Pictures of your reloading bench/equipment
- Thread starter Sriracha
- Start date
I've enjoyed looking at all the pics of other folks' setups here so will share mine.
I load in my furnace room. I didn't want to shrink my work bench by 1/2 by bolting presses to it. I also kind of liked the idea of having the presses mounted at a right angle to the scale/dispenser & cartridge prep area.
So I decided to mount my Co-ax and LNL AP to a 4x4 which is clamped in a German-made Schlegel brand vice on a Schlegel spring loaded riser, that mounted atop a stand made of 1/2" thick steel I had welded up way back in the day. I can raise/lower it or spin it backwards for easier access to the water heater.
The other vice with the Tikka .223 and RCBS Case Master is one made back in the day by an Alpine, TX fellow named Kesey Kimball. Kesey was a great Texas gentleman and custom gun builder. I don't know if this vice is still made but I wouldn't sell mine for any price. The jaws are urethane lined and one of them pivots so it grips any area of a gun stock without marring it in the slightest, even checkering.
I load in my furnace room. I didn't want to shrink my work bench by 1/2 by bolting presses to it. I also kind of liked the idea of having the presses mounted at a right angle to the scale/dispenser & cartridge prep area.
So I decided to mount my Co-ax and LNL AP to a 4x4 which is clamped in a German-made Schlegel brand vice on a Schlegel spring loaded riser, that mounted atop a stand made of 1/2" thick steel I had welded up way back in the day. I can raise/lower it or spin it backwards for easier access to the water heater.
The other vice with the Tikka .223 and RCBS Case Master is one made back in the day by an Alpine, TX fellow named Kesey Kimball. Kesey was a great Texas gentleman and custom gun builder. I don't know if this vice is still made but I wouldn't sell mine for any price. The jaws are urethane lined and one of them pivots so it grips any area of a gun stock without marring it in the slightest, even checkering.
Bushmaster223
Inactive
View attachment 53961
View attachment 53962
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=41077&d=1232046534
Dillon 650 with case feeder on one bench / MEC Hydraulic 9000 HN models - the 12ga is on the left and 28ga on right - and then I swap out the 28ga loader with a .410 and 20ga model ( just disconnect hydraulic hose / bleed tube ) and swap them out.
View attachment 53962
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=41077&d=1232046534
Dillon 650 with case feeder on one bench / MEC Hydraulic 9000 HN models - the 12ga is on the left and 28ga on right - and then I swap out the 28ga loader with a .410 and 20ga model ( just disconnect hydraulic hose / bleed tube ) and swap them out.
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Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
New member
Even'n folks,
New to this site, but interested in the give and take of the progressive loaders considering I have a L&L which should arrive this Friday.
Looking and reading about the many nice reloading areas, and would have one comment.
No one has used what I think to be one of the best ideas ever,
A receiver tube setup under the bench which with the addition of the male portion of the system, allows for tool changing in both bench location and tool type.
All the while, doing away with holes in the bench top or bench clutter.
Wish I could say it was my idea, but barrowed it from a friend when I put the loading bench in our new digs and find it is a great way to go.
My bench is very solid, two sheets of 3/4 plywood, glued and screwed together on top of 2X4s screwed into the 2X6 exterior wall.
Knee braces at about every four feet under the bench, the top finished with formica laminate and the front edge faced with oak to match the rest of the house.
Solid!!!!!!!
The female portion of the receiver system was attached to the undersurface of the bench with thru bolts before the formica was glued down, leaving a nice smooth and easy to clean surface to the work area.
The arrival of the Hornady L&L will probably require a new mount to fit the receiver tubes, but an hour or so in the shop should take care of that situation.
Keep em coming!
CDOC
New to this site, but interested in the give and take of the progressive loaders considering I have a L&L which should arrive this Friday.
Looking and reading about the many nice reloading areas, and would have one comment.
No one has used what I think to be one of the best ideas ever,
A receiver tube setup under the bench which with the addition of the male portion of the system, allows for tool changing in both bench location and tool type.
All the while, doing away with holes in the bench top or bench clutter.
Wish I could say it was my idea, but barrowed it from a friend when I put the loading bench in our new digs and find it is a great way to go.
My bench is very solid, two sheets of 3/4 plywood, glued and screwed together on top of 2X4s screwed into the 2X6 exterior wall.
