Help me set up my new bench..

[RN]

I am just starting out on my new hobby and I just built this new reloading bench and wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions about setting it up. I'm right handed and was wondering if there were any benefits to mounting my t-mag 2 here or there or whatever.. Powder measure here or there or whatever..etc... Also, how should I mount the press? I used 2x10 on this bench and it's uber sturdy. Just washers and bolts? Another piece of bracing board under the bench?

oh, and those stools are not for me AND the wife..They are just placeholders for my new stools and mats coming from Northern any day.

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[ky8]

Nice looking bench and welcome to the addict... I mean hobby.
I like your racks in the back.

I would move your press around and see where it feels best
for you before you bolt it down. I would just advise against the center.
Mine is mounted just about where you see the knot in your bench surface to the far right.

YOMV

Good and Safe loading.

 

[Blue68f100]

I normally mount the press to the right side. If you have a wall on the right allow enough room for any service, min 1'. This leave the majority of the bench clear for case prep etc.....

A single layer top may not be rigid enough depending on the press and caliber loaded. I do a min of 2 3/4" plywood. In your case you all ready have a base layer, add a layer on top. I also put 1/4" hard masonite on top to take any abuse and makes clean up easier.

Looks like the lighting is off to the left. I would add another 4 bulb florescent (day lights) fixture. You can never have too much light and the day lights give you a true white light for pictures if needed.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Opinion here: I don't know how tall you are or your bench height, but allowing for work from a sitting or standing position is most helpful. I have a tall bench and work off of a tall stool while working. Being 6'5', it's rather cumbersome to work at standard table height.

I am a single stage guy. Being right handed, I have my powder measure on the left, scales in the middle, and my press on the right. All this in the span of about 36''.

I took 2- 3/8'' steel plates and made a wider footprint for my press. One plate on the working surface and the other under, bolted through with 4- 3/8'' grade 8 bolts(way overkill) with washers and locknuts.

 

[Rule3]

Position of press is up to you but as mentioned if you are right handed then on the right side is were I would and do have mine.

I also would use a piece of hardboard or coat the top with several coats of Poly or spar varnsih.

Mounting the press your front "beam" support may require you to use lah bolt in the front as putting a bolt and washer/nut will be a long one.

The back holes just a bolt, washer and nut (lock nut or aircraft nut)

 

[jim243]

You need to put another layer of plywood on the top and be sure to have a lip over hanging the bench or you will not be able to use your press.

Jim

 

[sigman2]

Here's my reloading set-up. I have added more components and dies since these photos were shot. It's nowhere as neat either.

The bench has a 2x4 frame with 3/4" A/C plywood. I laid a sheet of 1/4" unfinished Masonite on top and sealed it with thinned polyurethane varnish. The edges are capped with a thin 90 degree angle trim. There is no overhang. The upper cabinets are four HXP ammo crates joined together with the tops hinged. I was short one set of hinges at the time. The pulls are .45/70 dummies.

 

[RN]

Whoa... That is some serious stuff my friend... Thanks for the ideas and helping me start off on the right foot. I will post some pics as I go..

 

[Twiki357]

Here is the way I have mine set up. The powder measure mounts on the blue plate to the left of the press. The way you have the flush front of your bench, you may need to do like I did for the front mounting bolt of your press. I had to drill a “door knob” hole for the mounting bolt to avoid going through the entire 2x6. I would definitely recommend a surface layer of plywood or whatever so that you have a full smooth surface.

And just an FYI, the surface of my bench is just a single layer of 5/8 plywood and it’s been plenty strong for many years.

 

[Conservidave]

if you plan on sitting at the bench, you better find something better than the wicker back killers to sit on....trust me

Oops, i read the whole post and see the stools are not permanent. Nice start, i have the same basic set up as you.

 

[Potatohead]

Some may think this is a silly one but I have a little rolling shelf type thing with a butcher block on top that I use to keep supplies on, stole it from our kitchen. It has a little groove cut in the surface all the way around, near the outside edge. This little groove/canal catches any and everything that tries to roll off the edge. Has saved many a primer/bullet/case from rolling across the surface and going over the edge. I plan to incorporate this little groove into all of my future benches.

 

[PistolPete45]

Mine is about belly tall. I sit on a tall stool or stand and one shelf about a foot higher and 8 inches wide your off to a great start

 

[Milt1]

You have a very nice bench in order to get things rolling. Do yourself a favor and take a look at the offerings from InLine Fabrication.org. Dan makes some fabulous stuff for handloaders, it's not that expensive and will really dress up your bench. Best of luck!

 

[dickttx]

As stated in previous posts, mount the press as far to the right as you can. None of the space to the right of the press will really be usable.
I would suggest that, if you can, separate the back shelving from the bench and mount it directly to the wall. If your scale is on your bench or on a shelf attached to the bench the action of the press will move your scale around and you will loose zero.
I have had about a dozen setups and have never had a perfect one yet.

 

[RN]

Here where I am now...It's coming along..Thanks for all the input!!

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[Maj Dad]

Looks great! My first bench was an old GI wooden card file (about 12" w, 26" h, and 36" deep, and 50+ lbs) with a Herters U3 press on the front of it. I kept in a closet in my quarters at Ft. Bragg...

I suggest mounting the press so you have 12" or so on the side closest to the edge of the bench (left or right - you obviously have that). There is always something you will find that you'll want on that side, and if you move up to a progressive (I have a Dillon 550 near the middle of my 50" sit-down bench) you will need space on both sides for components. I hate having things crowded together and try to set up so that things like lube-sizers, auto-primer seaters, powder measures, etc., can be set up and then removed when you finish with them. I have a Rock Chucker press on the right side of my bench, too. But don't obsess - you can always move things and move them back if you change your mind later. For now, just start reloading, and you will decide on changes or not as you go. Enjoy

 

[MutinousDoug]

I store all my powder, other than what I am currently using, or already loaded, in an outdoor magazine. Other than that, these all look like great workbenches.

And the trashcan under the depriming station? Absolutely necessary. (Primers all over the place)

 

[vaalpens]

Great looking bench so far. I am still using temporary locations until I have a very good feel on what I am looking for in a bench.

I just have one question. You indicate this is a new hobby for you. How were you able to accumulate all that powder in such a short time?

 

[g.willikers]

RN,
That's nearly exactly like mine.
Except the shelf is lower to accommodate taller stuff, and there were already shelves on the garage wall.
So the bench is just up against that wall.
If anyone needs a ready made bench, convert a sturdy, medium tall and deep bookshelf.
There always seems to be plenty of inexpensive ones at the thrift shops.
The shelves serve to store the components and the top is for the loading gear.
With a stripped down desktop lamp attached the the backside, it works very well for a smaller indoor bench.

 

[Toprudder]

The only thing I would suggest is to remove all the powders from the bench top, store them elsewhere. I only have one powder on the bench at a time so there is no confusion about what I am loading.