Building My Reloading Bench

Well after putting it off for so long I got impulsive tonight and pick up material to build my reloading bench to my my Hornady LNL AP, Lee Classic, Pacific DL-266 and put my other goodies in.

Got 2 36" base cabinets (2 drawers, 2 doors) and a 72" counter top to hook them together. Gotta sand them up and stain them, assemble everything and mount the presses.

And a little update of tonight's progress. I plan to build this in a way that it can be broken down for transport. So to start out I flipped one of the cabinets on the side:



Next I had to cut some 1/2" plywood to fill in the space between the two cabinets at the back:



Next threw the other one up there:



Just another view:



And wanted to reinforce the top cover so I cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to put underneath it:



But sadly in my rush, I realized I have zero screws or bolts the right size to put any of this together. Tomorrow heading to town to pick up the hardware.

Got the top glued and screwed together now. Also got the top connecting bolts for the cabinets done as well. Working on the bottom ones right now and putting the studs on the top that will bolt to the cabinets.

I've found that it is more comfortable for me not to sit under my bench when reloading. I was previously reloading on a desk and sat under it, but never did because I had to hunch backwards to be able to run everything.

Plus this bench will be higher and the presses will be on riser mounts, with a barstool it should be pretty comfy.

Just another update, everything is assembled, I have dilled all the mounting holes for the presses. Hoping to get the sanding done yet tonight and to get a coat of stain on it before I head to bed.

Too lazy to upload progress pictures, but I'll get them up soon.

And here are pictures of the progress. Been stained and the sealant is drying currently. Assembly in the morning.

Bolt system connecting the two cabinets:



This is the outside bolt block before the top has been screwed to it:



Connecting the top:





Another view of the bolt block after the top has been connected:



And finally of the stained product:



Sorry for the fuzzy pictures also, camera must of been a little dusty

Sorry I never did specify, due to having to stay at my parents currently (due to some financial and medical issues) I am unable to fasten it directly to the wall or the floor. So I had to build it in such a way that I can dissassemble it easily but also have it sturdy enough to be free standing.

One more picture also, the bottom of the top:

Seems I neglected to post up pictures of the final product, sorry about that. So here it is done and with the presses mounted. Had to do a little shimming, but it's solid as a rock now. I doubt it'll ever be clean, it's not even right now











From the left is a Lee Breech Lock Challenger single stage with my homemade mount, it's not very pretty, but it's very strong. Next is my Hornady LNL AP with Inline Fabrication Strongmount, roller handle, and also has the ceiling LED kit installed, which gives it a lot of light on the shellplate. Finally is the old girl, a Pacific DL-266 single stage shotshell reloader setup for 12ga. I had just gotten parts in from Hornday to replace both hoppers, some minor springs I needed, and also shot and powder bushings, so she is ready to roll. Probably going to do some test loads tonight with it.

But it looks like I'll have to build another now, might be buying some more presses

Height wise it works out great either standing at it or with a bar stool, actually very surprised that both positions ended up feeling great.

And yea you're correct, you can find some very inexpensive scratch and dent stuff you if you look around. That counter top on mine is actually scratch and dent from Menards, only cost $20. It had a few small chips out of the back splash piece, so it worked out nice not wrecking a really nice one since I was going to drill it full of holes and probably get some damage from normal use. I do wish there was a local cabinet maker who I was involved with, could've probably gotten better cabinets for the same cost, but I was in a hurry so I made due. The drawers on these are pretty flimsy so I can't load them with much weight, and the bottom, back, and sides are all made out of particle board, so it didn't have the strength that I would've liked, but it'll still do the job great nonetheless.

You are right Stretch, been calling it by the wrong name since I got it. That'll teach me for not researching things correctly. Better go change that description.

I ended up having to use the wooden blocks under the LNL storngmount in order to mount it that far away from the end. Without them, for some reason the threads on the handle would just barely touch the counter surface, they might have just been a tad too long. I figured it was better to give it more clearance and it also makes it a bit more comfortable to operate at that height.