Keeping loading press in a garage

[ny32182]

Currently, my loading bench is in an air conditioned spare bedroom. Of course this is nice for loading in comfort year round and keeping the humidity level moderated.

I'm about to move, and my new place has a much nicer garage, and fewer bedrooms. I think it would make more sense from an overall home layout perspective to put the loading bench in the garage. I'm not talking about components, those will stay in an air conditioned bedroom closet. I'm talking about just the bench (Press and related hardware)... are there any downsides to keeping it in an attached garage that is not directly heated and cooled? My biggest concern would likely be humidity and potential rusting. Just looking for experiences with this. If it is not comfortable to load year round, I could try a portable AC unit or space heater depending on the season, or break down and move it inside... what do you think?

 

[jaowens76]

I see alot of guys on here with garage benches. Couldn't you install a cabinet or even a medium size humidor to contain at a minimum your primers? Even a small humidor would hold 1k primers, in factory packaging, that way you would not have to transport anything but powder in order to reload.(unless of course you were loading in BULK).

 

[gotboostvr]

I think a light wipe with a barely oiled rag every once in awhile would go a long way.

 

[thomas15]

^^^I keep all of my stuff in a detached and unheated garage. I make sure the powder containers have the lids on tight but that's it as far as components go. I wipe my presses and hand tools with oil once in a while. And all of my components are put away and hardware cleaned when I'm finished for the day.

I do get some rust but my biggest issue is dealing with the cold in the winter. Working on a solution for that problem. In the past I have kept my handloading activities to a minimum in the winter.

 

[Jim Watson]

I had to put a lot of stuff, including reloading gear, in storage for a while. I didn't want to pay twice the rent for an air conditioned storage cubicle.
My old CH Autochamp got pretty rusty and the MEC somewhat. Other stuff little to none.

I think the garage would be comparable. You should figure on keeping your stuff oiled.

 

[GBExpat]

If I were faced with that situation, I would probably initially research quick mount/dismount options for mounted steel equipment (and, perhaps, a little cart for carrying all of the stuff back & forth).

That way I could keep them in the house, also, and it would not be that much extra work to transport them to the garage with the other stuff ... and then bring it all back in when done.

Just a thought.

 

[theothermike]

Keeping your press oily/greasy will help. I keep all my dies, powder measures, spare parts ect. in a big Tupperware container with one of those closet dehumidifier packs. That seems to work pretty well.

 

[mdi]

I've been seeing a few "how should I store/install my equipment?" posts lately. A reloading press is just a simple machine with steel and cast iron parts. How would you store a good wood saw? Precision tools like micrometers, calipers and gauges should be given more care/consideration than a press, but simple reloading presses can be stored (or set up) in an unheated, no air conditioned garage/shed with just minimal normal rust preventative care. I lived in So. CA for the first 25 years of my reloading, 1/2 mile from the Pacific and reloaded in a tin shed where temps ranged from high 30s to 110 degrees (often hot and humid). And just easy, normal precautions (cleaning and a wipe with a light oil, keep covered when not in use, etc.), the same given to any tool will keep the equipment in good working order.

 

[jimeast]

Garage Loading Press

One consideration: As long as humidity is kept below 52% or so, rust will not develop. In my shop and garage I have a couple cheap digital temperature/humidity readers from HD. When the humidity spikes, I turn on a humidifier. When this humidifier dies, I'll upgrade to an automatic one.

No rust issues for 7 yrs now.

 

[crashdummy]

I think that most presses are set up in garages or sheds. Your keeping powder and primers in a climate controlled area is a good decision. The best way to prevent corrosion on yourl tools is to use them on a regular basis.

 

[ny32182]

Frequent use isn't a problem; I average about 500rds/ week throughout the year and never load too far "ahead of schedule".

 

[fouled bore]

I am set up in an insulated barn. The dies are about the only thing I really have a problem with. I spray them down with Barricade now and keep them in a sealed container.

 

[tcoz]

I don't live all that far from you, near Hilton Head and the big problem that I foresee is the summer temp and humidity from a comfort standpoint. Thus past Saturday (almost 100 degrees) my insulated attached garage must've been at least 120 degrees. It's too hot to do much of anything in the garage right now until well after the sun goes down. I suppose it might be a little better with the garage door open but I don't particularly want everybody who drives or walks by to see what I'm doing.
Maybe I'm a little paranoid but in these times the less people know about my firearms and reloading the better.
I'd say A/C would be a must.

 

[ny32182]

One thing I like about the new place, the garage door doesn't face the street.

But I doubt anyone who doesn't reload themselves could see a press from that far away and have any clue what it is anyway.

I don't know how hot it will get in there in the daytime during the summer. Portable AC unit might be an option.

 

[herkyguy]

All my reloading gear is in my garage. I've got a bit of rust on my case trimmer, but I keep it oiled and it's fine. My hornady press has done just fine. I run a dehumidifier during the summer months because eastern NC is pretty humid.

I keep my boxes of primers in ziploc bags, but other than that, I don't really have anything specific I do differently. I'd love to have all my gear indoors, but it's not practical.

 

[LiveLife]

I don't know how hot it will get in there in the daytime during the summer. Portable AC unit might be an option.

I used to have 6' and 8' benches in the garage but after reloading in 100F+ summers standing up, I had enough.

I built portable reloading benches and now I can reload ANYWHERE inside or around the house (even in the garage) comfortably sitting down or standing.

