New Reloading Bench

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:45 pm

With the collapse of my old kitchen style base cabinets a month or so ago, I've been working to disassemble and rebuild my reloading bench. I was going to take the old cabinet bases and rebuild them... using some marine grade plywood I was saving for another project.

Last week I was down in the town just south of me, and dropped into a contractor's surplus yard to see what they had. My carpentery skills best left to the art of "framing"... houses, not pictures! And, lo; they build their own cabinets there... the prices being well below those big box stores, and solid wood, thru and thru... no cheap particle board.

So today, I went and picked up my new cabinet bases... loaded 'em up in the p/u

then unloaded them and now I have to figure out how to arrange them number the bench!

So I'll have better cabinets to support the bench, and instead of just two 30" bases, I'll have 2 36" bases and a 24" wide stack of drawers for those tools that have had to sit on top of the bench!

Back at it tomorrow! Hopefully it'll be cooler, was 77ºF here today. Warmish to be workin' out in the barn!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:51 pm

I'm envious! Nice!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:57 pm

Cool and lots of storage space.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:03 pm

I don't know if I have a picture, but for my 'top' I put one of 3/4" plywood on top of the cabinets, then 2x6's 16" o.c. to give me an additional 5-1/2" rise, then another 3/4" plywood 'top'. I angled the cuts on the 2x6's so the top plywood is about 2" farther out towards me than the lower one, and 'inletted' another 2x6 laid flat to give a really sturdy clamping or mounting surface.

This ALSO gives me a handy place to tuck a box of taps/dies, extra c-clamps, a hammer, short saw, or whatever. It's like a row of 5" tall and 14" wide 'cubbies' two feet deep all across under the work surface. I'd say it helps 'declutter' the benchtop, but my inherent cluttering-skills overwhelm anything with less power than a black hole...

I highly recommend doing that.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:44 pm

Cant wait till I retire from this gun club and settel into my own garage and get to projects like yours

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:09 pm

Doc,

Between the muddaubers and wasps, "cubby-holes" are just what I try to avoid! I keep trying to get the wife to let me inside... but she's got the house all "planned out"... and my future reloading room is on the back burner!

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:46 pm

Here's mine, built this about 30 years ago, couple of frieght-damaged bases for cheap at the lumber yard, piece of molded counter top the same way, I glued up a piece of 7/8 chipboard to the bottom of the counter top and then glued/screwed the top on to the bases. Has served me well.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:49 pm

JReed wrote:Cant wait till I retire from this gun club and settel into my own garage and get to projects like yours

Garage!!!

That's what the third bedroom is for, converting to a gun room.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:04 am

I was wondering what was transpiring. Good to see You are back on it. Those bases should give You plenty of storage. Will You use a regular countertop or plywood? You have some BIG mud daubers if they can fill 5x14 cubby hole.
Perry

samb · Post by **samb** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:51 am

Nice find Griff! Your gonna have the nicest reloading bench in Texas. Mine looks like a mess, those drawers look like the ticket. Time for me to head downstairs and tidy up.
Jnyork I plan to copy your shelf system.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:13 am

pwl44m wrote:I was wondering what was transpiring. Good to see You are back on it. Those bases should give You plenty of storage. Will You use a regular countertop or plywood? You have some BIG mud daubers if they can fill 5x14 cubby hole.
Perry

Like jnyork and ajmd, I use a ¾" piece of plywood as a base/cover over the cabinets, then apply a molded counter top for smooth, finished, easily cleaned surface. One of my old pieces has warped slightly and may need to be replaced. Edited to corrrect:My old bench was 16' long, but by moving an old refrigerator I gained an extra 2', so the new bench will be 18' long. Opposite this is the 20' bench that is used for shotshell loading and woodworking projects. But with 4 presses and casting pot, it can get crowded with extra tools and all the tubs of brass clutterin' the top. The extra space in the cabinet means I can move them down into storage, out of the way.

