A nice weekend project - shelves that can support a lot of weight for reloading supplies or tools.

[MCMXI]

Thank you and yes it’s all steel. A 5” truss around the perimeter and cross braces where the presses mount. 1/8” steel plate for the top and bottom shelf. Sub plates at most locations bolt to the bench top then are drilled and tapped for the various presses that might need to be bolted in that location. So I don’t have to drill and tap the bench inside the house, rather take the sub plate out to the shop and drill/tap. Two switches on the front, one controls the dental air compressor the other kills all of the outlets underneath.

Wow ... now that's impressive!! Did you design/build the bench yourself? I really enjoy seeing such quality work that's "outside the box". If I didn't already have two solid benches that I got for free I'd be copying your design for sure. One of my benches came from a chemistry lab and has a solid 2" top and I made it even stronger by adding gussets and welding all the bolted connections. The other shown above came from a machine shop and it can be broken down into the top and steel flats for easy transportation. I added more steel and two shelves to make it even stronger. This weekend I'm going to make another base for a heavy duty 48" x 24" top that someone gave me. I'll use that as a workstation for firearm cleaning or assembly or general gun room projects.

@CMV , too bad indeed since I'd like one of those Little Giant ladders. I thought about moving the bench into the center of the room but I like the open space in the middle. I can easily reach the lower three shelves, but will have to stretch for the fourth shelf and definitely use a step ladder for the top shelf which will only have barrels on it. I'll post more pictures once I have the wood in place and a bunch of stuff piled on there.

Now you need a Rolling track ladder as a next project, not some wimpy step ladder!

Whoa! Those things are pricey but very cool.

 

[Bfh_auto]

You are either tall or are great at jumping.
I would need whatever I put in the top shelf and would have to climb.
That is some nice Fab work.

 

[Rule3]

Wow ... now that's impressive!! Did you design/build the bench yourself? I really enjoy seeing such quality work that's "outside the box". If I didn't already have two solid benches that I got for free I'd be copying your design for sure. One of my benches came from a chemistry lab and has a solid 2" top and I made it even stronger by adding gussets and welding all the bolted connections. The other shown above came from a machine shop and it can be broken down into the top and steel flats for easy transportation. I added more steel and two shelves to make it even stronger. This weekend I'm going to make another base for a heavy duty 48" x 24" top that someone gave me. I'll use that as a workstation for firearm cleaning or assembly or general gun room projects.

@CMV , too bad indeed since I'd like one of those Little Giant ladders. I thought about moving the bench into the center of the room but I like the open space in the middle. I can easily reach the lower three shelves, but will have to stretch for the fourth shelf and definitely use a step ladder for the top shelf which will only have barrels on it. I'll post more pictures once I have the wood in place and a bunch of stuff piled on there.



Whoa! Those things are pricey but very cool.

You have the mad skills to fabricate your own !

 

[horsemen61]

Awesome work op great thread!

 

[nevadabob]

All you guys do good work! Thanks for this thread!

 

[jmorris]

Did you design/build the bench yourself?

Yes, just measured out how much space I had to squeeze it into and started cutting the parts. Just like your first photo.

 

[CANNONMAN]

MCMXI, if you don't mind. I've always been a big fan of yours. I've not been here for some time yet I've told many of my friends about your posts and of the amazing pics of your achievements. Your a great reminder of why I treasure this site. Having said that, I know its off topic but I recall that you did a fair amount of work with the 6.5CM and was wondering if you have changed your opinion on how you now reload these? Please share. Shelves, I prefer the do-it-your-self, but sadly we had Sportsman's Warehouse go out of business here and they sold all the displays. Well that's how I got my shelves. Thanks

 

[CraigC]

Very cool! Mine are currently under construction, out of all roughsawn cypress.

 

[MCMXI]

@CraigC , very nice! I worked as a welder/diver (welding above and below the water) for many years so I tend to default to working with steel, aluminum or other weldable materials. I have an aversion to saw dust! It's easy to fix mistakes with a welder but not so easy with wood so you have my respect.

