Reloading/work bench build

Hokie_PhD said:

After I screw and glue the top I’ll build a shelf below

I’ll also make a storage upper at some point but right now it’s not a priority

I’m not sure if I’m going to stain it or paint it. So suggestions are welcome

I do know I have a mounting system planned for my presses and vise

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I have an MDF top and came a hair of painting it but I like the ultra smoothness of the bare wood especially when I make messes with powder or media I can just take a piece of cardboard and swipe it clean into a can. I would think the paint might make it a little rougher but stain might be good.

My bench top is actually cabinet grade maple plywood. I had a sheet left over so that is what I used. However, it wasn't perfect and had an oil stain on it so I decided to paint the whole bench. Not trying to talk you into this but I used primer and two coats of Rustolium (grey color I think is called gun metal). It's nice because it's resists dirt/oil and is fairly hearty. I mentioned prior that I'm going to do a bench upgrade, basically raising the legs 5" but I'm going to put another coat of paint on the whole shebang.

Bench looks good Hokie.

Whatever finish you use, bear in mind what effect gun cleaning chemicals may have on it if you decide to clean your guns on there. Some gun cleaning chemicals can ruin the finish on wooden stock rifles so think about using a durable finish that won't be damaged.

A piece of 1/4” Masonite is cheap and provides a slick, durable surface if nailed down with finish nails. You can just pull it off and replace it if severely damaged.

I have a leather top on my reloading bench.

Hokie, your bench came out nice. Myself, I would have put the shelf a little higher so that items could be stored below the bench.
Now that you are a man with a bench, you need another.

Good progress on the bench!

Hokie_PhD said:

I’m using what I have for the top. If it doesn’t work out well I can always unbolt it and and replace.

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Have you considered using sheet vinyl for bench top covering? Also check classified/craigslist for freebies and building/construction materials for cheap bench top material.

I built many portable reloading benches for friends and to save cost, I used scrap 2x4s and leftover OSB/plywood for tops and covered the ugly OSB tops with heavy reinforced vinyl sheets from Walmart craft/sewing department for waterproof "no-splinter" top. Even with thin OSB, extra 2x4 mounted flat under the OSB (where press is mounted) fastened to 2x4 frame with 16d nails and screwed to OSB top provided absolutely "no flex" reinforcement to the bench top even when resizing thicker military .308 brass.

Nice thing about using old scrap 2x4s is that they are dry and solid as rock where new green 2x4s are soft and pliable so they won't split. BTW, I built my 2'x3' bench out of new kiln dried 2x4s with every nail/screw hole pre-drilled to prevent splitting.

Here is my 2'x2' portable bench (used for pistol calibers) built from rough scrap 2x4s with scrap OSB top covered in reinforced vinyl with satin finish to hide the ugly rough OSB and as cheap temporary covering. But after almost 10 years, the top has no rip and still looks great. At the time, I had 2'x6' and 2'x8' benches in the garage (castered with HEAVY casters but I got tired of reloading in the 100F+ heat of garage and these industrial benches built to take the weight of engine blocks were given to friends who needed heavy benches). The 2'x2' bench was meant to be temporary until I got the portable 2'x3' bench finished but since it worked so well, I ended up keeping it.


Vinyl covering was pulled tight and stapled to the bottom of 2x4 frame


Here's a 2'x4' bench I built for a friend who needed rifle brass sorting station (Yellow bin unit from Harbor Freight which can be removed if needed). OSB top reinforced with double 2x4s where LCT was mounted eliminated bench top flex and covered with plain vinyl to reduce cost. After over 10 years of use, the vinyl covering is still in great shape.


Hole for middle vertical 2x4 was cut into the top, vinyl fabric folded into the hole and stapled then vertical 2x4 was inserted through the hole and fastened to the 2x4 frame of bench top.



For my 2'x3' bench, I wanted durability and waterproof finish top so I went with 11 layer hardwood veneered plywood and 3 coats of polyurethane (Front of plywood was covered with hardwood strip). The bench top finish has withstood almost 10 years of hard use with spillage of various solvents/oils and easy clean up is done with a piece of paper towel.

As to the bottom shelf, I did the same but added a 1/2 deep middle shelf so I could reach the stuff in the back of bottom shelf (pegboard goes to the bottom of middle shelf so things don't fall out).