Look up cluttered in the dictionary... it'll have this picture:

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:00 pm

Griff,
If you'd hang a shelf on the wall above the bench you could sorta spread the clutter out. Gotta take a picture of mine so you'll know I'm even more cluttered than you even with lots of shelves and cabinets. Looks like you're doin' great.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:00 pm

Sweet score!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 8:13 pm

Made a serious dent in the project today. I guess, since I didn't build the first one in just one day, I shouldn't expect the new one to go quite as easily. The one will be anchored to the wall much better. More storage space, and since the refrigerator there quit working, new powder keg also!

Base cabinets are progressing nicely, have two installed, leveled six ways from Sunday and now have a coat of satin polyethelene in a light maple.

Oh yeah, new shelf for the radio and chargers! Now that stuff won't be clutterin' up the bench... but, a new radio might be in order! This one is a bit frazzled... tuner doesn't work, antenna falls out, and you really have to play with it to get the volume knob to work! I think I might have gotten my use out of it... It's been out there in the barn for 20+ years, and in my garage in CA for at least 10 before that!

Still need to seal the #3 unit, but it's in position, leveled and aligned with the other two. A ¾" underlayer for the countertop, and 18' of new countertop. Trying to estimate where I want the various reloaders (4) and accessory equipment, such as lubri-sizers (2), powder measure stands (2) and spacing for them is probably the problematic. Don't want to feel cramped, and yet have leg space under each reloader.

Maybe two days of more work. Still need to figure out the best method of mounting the far end of the bench to the supporting structure of the barn (10" round pole). What's done so far is solid as a rock! Also bought two new 8' flourescent fixtures for mounting directly over the bench; light won't be a problem!

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:50 am

That is looking good Griff

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:08 pm

3rd day of progress... this not working can get tiring! A morning trip to Wal-Mart netted a new radio tho'!

Bases all mounted, the framework installed and the underlayer cut and fit:

The finish countertops installed.

Sarting installation of the machinery:

A single RCBS RockChucker and Dillon 550B look kinda lonely in that 18' of workbench. But, I predict it'll seem cramped pretty fast.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:11 pm

jnyork wrote:
JReed wrote:Cant wait till I retire from this gun club and settel into my own garage and get to projects like yours

Garage!!!

That's what the third bedroom is for, converting to a gun room.

Agree 100%

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 11:30 pm

Griff !, is that a special leveling foam or just plain foam that works great for that App. Never thot of that.
Looking Good
Perry

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:53 am

Perry,

The foam is really just insulating foam, mainly there to keep bugs and mice from building nests under the cabinets. Which is what really destroyed the former cabinets... but I shouldn't think that you should expect 20+ years of life from fiberboard in what is basically an uncontrolled environment!

For the actual leveling, we used cedar wedges, then mounted treated 2x4s or 4x4s to sides as the actual weight bearing members. Those were then fitted with the cross bracing and the top of the cabinets to keep creepy crawlies out. The original cabinets never had any problems with bugs inside them, just underneath, hence the foam this go round. Hopefully the bugs don't like this stuff!

I'll take a pic this afternoon to show off the finished bench. Along with some close-ups of how I've mounted some of the equipment that's not needed all the time, but needs to be fairly solidly mounted.

Spent much of the afternoon yesterday getting rid of the clutter on the bench that sits along the outside wall, LO AND BEHOLD, found 2K primers I didn't know I had! Small pistol, bringing that total to 4K! But, since the only small pistols rounds I load for are .25Auto and .38Spl/.357Mag. I've got plenty of those, it's those pesky large rifle and pistol that I need to order!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:01 am

I've decided to only mount the RockChucker and two Dillon 550s. The RockChucker (obviously), can do anything the RCBS Jr. can do, and this gives me a better layout for setting up scales, powder measures, lubri-sizers. The powder measure stands and lubri-sizers will have the ability to mount and dismount with ease so I only need to mount what's needed, when needed. Pics later.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 12:16 pm

Man, just look at all that bench space! I'd have it cluttered in two days.
And Griff, I'll swap you ALL of my snow and fog for a single day of 77.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 6:42 pm

Bill in Oregon wrote:Man, just look at all that bench space! I'd have it cluttered in two days.
And Griff, I'll swap you ALL of my snow and fog for a single day of 77.

