New reloading bench build

[Barmcd]

After moving nearly a year ago now, I'm finally ready to rebuild my reloading bench.

This will be my fifth reloading bench build. I started with a single stage press mounted to a tiny particle board desk 20 years ago that moved with me to a few different houses in my younger years while in college and grad school. I have then rebuilt with each subsequent move. I was quite happy with my last bench, and if I hadn't moved, I would have been quite content keeping it just as it was.

My last bench:

My progress:

Starting on the framing

Getting the electrical started

I also put in some shelving on the left side of the bench with leftover decking boards I had on hand.

I then finished up the electrical work. I have dual duplex receptacles every five feet for a total of 12 duplex receptacles. I also put a ceiling mounted receptacle with light switch controlled at the bench for the benchtop lighting.

This is how the bench currently sits. I still need to put a top shelf over the peg board, put shelves all along the back wall underneath the bench, and then comes the fun part. Mounting my presses and putting away the tools on the peg board!

Looking good, I envy your space!

 

[Walkalong]

We have some very talented people here, no doubt about it.

 

[GW Staar]

We have some very talented people here, no doubt about it.

None what so ever.......goes with the hobby.......improvisors all. That's why we share our grand ideas.....99% of mine came from here from other improvisors. Shoot, even the manufacturers in the hobby are mostly cut from the same stock.

 

[hdwhit]

After moving nearly a year ago now, I'm finally ready to rebuild my reloading bench.

This will be my fifth reloading bench build. I started with a single stage press mounted to a tiny particle board desk 20 years ago that moved with me to a few different houses in my younger years while in college and grad school. I have then rebuilt with each subsequent move. I was quite happy with my last bench, and if I hadn't moved, I would have been quite content keeping it just as it was.

My last bench:

My progress:

Starting on the framing

Getting the electrical started

I also put in some shelving on the left side of the bench with leftover decking boards I had on hand.

I then finished up the electrical work. I have dual duplex receptacles every five feet for a total of 12 duplex receptacles. I also put a ceiling mounted receptacle with light switch controlled at the bench for the benchtop lighting.

This is how the bench currently sits. I still need to put a top shelf over the peg board, put shelves all along the back wall underneath the bench, and then comes the fun part. Mounting my presses and putting away the tools on the peg board!

Wow!

Very fancy. Looks like you put a lot of thought into it. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

 

[mstreddy]

Looking at the cabinets on the left, They look like 1/48 scale boxes. but I can't tell if you're brand loyal

I was going to comment on that too. Looks like some Italeri, Hasegawa and maybe Tamiya, and yep, looks like 1/48th to me as well.
GW, are we correct?

And, yes of course we love all of the inventions and improvements you've shown over the years.

 

[GW Staar]

I was going to comment on that too. Looks like some Italeri, Hasegawa and maybe Tamiya, and yep, looks like 1/48th to me as well.
GW, are we correct?

And, yes of course we love all of the inventions and improvements you've shown over the years.

A past life when I had young eyes and an interest in Military Aviation History! A son-in-law cleared those shelves and cleaned me out a month ago.....it's his store and and maybe even build problem now. My Dad's brother who flew B-29's in WW2 used to take me up when I was 12 or so, when he was an Airline pilot instructor, during training breaks. Took me high over the city, flipped the trainer upside down, and said take the controls.......hell I was only worried about falling out of the straps upside down.....I wasn't very big. But in spite of his jokes, I loved it.

I since stayed on the ground except for airline travel....flying your own plane takes money I never had nor could justify spending when I did.......the first "annual" on an airplane makes automobile maintenance seem child's play! Not something normal working people can afford....this gun hobby and my old one is much more affordable!

In post 42 is a picture of my 3D printer, some aviation pictures, and for sharp eyes two remnants of that young hobby....yep modeling bench turned into 3D printing bench.....2 of them now. I know....going nuts.

 

[mstreddy]

GW, Yes, you are correct, flying as a hobby makes us reloaders seem to be in the t-ball stage compared to Major leagues.
I have some friends that fly, and have let me have the controls once we were up. I was an aviation mechanic (structural) in the Marines, then in the Air Force (Engines). So, I get the aviation history buff thing. I considered getting my private pilot's license some years ago, the initial cost wasn't too bad, but the cost for maintaining currency was unreachable at that time.

I built plastic 1/48th scale airplane models some time ago. I still have a bunch of unbuilt kits in storage, but haven't touched any in a long time. I guess my son will get them at some point. I also have a nice collection of books on military aviation. I love the posters of the Tornado and Falcon. And now that you mentioned it, I went back and see your two models on the top shelf. One looks like a TBM torpedo bomber. I can't tell on the other one.

I'll have to take a photo and post it, on my bench I have a picture of a C130 that I took on one of our TDYs.
There that mention of the bench should keep it on topic.

 

[gnappi]

Mine is like a blob monster... It's taken over most of my garage.

