Inline fab stand leverage on bench

[Rusticlease Shackiforous]

Does the inline fabrication stand make a bench want to tip anymore than a press mounted directly to the surface? Or possibly less? Trying to figure out width on my bench design.

 

[thomas15]

less

 

[9mmepiphany]

Much less, as the load is further in from the edge and the wide stand spreads out the load...my Ultramounts are mounted about an inch back from the edge of my bench. At one time I had a Lee Classic Cast singe stage mounted in a Lee Bench Plate on the edge of the bench and it cause exerted a lot more rotational torque than the presses on the Ultramounts

My bench is about 18" deep and there is plenty of room behind the mounts to allow me to blow out debris from under the presses. I have a Die Rack and Double Bullet Tray system mounted behind my LNL AP and there is plenty clearance behind both. I don't like a lot of stuff behind my presses. All I have back there is a power strip, racks for primer tubes and tools hanging off pegboard

 

[Rusticlease Shackiforous]

Thanks guys! I'm starting with the NRMA bench design, but I will be tweaking it a bit and this information will help.

 

[thomas15]

If you use the NRMA dimensions as a guide, your will have about 20" from the leading edge to the cabinet (20" deep working space) and the cabinet will be about 12" deep. I used this as the general guideline for my bench and I use inline fabrications ultramounts and they work great. The only thing you need to figure out is do you want to stand or sit when reloading? My bench top is 33" high and the mounts add another 10 inches and this is perfect for standing while reloading.

The working area of the bench top (20" deep) is more than enough and makes it easy to keep clutter free. My first bench was 36" deep without a hutch and a lot of clutter founds it's way behind the presses. I have my bench screwed to the wall and the floor which makes it absolutely rock solid. Total overkill.

 

[Rusticlease Shackiforous]

I've got a buffet that is extremely close to the same dimensions. Only 2.5" shorter. The NRMA will be at a perfect height for me to stand. The ultramount will definitely keep me from bending over at all. I do want to be able to work seated as well. I found a heavy duty adjustable stool with back on U-line. It adjusts from 22" to around 34", I believe that's what it was. One of my design tweaks is to take the bottom shelf back so I can sit there comfortably. I'm probably just going to order the ultramount and stool, and then rig some mock setups to see how it flows.

 

[Rusticlease Shackiforous]

I also like the idea of the scale shelf. I'm going to make it a little more sturdy, but I like the idea of having the balance closer to eye level. How does that work out?

 

[thomas15]

One of my design tweaks is to take the bottom shelf back so I can sit there comfortably. I'm probably just going to order the ultramount and stool, and then rig some mock setups to see how it flows.

All good ideas. I usually stand while I handload as sitting plays heck with my back. I have a stool that my kids gave me for Fathers day, it is one of those Craftsmen stools with the back. I cut a few inches off of the bottoms of the legs to get a bit more clearance so that my legs fit under the bench.

In my opinion and other will I'm sure agree that having a good solid bench, well thought out and of the correct size and height makes a huge difference in how you enjoy this hobby and your comfort level. I made the mistake of using a standard garden variety bench when I started. It was so awkward and inefficient that I might have given up on this endeavor. But it taught me a few things that I translated into make a much better dedicated bench which I now have. The only thing I might do differently on a future bench is make the hutch a little bit taller. But I was given two sheets of 3/4 plywood exterior grade so it (the hutch part) didn't cost anything except misc.

Some handloaders use regular plywood for the top and cover with Masonite. I happened to have some 3/4 veneer maple plywood that I used for the top. It wasn't pretty so I painted it. But some handloaders stain and poly for a nice flat durable work surface.Mine is glued and screwed to some old 3/4 ply making it (the top) 1.5" thick.

My hutch is 24" high and has a shelf above the middle. I put my beam scale on the middle shelf it puts it at eye level and the whole thing is rock solid, I really love it. One of the major issues I had with my old bench was having the scale on the bench top, this really sucked. I don't know how stable the fold down shelf on the NRMA plans will be, I didn't see the need for doors on the hutch anyway.

