,how would it be use vertical unistrut attached to the studs,going to the floor,at least 6 ft tall,better clear to the ceiling.

No legs in the way.Bolt top,riser,under bench shelf to unistrut.Height would be adjustable.

Do it your way,just a thought.

Another consideration,for a fairly small bench it might be good to have some form of "tooling plate"

In other words,you can have some standard size plates that could be aluminum or steel or even a good birch plywood,depending on the tool.You put a hole pattern,maybe 4 holes to correspond to 4 holes in your bench top.

You mount other tools to the plates,and the standard holes make it easy to attach to the bench. It can be as simple as 3/8 bolts and wing nuts to attach to the bench.

So,if you want to trim cases,you can mount your case trimmer.A second press? No problem.Sizer/luber for cast bullets? EZ.. Dillon square deal? Shot shell loader? This will also help prevent swiss cheesing you bench top with mounting holes over time.

Its like setting up a job on a mill table.
 
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I sit in an adjustable height chair. No bench is going to be "just right" for every press, their handles can be at a range of different heights from the mounting base.
 
One thing to consider is how high your arm will be operating the handle of the press. If it is too high (whether sitting or standing), serious repetitive motion/nerve damage can result - you want the top of the handle to be no higher than your shoulder (and a little lower is better still) so determine if standing, sitting at bar stool height, or sitting in office chair height and go accordingly.
 
Age can be a factor, as well.

As we age, we may not be comfortable in the same position as we had five years previously.

I have a 4' high bench and now have tiredness in my ram arm when doing fast, repetitive actions, i.e. decapping or neck sizing and priming (I use a ram primer).
 
I have a old second hand heavy weight steel business desk with 3 pull out (out of sight out of mind storage draws) deep pocket one's. And a well padded comfortable straight back chair.

If I were to build something? it would resemble what I already have. "A civilized mans reloading desk" :cool:
 
For those who have a tall bench and are dealing with arm fatigue:
I understand.
For illustration,a kayak paddler always has his arms up in front of him.A canoeist lowers his paddle each stroke ,and when he switches sides,muscle groups are resting.
If your press,brass,powder measure,etc are all at tall bench height,like the kayaker,you constantly have your arms up in front of you.

If you lower your bins for your "before" and "after" product,you reach down below the benchtop to pick a piece of brass,and size or whatever..

Like the canoeist,you go through a range of motion with each "stroke',high to low and back.
The kayak better in the sprint.The canoe paddler holds up better in the marathon.(Please,no side track debate on this,it does not matter.I'm illustrating a point,whether we agree or not)

The tradeoff for going lower with the bench. is fatigue fron hunching down to see.


Each person has to find what suits them.
 
Franksauto,

I have always built benches higher than standard for comfortable standing use. My benches are the height of my elbow off the ground when I am standing and holding my forearm horizontal. I find that's a workable measure.

Today, however, many presses have tall stands available, either from the makers or from an aftermarket company. These raise the press and allow some additional accessories to be attached. Before you decide on building a bench to match your height, you may want to look at these tall mounts and, if you decide you want to use one, figure to make the bench top lower than your personal ideal by the amount of height they add.
 
Any commercially made table/counter fit you at 6' 4"? A table that fits me at my 5' 6" will hurt your back. Even sitting on a stool.
Make the bench to suit you.
 
I went with 40" that feels comfortable sitting and standing. It's almost done. Here's a few pics of the progress. Built with all scrap!
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Nice Bench. Is that one shelf built with pressure treated plywood? I have a concern if any of the preservatives used in the plywood may interact with any of your reloading equipment and components.

I used pressure treated ply on my utility trailer and it lead to some serious corrosion, been avoiding using it wherever it may come in contact with metal.
Folks using standard sheetrock screws in building things with pressure treated materials have had problems. Just FYI
 
Yes is is pressure treated. I was actually going to use in on the bottom shelf just in case I get any water in the basement (never have yet) No idea why I put it in the middle, guess I got a little ahead of myself. There wont be any issues with the pressure treated wood. I'm only going to have plastic storage containers for brass and tools on that shelf.
Thanks to everyone for their input. I was going to build it at 36" but 40" feels a lot more comfortable. Cant wait to get the TV up! LOL!
 
Looks like a great start!

I like the shelf underneath.I put one under my bench.Great storage.

I suggest you keep access to the screw heads of that shelf for a bit,till you see how it all works out in use.You are building it to suit you,not me.

I chose to make my under bench shelf narrower than the bench top to allow knee and shin room under the bench while loading.

My suggestion is "Carry on",but leave your option open for a bit.
 
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I put all my loading presses on wood blocks 2x6 inches longer than the tool . That way I can mount a tool ( bolt to bench) use it and remove it later . The powder Measure on 2x4 I have four all setup to mount in the same hole on my bench . I can use the tool I have setup and ready to go takes very little time .
 
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