 

[GravelRider]

Sorry everyone, no updates. I've had too much work to do on the homestead.

I did finish up the siding on my chicken coop (which I've been putting off for about 6 months). I used some 30+ year old rough cut lumber that's been sitting in the dilapidated (and un-salvageable) barn on the back of my farm. It was free to me, and I love the natural patina.

 

[lightman]

A past life when I had young eyes and an interest in Military Aviation History! A son-in-law cleared those shelves and cleaned me out a month ago.....it's his store and and maybe even build problem now. My Dad's brother who flew B-29's in WW2 used to take me up when I was 12 or so, when he was an Airline pilot instructor, during training breaks. Took me high over the city, flipped the trainer upside down, and said take the controls.......hell I was only worried about falling out of the straps upside down.....I wasn't very big. But in spite of his jokes, I loved it.

I since stayed on the ground except for airline travel....flying your own plane takes money I never had nor could justify spending when I did.......the first "annual" on an airplane makes automobile maintenance seem child's play! Not something normal working people can afford....this gun hobby and my old one is much more affordable!

In post 42 is a picture of my 3D printer, some aviation pictures, and for sharp eyes two remnants of that young hobby....yep modeling bench turned into 3D printing bench.....2 of them now. I know....going nuts.

I owned a plane for a few years. It was a fun but expensive hobby. I did make a nice profit when I sold it.

 

[GW Staar]

Sorry everyone, no updates. I've had too much work to do on the homestead.

I did finish up the siding on my chicken coop (which I've been putting off for about 6 months). I used some 30+ year old rough cut lumber that's been sitting in the dilapidated (and un-salvageable) barn on the back of my farm. It was free to me, and I love the natural patina.

Now I AM jealous as hell! No not the bench.....not even the chicken coop.....THE SECLUSION! My city lot has 10 neighbors in just the space I can see on this one side of your house. I'd be arrested and my chickens confiscated if I bought chickens.....not even legal in the city limits. Now then, my wife's little home town, in Southern Colorado, doesn't have those problems. People are free there, and there's room to breathe.

BTW, with that long of a bench, you can have 4 hobbies at the same time! My bench started out as a motocross motorcycle engine rebuilding bench. Reloading was on a smaller bench in another room with a matching bench across the room for 1/4" modeling.....it's now my too small food storage room and I'm way too old for motocross anymore. My Suzuki RM370....I traded for two guns.....a rifle and a 70 series Gold Cup 45. Sold the Gold cup ...to valuable to shoot....and I'm not into safe queens.

As for the models in the picture.....the one mstreddy thought might be of a TBM was just Foss's F4F Wildcat.....my interest was making replicas of Aces' planes.....except for the two I built for Hill AFB's museum.....I'm sure they are in the Ogden Utah land fill by now.......as they remodel every 4 years. I built a replica of a F4-C for a fellow who spent 7 years in the Hanoi Hilton after getting shot down in it....from pictures his wife sent me....and a friend presented it to him at a gathering where he spoke to a youth group.........I think I get more out of shooting and reloading.....that's an understatement.....as I can't see to model any more.

 

[GravelRider]

Now I AM jealous as hell! No not the bench.....not even the chicken coop.....THE SECLUSION! My city lot has 10 neighbors in just the space I can see on this one side of your house. I'd be arrested and my chickens confiscated if I bought chickens.....not even legal in the city limits. Now then, my wife's little home town, in Southern Colorado, doesn't have those problems. People are free there, and there's room to breathe.

BTW, with that long of a bench, you can have 4 hobbies at the same time! My bench started out as a motocross motorcycle engine rebuilding bench. Reloading was on a smaller bench in another room with a matching bench across the room for 1/4" modeling.....it's now my too small food storage room and I'm way too old for motocross anymore. My Suzuki RM370....I traded for two guns.....a rifle and a 70 series Gold Cup 45. Sold the Gold cup ...to valuable to shoot....and I'm not into safe queens.

As for the models in the picture.....the one mstreddy thought might be of a TBM was just Foss's F4F Wildcat.....my interest was making replicas of Aces' planes.....except for the two I built for Hill AFB's museum.....I'm sure they are in the Ogden Utah land fill by now.......as they remodel every 4 years. I built a replica of a F4-C for a fellow who spent 7 years in the Hanoi Hilton after getting shot down in it....from pictures his wife sent me....and a friend presented it to him at a gathering where he spoke to a youth group.........I think I get more out of shooting and reloading.....that's an understatement.....as I can't see to model any more.

Lol. Thanks. The seclusion is why we bought the place. We're on 40 acres and surrounded by even larger lots that are mostly just woods. I can't see a living soul from my back porch, and can see one neighbor from my front porch. We shoot guns in the backyard. Everyone does around here. However, it does come with a downside. Nothing is close. The nearest gas station or grocery store is 20 miles away. But I'll take that for the seclusion.