 

[thomas15]

My bench is in this thread post #3850
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...cture-of-your-reloading-bench.218720/page-154

This was when I put it in service and have since made a bunch of changes. I have few more to make then I'm going to repaint the whole thing. It's in my unheated garage so that will be in the spring. I have plenty of ammo to last until then

My spring project is going to wall off my gun area in the garage, insulate and install a window AC and a heater for the winter. It really shouldn't be that big of a project but will take a few weekends.

If you look at the thread I posted above you will find several examples of the NRMA bench made to the plan and a bunch of variations also. Some really beautiful benches in that thread.

 

[thomas15]

Another thing to consider, if you have a Harbor Freight close by they sell their Windsor Style workbench. They are almost the perfect thing for a small bench. You will see a lot of them in the bench picture thread, I have one for gun cleaning and it would work nice for a reloading bench. On sale they are usually $139.99 right now they are $159.99 still a great deal. The heavy weight would probably be expensive to ship but I really don't know.

 

[rfwobbly]

Dillon suggests that the ball or handle on the op lever be at shoulder height to get the correct press ergonomics... which is very important to prevent back and shoulder pains/ injuries associated with repetitive motion.

Knowing that, when you design your bench you'll want to take the following into account....
• How much additional height the Inline Fab UltraMount adds to your press
• Whether you will reload from the standing or sitting position

Hope this helps.
.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Knowing that, when you design your bench you'll want to take the following into account....
• How much additional height the Inline Fab UltraMount adds to your press
• Whether you will reload from the standing or sitting position

I highly recommend getting their Ergo Handle at the same time...really saves your back from having to bend on the down stoke

 

[Rusticlease Shackiforous]

Nice bench, thomas 15! I have the creative juices flowing. Tracking down some hardware and hopefully before long I will be adding my build to the bench thread!

 

[Doublehelix]

I made the NRMA bench as well, although I did not put the doors on the shelves, and I made a few modifications to things like the bench height, plus I added some horizontal cross beam supports, etc.

I added a separate stand-alone 2-foot bench extension that doubles as my powder magazine, and I have my scales on that extension just to keep them separate from the main bench. Helps prevent bumps, flexes, etc. from affecting the scales, not that they ever would, but just in case.

The bench is ROCK SOLID and I can't even move the dang thing, it does not budge. My plan was to attach it to the wall, but it is totally not needed.

I also have the Inline Fab Ultra mount, and as others have said, the full height version is best for standing.

I will go ahead and post a few pictures in the reloading bench thread, post # 4077, page 164.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...reloading-bench.218720/page-164#post-10457080

 

[AGunNut2]

I have the standard inline fab mounts and ergo handles on 2 Redding presses, and the Dillon mount on a 650, with their roller handle. On a standardish height bench, the mounts create the perfect height to stand or sit on a stool. I just added the second Redding mount for a Big Boss II, and kind of agonized over the mount height (they sell 3 heights now). I decided that best effect was even height for all three presses. I have the dual-bin side trays on both reddings and the bullet tray on the 650. Everything lines up nicely and nothing interferes, though the presses are kind of close-spaced.

 

[Rusticlease Shackiforous]

I will go ahead and post a few pictures in the reloading bench thread

That is nice work! I like the powder magazine and open cabinets.

 

[Rusticlease Shackiforous]

I have the standard inline fab mounts and ergo handles on 2 Redding presses, and the Dillon mount on a 650, with their roller handle. On a standardish height bench, the mounts create the perfect height to stand or sit on a stool. I just added the second Redding mount for a Big Boss II, and kind of agonized over the mount height (they sell 3 heights now). I decided that best effect was even height for all three presses. I have the dual-bin side trays on both reddings and the bullet tray on the 650. Everything lines up nicely and nothing interferes, though the presses are kind of close-spaced.

I'm thinking I'll use the universal mounting plate setup (or whatever inline calls it) and just have a shelf with other presses and a vice I can swap out.