Reloading benches

[Sam Phelps]

Let’s see some reloading bench pictures. Trying to get some more ideas for my upcoming reloading bench. Looking to have the top be made from a chunk of bowling alley. Please include some dimensions like how deep it is and the height of the working surface.

[JON PEDZINSKI]

My bench is a solid wood door from an old school and anchored to 4×4’s at a height to make it comfortable to use my presses from a standing position.  I put it together about 23 years ago, long before the mounting systems we have available to us today where thought of. Sorry, no pics as its a mess and truth be told I could probably cut that door in half length wise and it wouldn’t be such a collection point for odds and ends… but it’s rock solid for loading.

[Christopher Gobeli]

No pictures since my basement is dark and my bench is a mess, but it is made using a metal work bench frame that I think I got from Menards with a section of counter top mounted to the top and pegboard behind for hanging tools.  I also put a rubber mat, about 3/16 of an inch thick on top of the bench to protect the bench and parts if they are dropped.

As far as the size, the top is 72 inches wide by 24 inches deep and stands 34 inches from the ground.  It seems to be a good height for me to work on standing, but I also have taller stools if I want to sit.  The top has plenty of space for different reloading processes, or complete tear down or rebuild of a rifle.

If I was going to build my bench again, I would probably build a wood frame with wooden top and install the track system that Ken and Ben Schumacher use to make removal of my press easier.

[Brian]

This is still a work in progress.  I leveled and screwed treated 2x4s to the floor and a 1/4 to the wall.  After reinforcing the cabinet bases a bit I set them on top of the 2x4s and screwed them into the 1×4 on the wall. A standard 2×4 was screwed to the top perimeter of the cabinet bases and wherever each base butted together. These gave me an additional 1-1/2″ of height and also will provide a place to screw the bench top down.  The bench top will be true 2×6 and 2×8 white ash planks that will be screwed to the 2x4s from underneath.  I plan to use heavy wood screws or lag bolt to screw the presses etc.. directly to the bench top as I don’t think I will want or need to move them much once everything is in place.

The bench top is 40″ high and 24″ deep.  The finished bench top will be in a “L” shape.  The long leg of the L will extend the entire length of the back wall and be about 12′.  The short leg will be about 30″ long. The space under the corner of the L will remain open so I can sit on stool comfortably there.

Small tools will be placed in the cabinet drawers. Components will be stored behind the cabinet doors. The cabinet in the short base was originally for a sink.  The “drawer” will be re-worked to be functional and should be just long enough for barrel storage. One of the lower cabinets will be insulated and wired with a timer to place the tumbler. I am fabricating some horizontal and vertical rifle racks that will be hung above the bench top for storage/ display.

[Brian]

[Brian]

Bench is mostly finished up.  Going to hold off on epoxying the top until I spend a little time reloading and make sure it everything is how I like it. Still need to finish up the trim and stuff in the room but that might be on pause for now.

[Brian]

[Brian]

[Author]

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