OT- kinda: closet reloading station

[Andrew]

I remember back when ScottT moved and showed a pic of his closet-sized reloading setup and was thinking today about putting something like that in my little casa.

Do any of you have set ups that may even be tailored for standing up while working? I was thinking of making a place to keep my Lee shotshell press and my future cartridge press along with the reloading paraphernalia and boxes upon boxes of ammo. Something like a pantry cabinet that opens up with a table-top in the middle and shelves and drawers and what-not.

That way I could open it up for business, take care of business and then shut it up away from the Wife and chubby little baby's tiny clepto' hands.

I also am on the idea to get one of those Lee hand presses for doing some stuff while watching a movie on the couch. Yeah.

Any ideas would be great, cause, I don't invision any shop space in the near future, but the need to reload is already upon me.

P.S. Feel free to post plenty of pics

[Ysabel Kid]

Andrew -

I made a bench for myself about a decade ago when the only room I had for one was out in the garage. It is 4 feet wide, and has a bottom cabinet as well as a top one, both connected with the back panel. A light is mounted under the top cabinet to illuminate the bench top itself. I put pegboard on the panel between the top and bottom cabinets to hang often-used reloading tools and such. This was made from 2x4's and OSB - pretty inexpensive.



I liked it so much that I still use it, even though in the house I am in now I have a ton of room in the basement. As you can see, it is tall enough to work at comfortably either standing or using a bar (high) stool.

What I like most about it is the top I designed, which is extremely flexible. Here it is with one of my presses mounted on it.



If I want to switch to a different press, I just unscrew the two butterfly bolts, and take out the press, mounted on an insert.



I then can put a different press in the "slot". I have mounted all of my presses on their own inserts, along with a couple other reloading tools...



...such as my case trimmer...



... or my vibratory cleaner...



I even have just a flat blank in case I want to put my Tipton gun holder on the bench while cleaning a gun. The system is very flexible, easy to build, and takes all of 30 seconds - if you're taking your time - to switch out presses and what not.



I really like it. It can be tailor-fit to almost any size space to boot!

Good luck - let us know what you make!

[20cows]

I don't have pictures showing the whole setup, but hopefully you can see that it all (just reloading, not casting and gunsmithing) stuff is in one closet.




It's in an otherwise unused room for now, but the closet has it's own lock and works pretty well.

[KirkD]

20Cows, you do, indeed, have a very nice little closet reloading room! Nice.

I don't really have a closet to reload in, but my reloading bench does fit in a closet. Here's a photo ...

[alnitak]

Some very nice bench ideas there. I can't add much to them (since I still need to build one), but I can second the idea of a Lee handloader. Very convenient to size and de-prime while you're watching TV (or the little fella/gal). Takes up no space, and it's always nice to have as a backup when you get your bench built, or to take on the road with you or to the range for those on-the-spot tweaks to your loads.

[2ndovc]

Hey Kid,
Nicely tought out set up. I bet Mrs. Winters is still looking for her flashlight


When I moved from my last house where I had a nice big room for my stuff in the basement space wasn't a problem.

Fast forward 10 years. New house, new wife, two steps-sons and a WHOLE lot of STUFF!!

The only place left for my stuff was the old coal bin under the old part of the house. It's about 5' x 8' x 6'3" high. I have just enough room to stand up. I ran a bench down either side with a swivel stool in the middle. One side is for cleaning and repairs the other for reloading. Just outside the door is metal shelving for loaded ammo and cans and an old couch cushion for when the dog comes down to hang
Not Ideal but it works.

I like the closet idea and I've been meaning to order one of those hand presses.

[Noah Zark]

Andrew:

Back in the 70s there was a one-page article in the American Rifleman for a "closet" loading bench that was constructed of 3/4" plywood into a hollow rectangular box about 24" x 24" x 30" high. The "front" wall, 24" x 30", had slots cut in it for access, and it was intended to put magazines, books, bullets, etc in there to weight the thing down. There was a "midwall" in the center inside of the box, running from front to back, dividing the box interior into two sections and providing support to the top, to which was bolted the reloading press.

I built such a box for use in my apartment during the last couple years of college and the first few years of working until I bought a house. It was compact and handy, and worked just fine. It literally resided in a closet.

I saved the article and can send you a photocopy if you PM me your mailing address. It had plans and cutting dimension details.

Noah

[rjohns94]

my setup is pretty simple, as I am only loading three calibers: .38/357, 45lc, 45-70. I have a dillon press on the end of my huge navy work table, and the other items fit under the table until needed. My scale, tumbler, and powder/brass/primers resider (in ammo cans) and loading book take up very little room under the table. My molds and melting furnace and lead reside in garage. Loaded ammo in plastic boxes are sorted by caliber and stored near the gun rack.

I keep my blackpowder items in another large carry box which has powder, primers, balls, caps and cleaning gear for my 2 1851's, 2 ROA's, and my .54 flintlock. Molds for the balls and bullets for these guns are in the garage.



YK, another well thought out design. thanks for sharing

[horsesoldier03]

Mine is way to dirty right now to show a pic of. I really need to get it set back up where it is more efficient.

[Iron_Marshal]

I have not made this yet, but I have heard of a design where a small table is built/bought. Screw a section of plywood to it that has a square cut out of it at the front edge of the table. (Think of a “Uâ€

[Old Ironsights]

My stuff is a little more spread out, but by in large I could keep it all in the wardrobe & the Hospital Table...



Between the 2 presses and the Vice/Anvil I can load about anything and adjust the height at will.

[Andrew]

I keep my blackpowder items in another large carry box which has powder, primers, balls, caps and cleaning gear for my 2 1851's, 2 ROA's, and my .54 flintlock.

Me too.




This is all good stuff guys, keep it coming!

[jdad]

This fits a little cubbyhole, in our laundry room. I found an old bedside table that works just fine. I rotate the table, for charging, then back.

[Ysabel Kid]

Hey Kid,
Nicely tought out set up. I bet Mrs. Winters is still looking for her flashlight

that and other things she hasn't tied down!

I also use a Lee hand press for de-priming. In fact, it is always my first (and anymore my only) choice for that chore!!!