Show us a picture of your reloading bench

Ronno,

How do you like that Lock-N-Load® Power Case Prep Center? Been thinking about getting one but I would like to hear from one with first hand experiance with one first.

Thanks,
Dale

Dale

I can tell you in all honesty… This is the best prep station I have ever used… All I can say is if you can get one, then don’t wait… get it now! Mine was on backorder, they can’t make them fast enough.

It is the ultimate center, works like a dream. You just have to have the room for it. It is the size of the press (without the case feeder) and it is right around 20-21 pounds. Built very solid and works like a dream. And also to my surprise, very quiet.

Ronno,

Thanks for the feed back on the Lock-N-Load® Power Case Prep Center.
I will get my order in for one.

Thanks again,
Dale

No problem Dale
You will not be sorry you spent the money on this... not a all..!
Ronno

Ronno said:

No problem Dale
You will not be sorry you spent the money on this... not a all..!
Ronno

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Any of this true? Yes, i'm a Hornady man!
1st, I purchased the Hornady Case Prep Center to replace my RCBS Case prep center thinking the all in one trim, deburr, clean etc.. was the way to go. I have a nice, but small area to work. 2nd, Believe me when I say, I love Hornady reloading products, I use the Lock-N-Load Progressive Press, Bullets, Cases, etc. But…Never sell this Case Prep to a machinist! The sixth grade engineering that went into this product is like something from a China copy of an American Made Machine that works. You have aluminum guide ways against steel leads that will gall from use in no time. The graduation, (Please!?... The Knurl!?.. With Not Even A Reference Point!?) Spend three seconds and do it right! The case holder does not line up with the trim pilot, the clearance from table mount to the tools required is too shallow for a mans hands (especially with the chip tray installed), And a problem you should have not even been so cheep at is, All of the bare aluminum should have been machined with a carbide insert cutter, or a carbide end mill, instead of the dullest high speed end mill you could find in your shop! The finish that your buyer has to look at daily will sell (or not sell) your quality, and i.e. your product. Word of mouth is still your best advertising, and this entire town comes to me to learn.

Thats a review on Midway USA.

A lot of places I have checked before I bought mine had nothing but great things to say about the Hornady prep station... In fact that one you just copied and posted is the only one that had anything to say that was not 100% for it...

If i didnt already have a Dillon swager and RCBS electric trimmer, i'd probably go for the Hornady center. Still might.

I've seen mostly positive reviews about the Hornady prep center but it seems the more knowledgable folks who have spent a lot of time in machine shops don't think too highly of it. I would like to see one up close and make my own determination. I've had quality problems with Hornady equipment in the past but I still have Hornady stuff that I use regularly.

Well I have been a machinist for years (15) now and I can tell you it is worth it… I work in on a CNC horizontal mill for a living… If you would want one that is machined baby butt smooth and like that… And with all the super strong upgraded items listed, you would be paying more than double… Hornady did the best they could to keep it in a certain price range and for being in that range, it is one of the best machines you can buy… Much better than anything RCBS has for electric case prep…

The best part is if you have ANY problems of issues at ANYTIME with this unit including the gears and motor it will be replaced by Hornady for free… well as long as you are the original owner…

And here are few photos of my machine at work… sorry for the bad photos, they were taken with my cell phone…

From the mouth of Hornady

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpEJDt8OvR0&feature=player_embedded

Alright, I finally found my camera charger. Here's my newly built bench.







I didn't have any plans for this little number. I actually looked through this thread quite a few times for some good influence, and I definitely took some pages from the books of my THR brothers.

I built this setup super cheap. Most of the wood/pegboard (plus enough to build two more of these) came from various came free of charge from the kind hearts of a few construction site dumpsters around town. Think what you want, but those things are just big metal boxes full of free material (much of which is basically new).

I'm pretty happy right now due to the Lyman Turbo (seen on top shelf) that my wife got me for Father's Day. Since Father's Day landed on our anniversary, we celebrated today. Sweet. I love having a wife that enjoys my hobbies.

c919 - Do you get adequate lighting from the trouble light?

No, not really. However, there is good light from the florescent lamps (although it's hard to tell in the pics). Also, there are the two windows on either side of my bench. I do all of my reloading in the daytime, and the windows provide more than enough light.

Sometime in the near future, I'll be rigging up a new florescent fixture above my bench for nighttime reloading (and some more outlets for my bench). I just have to teach myself a little bit more about electrical work first.

Sometime in the near future, I'll be rigging up a new florescent fixture above my bench for nighttime reloading (and some more outlets for my bench). I just have to teach myself a little bit more about electrical work first.

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Used to be an electrician (before I burned down a house...JK, JK). All you need is a nearby receptacle to tap into. Easy way is to use a fluorescent fixture with a pull chain (or other switch on the unit itself), connect the wires inside the fixture (blk to blk, wht to wht, and bare copper to the green ground screw and/or green wire inside fixture if applicable). Run your wire (14Ga. Romex or equivalent) from the light to the receptacle, cut the power off, and connect the wires to the terminals on the receptacle (blk to gold screw, white to silver screw, and bare copper to the grn gnd screw). Done, easy as pie.

^^^ Yeah. I've done some fairly simple electrical stuff before. I have faith that I'll be able to do it. I've just never installed a new breaker, which IIRC I'll have do here. I'll be building a new "general projects" bench next to my reloading bench soon, so I want to make sure I have the juice for all manner of power tools and such.

You shouldn't need a new breaker for a simple, low wattage fluorescent lamp. You are only looking at about 64-80 watts for a double fixture. Tap it into an existing outlet and you will be good to go. OTOH adding new receptacles will likely require a new breaker, and it may benifit you to call an electrician or someone experienced, as your panel (unless it is a sub-panel controlled by a main) is always "live" and can be dangerous. It wouldn't hurt to run everything exclusive of the panel, then let an electrician hook it up to your fuse box and check your work; that will save you a bit of money, and make it easier.

Just put this bad boy together. Wanted doorway friendly dimensions, so its a little short. Guess I coulda made it 2 pieces, but oh well. Got a huge sturdy old bookcase i'll use as shelves.

Good looking setup, ccjcc81.


Even if you do find it to be a little short, building is fun. You can always add more.

c919 said:

Good looking setup, ccjcc81.


Even if you do find it to be a little short, building is fun. You can always add more.

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Thank you. That's my first bit of carpenting ever, so I'm very surprised that it doesn't wobble. It's almost perfectly level too. (can you tell I'm a little too proud?)

And you're absolutely right, it was very fun to build. A learning experiece, and very rewarding.

Thank you. That's my first bit of carpenting ever, so I'm very surprised that it doesn't wobble. It's almost perfectly level too. (can you tell I'm a little too proud?)

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Yeah, my bench was the first serious bit of carpentry I have done as well. I've built and installed shelves, and other little projects, but nothing like this. I had a blast doing it. I plan on building another big bench for other projects once I get some more materials rounded up.

So two thumbs up for us. We did pretty good for beginners if I do say so myself.

ccjcc81 & c919 you have nice places..................Creeker

c919, how did you finish your benchtop? I think mine needs that treatment.


Thanks LAH!

Here is mine. Stuffed into a tight space.

corky - what is the bench top made of. I like the white work area and your choice in presses. What model is your Lyman tumbler?