Hokie_PhD said:

One bench is enough FOR NOW. I still need to get the shop in order.

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Even for those with full anchored reloading benches in the garage/reloading room, imagine the convenience of rolling a 2'x2'/2'x3' bench into the livingroom or patio to resize brass, clean/swage primer pocket, hand/bench prime etc. while watching TV or chatting with wife and sipping iced tea ... a man's house is his castle, right?

Another benefit of having castered portable benches is I can move them out of the way when I am not reloading/working at the bench. At the previous house, 2'x3' bench even rolled right into the walk-in closet as 2' width will go through any doorway/hallway (and why bench was shortened to 3' from 4' original length). Currently 2'x2' bench is stored in the corner of the reloading room but rolled out when I need to use another single stage/Pro 1000. The 2'x3' bench is usually stored pushed against the wall for bench work and tipped out about a foot to reload at the press.

I am currently designing another portable bench to mount Dillon 650 with case feeder and the new Lee Pro 4000 for full-time sit down reloading. Unlike previous benches which were built for both standing/sitting operations, this one will be customized for easy reach operations while sitting for my retirement years. I will post pictures once I get started with the bench build.

Hokie_PhD said:

Thanks Gunny, that means a lot!

I put the bottom low so I can have a self where I can put big things. I figure when I build the top I'l have shelves for smaller items. I can also add another shelf higher if needed.

I love leather but for the stuff I do I'm not sure it would be a good surface. Maybe some sort of top that I can place on the bench when a leather surface makes sense is something to consider. This could be an excuse for a project! A trip to some of the thrift stores, then who knows what I'll come up with!!!!

One bench is enough FOR NOW. I still need to get the shop in order. I still need a way of organizing all of the tool that I found that were packed in various boxes from the last three moves, and all of the duplicate tools that I bought when I needed one and couldn't find one I knew I had. I'm thinking of getting another rollaway and putting a top on it so it'll serve as another bench and place to store tools. I've found one I like but it's a bit more than I want to spend so we'll see.

drband, I've thought about masonite and it's an option but right now I want to use what I have. I'd rather not go overboard on this so the plan right now is to get it finished up and in use. Then I'll modify if necessary. Or add options that I can change depending on what I'm doing.

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I’ll have to go out to the shed and look for something for your bench. I have a 9’ workbench in the shed that never gets used. There is bound to be something on it that you can put to good use.

Look at what I found.It’s a mat for a treadmill and would make a great cover for the front half of your bench.
It’s 18 inches wide. How long is your bench? I’ll cut you enough to go across the top.

Now there is HEAVY DUTY covering for your bench top!

You know, life is short and nobody gets out of this life alive and stuff ... Just install a holder for TV remote on the portable bench and you are set for good life!

And once you reload on a portable bench inside the house in the comfort of heating/air conditioning, you will never go back to freezing cold/baking heat of garage! Besides, you can have both - Anchored big bench in the garage and small and nimble bench inside the house that can go anywhere.

Talk to somebody who has a portable reloading set up to use at the range ... NOW that's life at the finest!

And yes, I do have plans to make a portable reloading set up for range use hard mounted to the Suburban with quick release ... for pistol and rifle. I even have quick foldout small tarp cover plan for rainy day reloading/shooting prone from inside of flat 4'x8' floor of Suburban. You know, I gotta make it worth while for my retirement years ... rain or shine.

Nice bench. I built a three-legged bench with 2x6 Doug Fir legs. It has a round top with 3/4" 11-layer plywood topped by 3/4" MDF. I don't use it for the presses, but for everything else. For the presses, I'm using the Lee steel tripod stand with a heavy weight. I like it, but I wish it were a lot taller and the steel legs were at least 3/16" thick. It seems like it's to be used while sitting. There's also a bit more flex than I like. If I were to make my own press stand, I think I would look at casting one with concrete using a Sonotube or a section of galvanized steel culvert and a 1/2" thick steel plate on top. I've also looked at the Grizzly H7834 - Stand For HD Bench Grinder.

You only chew Navy coffee......................

Hokie_PhD said:

What he didn’t know was his timing was incredible as Iyesterday was my birthday so getting this today was an extra nice present

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Happy Birthday. I hope you have many years of happiness with your new bench.