The benches are 2'x3' and with presses mounted at the ends, will go through any hallway/doorway and can even be stored in closets. For those that insist benches must be anchored to the wall, I can resize even thick walled military .308 brass with an empty bench and the bench won't even move. With normal weight load on the bench, bench movement is a non-issue.

Your house is your castle. Enjoy your hobby/passion in comfort!

I am even building another bench to accommodate Dillon 650 with a case feeder (stay tuned and will post pictures when done).

 

[rondog]

If I had to reload in my garage, I wouldn't reload at all. Nice cool/warm/dry basement for me. My garage is too small and fulla crap.

But Colorado humidity ain't nothing like SC! I would DIE in SC. Or most anywhere humid, I can't stand it.

 

[Scooter22]

As all others said it won't hurt it but it might get lonely.........

 

[dragon813gt]

My main bench is in my detached unconditioned garage. I also live in an area where everything rusts. It's a constant battle. Keep things oiled and it shouldn't be an issue. Almost all the stuff I keep in the garage has light surface rust on it somewhere. I moved my casting molds inside since they are a big investment. Same goes for the 550B. Everything else can be replaced if it got that bad.

I did build a small bench in my basement. The garage is just to cold in the winter. I can deal w/ the cold no problem. Unfortunately my hands don't like it and refuse to work at times. It's a lot nicer using the bench in the basement

 

[alexcue]

I store my primers and powder indoors, but my reloading bench consists of an actual bench and a Lee Reloading stand in my garage. That has actually become my favorite setup now. It is portable to an extent. Since I use the Lee bench plate system, I "built" my own little B&D Workmate reloading stand years ago. I've since modified it with the Lee bench plate and all my presses can be rotated around the three places.

Sometimes I can just go under my awning and reload outside where it's much cooler than the garage. But if not, then the window A/C gets to work. It's okay, but I don't like the moving air when I'm using the Digital scales.

Anyway, the Workmate can go anywhere even in the house and it folds down to really nothing. It's very stable and portable. The only thing that gets the full A/C treatment is the powder and primers. They've held up great, some of the powder is 30 years old.. Though I'm just about through with it.

 

[cfullgraf]

After no climate control for my recreational activities in House #1, I'm up to House #6 now, every house we have owned since then has had spaces for my activities that were climate controlled. It was one of the priority "needs" in searching for the new house.

Got to set the priorities right.

I'd recommend getting some kind of HVAC capability in the garage otherwise working in the garage, even with the doors open, will be very unpleasant.

Or, I did something similar to bds when I was on temporary assignment for the company I worked for at the time. I needed an evening activity that was more productive than watching television.

I built a free standing stand for my press that I could nestle up next to a standard kitchen table. Easy to store away, easy to set up anywhere. It let me take my hobby with me when I was away from home.

I liked the concept so well that I still use the system today after 25 years although I now have one stand for each different press that I use. It is easy to store the un-used presses off in a corner,out of the way.

The first stand was made from 2x4's and it eventually wore out. Each one built since then has been made from square metal tubing.

bds' portable bench system is nice because all the gear comes with the press and it has a work area built into it.

 

[Wis-Harpo]

NY32182--- I also live in SC about 20 min south of you. I bought a place with a 35 foot x 45 foot detatched garage. I put up a wall 12 foot from one side and a full 45 foot long. There is an 8 foot wall between my reloading stuff from my wife's sewing/ craft stuff. So there are two 12 x 22 foot rooms. I had an air conditioner installed like the ones you see in motels. Temp stays between 74- 78 degrees, and the humidity between45- 50 %. In the winter, I just switch to heat. The walls are 2x6 with R19 insulation, and the ceiling has blown in insulation with a R30.

Insulating a regular garage, or part of it, would be a lot cheaper. The new window air conditioners are very efficient.

 

[gwpercle]

My bench is in a detached outbuilding in Baton Rouge , Louisiana. No A/C or heat, no insulation, just wood framed building with wood siding, no wall finish, but it is built up off the ground.
Except for the heat, humidity and mosquitoes....no down side !
I plug in a fan when it's hot, open doors at each end , keep presses sprayed occasionally with whatever lube is handy, moulds and such stored in ammo cans. No big rusting problems out there.

I did buy a Lee Hand Press and find myself doing a lot of loading inside the house....that central A/C is sure nice, getting spoiled by it. But a lot of case prep can be done with the Hand Press inside. The only job I had to use my big bench press on was full length sizing some 303 British cases that must have been fired in a machine gun....I had to lean on that big Pacific Super Deluxe to get them sized. 30-30's the Lee Hand Press handled with ease.
Gary

 

[hdwhit]

My current RCBS Reloader Special press has lived in a garage since it was bought in 1979. A couple of times a decade, I disassemble the press, clean it, oil it and put it back together. The handle will occasionally start to rust, but I just buff it off with a wire wheel, lightly oil it and everything is good for a few more years.

Similarly, my dies live in a drawer next to the press. Other than my Lee Universal Decapping Die, a couple of times a decade cleaning and oiling has keep them looking and functioning like new. The Lee Universal Decapping Die wants to rust for some reason. I buff it with a wire wheel and then wax it with some case lubricant and that seems to keep the rust at bay for a few months. I don't use oil on the Decapping die because the places where it rusts are the places where my hands touch it to spin it in and out of the press and I don't want to get oil on my cases.

Based on my experience, with a little care (and a lightly oiled cloth), your press and dies should be perfectly okay being exiled to the garage of the new house.

 

[sugarmaker]

The only real problem would be a steel powder measure as they cannot be kept oiled and will rust in a humid environment.