@CANNONMAN, this is not false modesty when I say that this forum has numerous folks way more talented and knowledgeable than me. I've been here learning on a daily basis since I first joined THR almost 11 years ago. I can honestly say that my career path for the last 8 years is as a direct result of this forum. I'll happily answer any questions about the 6.5 CM through PM.

Just about anyone here, even complete novices, could handle a similar welding project with just a bit of guidance. MIG welding is easy, cutting steel is easy. I have a DeWalt steel blade chop saw because I can't stand abrasive wheel saws. It was pricey but worth the investment. I have plasma too along with MIG, TIG and stick welders so when I need to build something I use what I have and what I know. I ran 220V power to my detached garage last year and that was a game changer for me. No more running extension cables from the house, crawling behind the dryer to get to the 220V outlet, opening windows etc. I know I go on a bit but it's because I like this stuff.

 

[CraigC]

I've tried welding with no training and all I can manage to do is make steel boogers.

 

[Blue68f100]

I wish I had 3 phase power so I could get a bigger welder (Tig) and machinery. I don't like using phase converters. So it will be a gas/diesel powder welder when I need something bigger that what I already have.

Lots of talented persons on this site for sure.

I'm like the ones who prefer working with metal vs wood. Wood is easier to cut with the right equipment but it lacks in strength so your design has to compensate for that. I need to post pictures of my Flammable storage/storge cabinet that I made.

I have a rule "Nothing over 20# if it's higher than my waist". All the heavy stuff are on the lower shelves. And as I get older the weight keeps reducing.

 

[MCMXI]

I've tried welding with no training and all I can manage to do is make steel boogers.

I watch Forged in Fire and I'm always surprised by how bad the welding is. That said, I've never tried to forge a blade so I'd probably look pretty stupid swinging a hammer!

I need to post pictures of my Flammable storage/storge cabinet that I made.

Please do. The more photos, ideas, successes, failures, advice etc. the better.

I will make the point that the real "skill" in welding is needed when things aren't going well which tends to happen under less than ideal conditions. I guess that's true of life in general.

 

[HDGator]

Amazing work. Just thinking out loud... Are you going to ground the bench electrically?

 

[CANNONMAN]

THX! Will do.

 

[mstreddy]

CraigC, JMorris, MCMXI, all of you guys -- WOW, JUST WOW!

Whichever the medium, you all have some serious skills and talent!

And yeah, this is one amazing forum, the depth, wealth and breadth of knowledge freely shared is astounding!

 

[jmorris]

Very cool! Mine are currently under construction, out of all roughsawn cypress.

View attachment 832132

I have always admired folks that were proficient at wood work.

I’ll never forget when my wife talked me into making a rocking chair cradle for one of my nieces. I hope she used it for at least the time it took me to build it. I also hope it’s being kept for when she has children too. Took me so long to make, I never asked about it, in fear I wouldn’t like the answer. Could have made a dozen from steel in the same amount of time but It wouldn’t have been the same.



I’ll never forget @DM~ ‘S wood bench build thread.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/building-my-new-reloading-bench.565246/#post-6985459

Next level DIY.

 

[MCMXI]

@jmorris, I remember that great thread by @DM~ . Thanks for posting the link. It was a good read and very inspiring to those of us who like to build stuff.

I bought a lovely 70 year old oak rocking chair with cane seat and back as a Christmas present to myself four years ago. It was on Craigslist and only cost me $150 which was ridiculously cheap. It had survived in near perfect condition for 70 years until my girlfriend's Doberman decided to chew the end of one of the rockers!! He's such a lovely dog that I didn't get upset with him (more upset with gf) and figured that I'd get around to fixing it one day. My lack of woodworking skills has meant that the chair is still messed up. I guess I need to at least try to repair it or take it to someone who's good at that sort of thing. I suppose my point is that some might think I'm good with metal, but I look at those who are good with wood as being more talented. My brother was a phenomenal cabinet maker & French polisher and did work for royals, musicians, actors and others. I wish he were still here to help me with that lovely old chair. How many talented individuals has this forum lost over the years? Many go unnoticed I'm sure.

