Building a shed for reloading

[Jeeper]

I dont have room in my house to reload now. I dont want it in my garage because I weld in there and do other metal working. I am thinking of building a shed to reload in. I have a lot of reloading crap to say the least. There are some shots of prior setups below. Anyone done this? How big is enough really. I would prefer as small as possible. I was thinking 8x6.

I dont have a problem with the construction part but am wondering if there are any tips from people who have done this before. I want to store everything out in this shed including powder. For that I will put in a ac/heater with a thermostat. I will also insulate it. It is sad to say but all my reloading gear has been sitting in storage for close to 3 years. Before I moved I loaded about 20K rounds so I have been ok.


Prior setups
8 years ago

5 years ago

 

[ATAShooter]

From the looks of all that stuff, you'd better go 40X60. ( just kidding ). I'd go 8X8 that way the lumber works out better. Big thing is make sure you get some HEAVY poly and put down for a moisture barrier.

 

[lgbloader]

You do have alot of crap so I would go even bigger. 12' x 14' or something like that. You want to be comfortable in there, and not have to suck your gut in (no offense) to climb in and out. My next door neighbor just made a shed 10 x 20 and that would even be perfect. Sorry, Mate but you have alot of stuff. The other solution is to load with a 2x4 on your lap and a hammer with a Lee Classic Loader and we can't have that now, can we?

 

[Valkman]

I remember those set-ups and thinking how awesome they were! I too have had my stuff just sitting around for a couple of years and need to get back into it. Good luck with the shed - from what you've made before I don't think you'll have any problems.

 

[engr]

I agree with the 8'x8' recommendation. Plywood comes in 4'x8' standard size so scale your building to that. In other words: 8x8, 8x12, 12x16 etc. I have a 12x16 shop and it works out good. Same goes for the walls. I understand the need to keep it small but you will need some room to move around. I had a darkroom in a dorm room at college and it was 4'x4', useable but real tight, and from that experiance I would say 6x8 would be a bit too small.

 

[Jeeper]

I forgot to mention that I am severely space limited in the spot I am going to put it. Any bigger than 6x8 might not fit. I can go longer but not wider. ie 6x10. I will start to block windows of my house. If I had my druthers it would be 40x60. Any ideas on heating and cooling? Will a simple window unit with a thermostat be sufficient?

 

[Bruce333]

Go as big as possible...it's never big enough...

As long as you insulate it, a window unit will be fine (yes, I know...I have relatives in Tempe).

 

[RustyFN]

Will a simple window unit with a thermostat be sufficient?

If it is well insulated it should be. I have a friend that has a room about the same size with a window unit in his and doesn't have any problems with the WV heat and humidity. I liked your set up in the cabinets, that looked really nice. I would also go a little longer if you can.
Rusty

 

[Claude Clay]

6 x 8

trap door to the root cellar brass storage area i ment


i'll be heading to FL in a few years and been thinking how i shall be re-arrainging my stuff. your 8 years ago looks very fine. thank you for the visual

 

[kennedy]

you could buy one of those premade sheds, delivered to your door, then outfit it as you see fit.

 

[lgbloader]

I would go as long as you can get away with. I just posted my bench on the "huge" show me pictures of your bench thread and my bench is 120"L x 24"W x 42"H. I basically have the same hardware, a couple of 650's and a couple of single stage, and even though it's only a couple of feet deep, I have all the room I need. You'll just have to get creative with all the other stuff or tone it down a bit with what you have on hand, brass wise. Maybe keep the tumbler, seperater, and bath containers in the garage. A little trot between the garage and new reloading shed could be good for your health. Good luck, Mate.

 

[scrat]

What ever way you go im sure it will look fine. by the way the cabinent set up looks. Wow that is a very nice setup

 

[GP100man]

2 words:
MAN CAVE!!!!!!!

GP100man

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

My shop is 24" x 12" and it's too small.

It's insulated and a window unit keeps it nice and frosty.

Agree with the others, get all the square footage you can.

Jeff

 

[Gary Frost]

Check your local codes first. I had a prebuilt reloading shed built and when trying to get the elect hook up the inspector said elect in a portable shed was against code. He asked to see the building permit for the shed too. I live in the middle of nowhere, I have no use for permits.

I did everything correctly, including the wiring up to the power pole. He just forced me to be creative in suppling power to my reloading shed.

 

[coyotehitman]

My shop is 24" x 12" and it's too small.

I'll say, 1 foot by 2 feet must get pretty cramped. LOL.
Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[socaldan]

I think the Master Bedroom would work better...The Wife won't mind the couch...Will She?

 

[lgbloader]

ahhh... Coyotehitman, You caught that. I was in the cave reloading for tomorrow and just came in to see if I missed anything good. I almost responded to that, too (as a joke) but I saw your response. Too funny!!!! LOL

SKYHAWK, we know what you meant and believe me, 24' x 12' is envied by many, Me more than anyone.

 

[Phil A]

I forgot to mention that I am severely space limited in the spot I am going to put it. Any bigger than 6x8 might not fit. I can go longer but not wider. ie 6x10. I will start to block windows of my house.

I think long and narrow can work for reloading. I have 12 feet of bench space along one side of a wall. There is plenty of space for several presses, a measure, a vice, ect. mounted on it. Above the bench are inexpensive but sturdy adjustable shelves that are mounted on rails that screw into wall studs. Bulky and heavy stuff are stored under the bench.

In a 6 foot wide shed, the reloading bench could not be too deep (maybe 28" or less?) to allow plenty of room for a chair to work a press. I have an adjustable chair with casters on a smooth hard floor so I can easily move along the bench. - Phil

 

[Jeeper]

Now I have to draw it up and get HOA approval. Since it will be like a foot above the fence line I have to get it OK'd. That or I do like everyin else and just build it. I figure a correclty placed tree will block it.

 

[TAB]

just a side note... companys that prefab/ build on site are normally cheaper then the materails to build the shed if your buying stuff at HD/lowes. just a FYI.

 

[Markbo]

I remember those pics from another forum I think... What brand of containers are those and how do you have them afixed to the wall?

 

[Archie]

Prior owners of my place built a 'storage area' with lights and such on the back of the garage. It works very well.

I would suggest building a storage area dedicated to power and primer storage. You'll want to read up in the fire codes about the wall thickness and so forth. My plan for my next place is the primer/powder area will be a large cabinet sort of thing on one end of the reloading area. Closable (lockable isn't an issue in my case) and more or less temperature and humidity controlled. I think I will line it with styrofoam, external minimum 1" plywood.

The long and narrow approach should work. I plan on mounting all my presses on a 2"x16" plank mounted to the wall studs. I have a Dillion XL650 and an AT500; hopefully I will expand into another XL650 (hate changing primer mechanisms!) and one of the shotgun presses.