Knee braces at about every four feet under the bench, the top finished with formica laminate and the front edge faced with oak to match the rest of the house.
Solid!!!!!!!
The female portion of the receiver system was attached to the undersurface of the bench with thru bolts before the formica was glued down, leaving a nice smooth and easy to clean surface to the work area.
The arrival of the Hornady L&L will probably require a new mount to fit the receiver tubes, but an hour or so in the shop should take care of that situation.
Keep em coming!
CDOC
Actually, if you flip back a few pages from this one, you'll see that user Rembrandt has built a really sleek design that allows for tool changing and no holes on the bench. Many fine pictures of his setup.
IMO, I've never felt the need to have tools that move... but then, I don't employ a half dozen presses, either, so I don't really need to execute such an idea.
IMO, I've never felt the need to have tools that move... but then, I don't employ a half dozen presses, either, so I don't really need to execute such an idea.
Nomo4me, nice setup... but (and I may be over cautious) if it were me, I don't know if I'd be totally comfortable with primers and actually priming in the direct vicinity of a natural gas lines like the one that's running your water heater.
On one hand... a leak anywhere in the basement would likely end in the same result when a primer is accidentally detonated, but still... I just couldn't run that setup. The gas line is literally inches from either press depending on which way you've spun that cool vise.
On one hand... a leak anywhere in the basement would likely end in the same result when a primer is accidentally detonated, but still... I just couldn't run that setup. The gas line is literally inches from either press depending on which way you've spun that cool vise.
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
New member
Morn'in Stevens,
This is of course just IMHO, but the under bench receiver system wins hands down.
No holes OR groves/channels in the bench top.
My bench is in a common area where the wife and I spend most of our in house leasure time. It is also the area where the wife does her sewing, where we have our easy chairs and where we watch our TV.
So, installing all my tools - powder measures, couple of trimmers/neck turner, shotshell loader, RCBS primer tool (not a primer strip machine), Hornady L&L progressive etc, would really clutter things up with "stuff".
I have the RCBS Rockchucker bolted to one "male" receiver tube set up and and another to which I "C" clamp tools then in use.
The Hornady L&L should arrive the 20th, so will soon see in I need to build another mounting setup. I expect I will.
Mean while, a couple of wing nuts and I can quickly install or remove any one of my tools leaving a clean, smooth and open work area for whatever is needed.
Anyway, lots of nice and or usable loading area listed in this thread.
Keep em coming!
CDOC
This is of course just IMHO, but the under bench receiver system wins hands down.
No holes OR groves/channels in the bench top.
My bench is in a common area where the wife and I spend most of our in house leasure time. It is also the area where the wife does her sewing, where we have our easy chairs and where we watch our TV.
So, installing all my tools - powder measures, couple of trimmers/neck turner, shotshell loader, RCBS primer tool (not a primer strip machine), Hornady L&L progressive etc, would really clutter things up with "stuff".
I have the RCBS Rockchucker bolted to one "male" receiver tube set up and and another to which I "C" clamp tools then in use.
The Hornady L&L should arrive the 20th, so will soon see in I need to build another mounting setup. I expect I will.
Mean while, a couple of wing nuts and I can quickly install or remove any one of my tools leaving a clean, smooth and open work area for whatever is needed.
Anyway, lots of nice and or usable loading area listed in this thread.
Keep em coming!
CDOC
Meh, one man's clutter is another man's perfectly organized and easily accessible center of operations. If it works for you, your are golden. I wouldn't want to work in that manner.
I also wouldn't want my wife doing any sort of sewing on a reloading bench with spent primer schmutz and bullet lead residue all over everything. That's just a no-go. I'm not sure what woman would want to work in that environment.
But again, if it works for you, then it's likely perfect, and that's all good!
I also wouldn't want my wife doing any sort of sewing on a reloading bench with spent primer schmutz and bullet lead residue all over everything. That's just a no-go. I'm not sure what woman would want to work in that environment.
But again, if it works for you, then it's likely perfect, and that's all good!
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
New member
Yep Steven's, that is why you are not in my area and I'm not in yours, plus differences are why we as a people are or can be so interesting.
My reloading area IS NOT "that environment" and is perfectly presentable and able for both of our uses.