Yep, it gets cluttered fast. After moving everything back that had been stacked 6' high on the other workbench:

Readjusted my dies for the RockChucker vs the RCBS Jr. and loaded 5 rounds of 7mmRemMag that TxPete had sent me several years back. Don't know why I've been hoarding this nickel brass, as it sure looks pretty!

Guess what the price label sez that can of 4064 cost me?

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 7:18 pm

Your smokin' Griff! Looks great. Mount all of the presses you have......comes in handy when your tinkerin'.......plus, when visitors come, you will really look like you know what your doing. You will be the "Big MaHoff" of handloading in your circle of pards.

------------Sixgun

Dave B · Post by **Dave B** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:15 pm

Great job Griff, I really like the layout. I hope to build something like that someday.

Dave B

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:43 pm

Well... the shotshell bench is also rebuilt. I can't believe how much the rear end of this bench had sagged. But... I guess a lot of rearends sage with age!

From the other end.

The finished and cleared reloading bench.

Casting station.

And just so you don't think it wasn't a LOT of work... the trash pile of stuff that was the old bench, under and on top of both!

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 11:11 pm

Dang Griff, thats quite a pile. Save yourself a lot of work and do what I do....light a match and let her go!

------6

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 11:42 pm

Sixgun wrote:Dang Griff, thats quite a pile. Save yourself a lot of work and do what I do....light a match and let her go! ------6

Not while its INSIDE!!!! The bucket on the tractor will make short work of it... A 3 yard dumpster is in my future!

samb · Post by **samb** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:12 am

Nice job, next time your in Calgary you can organize my bench! Heck you've inspired me enough I might go down an put up some shelves myself. Enjoy.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:37 pm

The last of the work in the shop is done. I had one 8' flourescent fixture and two 4' ones, a two bulb and a 4 buld that only had two that worked.

3 new 8' fixtures and a bit of re-wiring and it's all done... except for the tash p/u!

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:06 pm

Does it get cold out there in the winter?

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:22 pm

Mescalero wrote:Does it get cold out there in the winter?

Yep. That's why the propane heater!

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:59 pm

Ah,
Missed the bottle.

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 10:49 am

Griff, why do you tie down the handles on the shotgun reloaders? Isn't that just keeping tension on the springs?

hondo1892 · Post by **hondo1892** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:38 am

Griff, Bloomburge says that Mountian Dew is too big for you.
Nice cabinets though, I wish I had room to set up something that big.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:17 pm

alnitak wrote:Griff, why do you tie down the handles on the shotgun reloaders? Isn't that just keeping tension on the springs?

You beat me to it, I was going to ask the same question

41 Redhawk · Post by **41 Redhawk** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:03 pm

How hot in the summer?

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:51 pm

alnitak wrote:Griff, why do you tie down the handles on the shotgun reloaders? Isn't that just keeping tension on the springs?

If you look closely, you see the red shells (old AA or Activ hulls) at each station, them and handle in the down position keeps the paper wasps and mud-daubers from building nests in the dies! Same reason neither of the Dillons have tool heads set up. Barns aren't quite the controlled admosphere I'd really like! I keep hoping my son will move out of his room!

41 Redhawk wrote:How hot in the summer?

Upwards of 115ºF! Box fan is around the corner. Wish I could afford one of these:
Port-a-Cool 1600!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:00 am

Oh yeah, moved all the powder out of the house and into the new storage:

How the tools that get changed out are mounted.

COSteve · Post by **COSteve** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:32 pm

Deleted

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:22 pm

COSteve wrote:I'd love to have the room for a bigger one but this one has done the job for the past 10 years and over 178,000rds.

And I'm jealous of yours... but could NEVER keep it that neat!!!!

41 Redhawk · Post by **41 Redhawk** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 10:03 am

Upwards of 115ºF! Box fan is around the corner.

Box Fan!!! I'd never survive that. I'll stay in my air conditioned spare bedroom thank you very much.