 

[jmorris]

I look at those who are good with wood as being more talented.

Me too, if I make a mistake with metal I just build it backup with weld bead.

 

[mstreddy]

JMorris, I agree that DM bench thread was amazing too!
But, let me tell you, looking at that rocker/crib -- your skills in wood are on par with your metal skills!

We're not worthy, we're not worthy!

 

[jmorris]

Thanks, I figure I am one of the few people that has machined wood on a Bridgeport.

Gave me much more respect for wood workers for sure.

 

[Blue68f100]

Thanks, I figure I am one of the few people that has machined wood on a Bridgeport.

Gave me much more respect for wood workers for sure.

I'm another that has used a knee bend end mill to machine wood. Was a lot faster than make a jig for my router. I prefer steel over wood for the same reasons.

Very nice work on the rocker chair/cradle.

 

[GW Staar]

Thanks, I figure I am one of the few people that has machined wood on a Bridgeport.

Gave me much more respect for wood workers for sure.

Bridgeport? I've worked with wood all my life and I never heard of a Bridgeport! Educate me.....

When I first saw that picture, I had just finished making 4 of those cradle rockers (based on a simpler design minus spindles) for my Grand Kids......Not nearly as elaborate as your work of art.....having no spindles and painted not stained...but making the simple one takes more time than remodeling a press or bullet feeder. Those kids all all past the age to care except to hold on to them as something Grandpa built for their kids someday......except one....I got to build a 5th one last summer for the caboose.

One more thing....building out of wood sometimes requires settling for fixes rather than perfection too....and there are ways to hide imperfection if you can redesign around it. Not as easy as filler though. But you are right, you can't use filler rod....sometimes you just have to start over.

My wood working is forced, a part of building big homes and commercial buildings. Trying real hard to retire.....but I find myself in a middle of another house design....the last one....6000 sq feet. Someone else will have to build it though....I'm done with that.

I know a real wood worker who retired in NM from Cal. He made stairways for the rich and famous.... One he billed, was 5 million for one staircase. Another world.

 

[CraigC]

I have always admired folks that were proficient at wood work.

I can't take any credit for the woodwork. I could've done it but it would've taken a lot longer. I'm struggling with tendinitis in both elbows and plantar fasciitis in both feet, so I have to work a day and rest a day. We moved back in December and while I have a big new shop, it needed a lot of work on the inside to make it both functional and mine. So I hired a contractor to take it from this:



To this:



So I let them build my benches and shelving using the same roughsawn cypress used on the walls. Starting the final finish work on it today.

 

[jmorris]

Bridgeport? I've worked with wood all my life and I never heard of a Bridgeport! Educate me.....

It’s a vertical milling machine that is found in machine shops not really a wood working tool at all but it can do the job.

 

[MCMXI]

I went to Home Depot last night and bought two sheets of 3/4" x 4' x 8' cabinet grade plywood and a 4' Werner ladder that is almost Dillon blue!! I was going to have HD cut five 12-1/8" x 72-3/4" panels to save me the trouble of wrestling with big sheets of plywood but their saw was out of order. This morning I wheeled my DeWalt table saw outside the garage and suffered through the noise and sawdust and ended up with five nice shelves. It was 25F and sunny but I ran out of time so I'll notch them tonight and put a coat of primer on them. I'm helping out with a youth hunter education program most of tomorrow but should be able to get the shelves wrapped up tomorrow evening and Sunday morning and then set about moving all manner of stuff onto them. I'll be working on another welding project on Sunday making a base for a solid top. I'm thinking of adding casters to the legs so that I can roll the table around if I need extra work surface for a gun-related project. I don't have any tall table tops so I'll put some thought into whether I want to have a work surface higher than the standard 30".