I am retired, like being at home and like being with my wife, so if she can put up with me, I'll gladly put up with her.
Just completed a loft in my shop, and have really well insulated the area plus installed heat. Call it the "wife's dog house".
This new area would be perfectly suited for a reloading area, and infact that is where my old loading bench from 35+ years now resides.
The area is now in use for cleaning rifles, doing leather work, changing from and drying wet hunting clothes, but the reloading will remain in the loading room/sewing room/TV room/common area.
If I was Pooter wise, I could show it off a bit, but need a four year old around to help in that area.
We talked about it at length before the project began, and the area works very well for us, even better now that some "stuff" has been moved to the loft and I have a designated area for gun cleaning.
Sharon never did like the smell of Hoppies #9 as well as I do.
I can see if I allowed old primers/lead etc. to contaimate the area, it could be a problem and have the wife up in arms, but this not a factor with the Crusty Deary Ol'Coot and his lovely wife.
Keep em coming!
CDOC
My reloading area IS NOT "that environment" and is perfectly presentable and able for both of our uses.
I am retired, like being at home and like being with my wife, so if she can put up with me, I'll gladly put up with her.
Just completed a loft in my shop, and have really well insulated the area plus installed heat. Call it the "wife's dog house".
This new area would be perfectly suited for a reloading area, and infact that is where my old loading bench from 35+ years now resides.
The area is now in use for cleaning rifles, doing leather work, changing from and drying wet hunting clothes, but the reloading will remain in the loading room/sewing room/TV room/common area.
If I was Pooter wise, I could show it off a bit, but need a four year old around to help in that area.
We talked about it at length before the project began, and the area works very well for us, even better now that some "stuff" has been moved to the loft and I have a designated area for gun cleaning.
Sharon never did like the smell of Hoppies #9 as well as I do.
I can see if I allowed old primers/lead etc. to contaimate the area, it could be a problem and have the wife up in arms, but this not a factor with the Crusty Deary Ol'Coot and his lovely wife.
Keep em coming!
CDOC
Bike Effects
New member
Rembrandt
Rembrandt, what are the rails that you have inlayed into the wood bench top. Where can they be purchased?
Rembrandt, what are the rails that you have inlayed into the wood bench top. Where can they be purchased?
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
New member
Another GREAT solution
I have mentioned a time or two the under bench toolo mounting system I use, and again address it as another solution to bench crowding.
Rembrandt's extruded track in the bench surface is nicely done and appears quite usable.
However, my system leave the bench top up cluttered, uncut and undrilled, while still allowing for use of many tools.
Basicly it is like a trailor hitch receiver system except it is mounted under the bench.
On mine, I use two receivers as apposed to the single used on a pickup/trailor set up.
This allows for use of one or both receiver tubes, depending on the type of tool/stress in use. Example I use two receivers for a press and only one to mount something like a powder measure.
I have two pairs of receiver tubes under my bench, and it would be a small matter to add more if so needed
As I said before, this leaves the bench top clean, uncut, and undrilled.
Wish it had been my idea, but a friend was the first to use it as far as I know.
Now, he isn't the last.
I just built a new male portion to the system a couple weeks ago, this time for my new Hornady L&L progressive.
Great way to go and still have a nice bench top.
Keep em coming!
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
I have mentioned a time or two the under bench toolo mounting system I use, and again address it as another solution to bench crowding.
Rembrandt's extruded track in the bench surface is nicely done and appears quite usable.
However, my system leave the bench top up cluttered, uncut and undrilled, while still allowing for use of many tools.
Basicly it is like a trailor hitch receiver system except it is mounted under the bench.
On mine, I use two receivers as apposed to the single used on a pickup/trailor set up.
This allows for use of one or both receiver tubes, depending on the type of tool/stress in use. Example I use two receivers for a press and only one to mount something like a powder measure.
I have two pairs of receiver tubes under my bench, and it would be a small matter to add more if so needed
As I said before, this leaves the bench top clean, uncut, and undrilled.
Wish it had been my idea, but a friend was the first to use it as far as I know.
Now, he isn't the last.
I just built a new male portion to the system a couple weeks ago, this time for my new Hornady L&L progressive.
Great way to go and still have a nice bench top.
Keep em coming!
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
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