New Workbench all done!

earlthegoat2 said:

I have built some pretty beefy benches before and I could not believe your bench weighed 300. So I looked up the weight of melamine and that stuff is really heavy. Your top must weigh over 150#.

Needless to say, I like it a lot. Lagged to the wall to boot. Your going to love resizing tough brass on that beast.

Click to expand...

Yup, its a heavy beast. Probably 200# by itself. And not only melamine, but long strand high density stuff. Really abrasive and hard on even the best carbide saw blades. I used to work at a company that made countertops and cabinets for hospitals and schools, and this was standard countertop material. The best part? I got 3 pieces of this stuff at 32x96 for free because it was an odd color that they were going to throw away. And my garage workbench is closer to 500#, same top, but frame made from solid steel as I work on motors, rear ends and transmissions from time to time, and wanted to be able to set a 1000# on it without it buckling.

This is why I always recommend people use countertop material for benches. Even standard counter top material is 3/4" thick. Add in a 3/4" 5 ply minimum plywood laminated to the back side and you will have a bench when properly mounted that will not flex and will stand up to any solvents we use on a regular basis.

total recoil said:

Where is the refrigerator?

Click to expand...

In the next room over filled with various adult beverages and sodas!
Perfect for those times when I just process brass and I need to ensure I dont want to poke myself in the eye ball before I get done.

crestoncowboy said:

All done? I've had my bench all done, once and for all......a bunch of times.

I too load in my basement. I have it entirely to myself for my home gym setup and reloading and tool area. The never changing temps are perfect.

Click to expand...

As long as I live in this house, I will only move it one more time, and that is only if I choose to remodel the basement. But Im a good 3-4 years out on that project. At that point, Ill just take it apart, and put it all back up in the new room.

GW Staar said:

Very nice!!!
Wonder how long the "clear" benchtop will last. Mine's only 24" deep and yes, I manage to fill it up ..... yet if it were as deep as yours, I'd still fill it up ..... but since I'm on the short side stature-wise, I'd have a harder time reaching that far and finding stuff.

I thought about a track cut into the top of mine too, but decided I was too lazy ........ all my stuff is bolted down permanent like. Then, last week I removed everything....four presses, a bench primer, bench swager, and built-in trimmer......so I could have a crew come in an do some remodeling work in my house. (didn't want to give anyone ideas of what could be "lifted" some dark night in the future so I hid all evidence of hand loading and shooting.) Took me more than two hours to put it all back.....and that included my electrics....press lights, powder video monitor and power switching. Won't be doing that again.

We all have our weaknesses.......mine is a tendency to not load at all, unless it's set up ready to go ....... see ..... lazy streak. Maybe that's why I loved my APS system.

Bet you are all giddy, excited! Enjoy!

Click to expand...

Not very dang long, lol. I have some work Im doing on my LnL before I get it running again, so parts and pieces all over the place.
Horizontal space is the devil