No more reloading in the garage!

[BullsEye10x]

After 3 months of sweating out in the garage where I first set up shop, I found a nice desk on Craigslist for $40 and moved my ammo factory inside - A much better place to work in the Texas summer!

This was designed to be a computer desk, but it's an older one that is very sturdy and has lots of storage. I especially like the locking doors on the hutch. Also has a flourescent light in the middle section, perfect for detail work. I had to cut out a small notch to mount the LCT (the front surface was curved), but other than that it was an easy move! Think I'll be reloading a lot more now in the month of August

 

[ReloaderFred]

Yep, it's getting too warm in my garage here on the coast, too. It was 66 degrees in there today........

I like it better when it's around 64 degrees, but it's been getting hot outside. It was 68 here today...

I know this won't help, but.......

Fred

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Looks like a nice setup... Congrats on moving your operation into the house where I'm sure your "relaxing time" will be much more comfortable.

 

[rondog]

Nice! Plan for expansion, though.

 

[jfrey]

BullsEye10x, I know exactly what you mean. Here in South Texas we would greatly appreciate 64 degrees. When the kids moved out, thank goodness, I found a spare bedroom and claimed it as mine. It is now my gun room for reloading, gun work, gun cleaning etc. Being inside, it is fairly well climate controlled and most of all, airconditioned. I can go in there and nobody bothers me. If I had to reload in the garage, especially this summer, I probably wouldn't.

 

[Win52D]

I'm jealous I wish I had an extra room to setup. The garage gets hot here in AZ. Every 1/2 hour I take a break and sit inside to cool off

 

[no_problem]

Good lookin's setup!

The empty cabinets won't stay empty for long!

 

[Corner Pocket]

Bullseye10x, looks like you're in business for sure! I'm envious of you being inside in the cool now. I live a couple hundred miles west of you and I can well understand you wanting to get out of this sweltering heat.

I've always been an early riser and I do most of my reloading during the summer in the very early morning when it's the coolest. But even then, the garage is not all that cool.

Corner Pocket
'yearning for the arrival of November!'

 

[FieroCDSP]

Looks like a standard press-board job, not too different from mine. That being said, you need to reinforce the joints at the back and sides. The cam-bolts that hold those things together will snap after enough workings of the handle on stiff cases. Fixing mine has been holding up my operation for a while now. I'm using a couple of pieces of angle-iron and drilling through to sandwich them on both sides of the joints. If that doesn't hold, I don't know what to do.

 

[Otto]

Whats with all the complaints about Texas heat, does everyone also shoot in air conditioned indoor ranges? Ok, I'll admit that Houston's humidity is a killer, no argument there.
If you want to make garage reloading bearable, Wal Mart sells a decent fan that moves a ton of air...it's $40

 

[Buckshot Bill]

Howdy Bullseye! That sure does look like a nice setup. Great press on the front corner too. I've got one just like it on my bench-[in the house] and am real happy with my Lee Turret press. Good luck and safe re-loading, Buckshot Bill

 

[aerod1]

Bullseye,

Great reloading area and great press. Today I am moving my LCT from a bedroom into the den where my gun safe is, My reloading bench is a portable "Work Mate" type. It works but I don't have the room you have on your new "bench".
Enjoy!!

 

[Creature]

Question: how stable is that desk when you cycle the throw arm of your press? Will those bullets lined up on the shelf stay put? I have a very similar desk for general purpose use...and mine is not very well constructed and is not very stable. You might consider anchoring yours to the wall.

 

[Walkalong]

It was 66 degrees in there today........

When I recorded the temp Friday at 5:00 ish PM for my log book it was 90 Degrees. Not bad, it was 97, 98 earlier in the week. It has cooled down since Friday evening with some rain coming through. It looks like it will be in the 80's today. Nice. I'm going shooting.....

Nice looking setup there BullsEye10x. It should serve you well.

 

[BullsEye10x]

Question: how stable is that desk when you cycle the throw arm of your press? Will those bullets lined up on the shelf stay put? I have a very similar desk for general purpose use...and mine is not very well constructed and is not very stable. You might consider anchoring yours to the wall.

This desk was made back when they knew how to build 'em. Although still particle board, it is very thick (over an inch in most places) with good fasteners and weighs a ton. The folks I bought it from had it taken apart in their garage, which was a good thing because we never could have moved it in one piece.

The "computer desks" of today can barely hold their own weight let alone much else. I think that is partly because computer systems (especially monitors) have become smaller and lighter over the years. I might still reinforce the press mounting area and corner joints, but I'll keep an eye on it for now and see how it holds up. I'm only reloading straight wall pistol cartridges right now, which don't need much force.

As far as moving for comfort, that was definitely part of it. But I was also concerned about the humidity getting to the equipment; especially the press and dies with all those machined surfaces. I always made sure to coat everything with CLP and oil the ram after every session. Still do that out of habit, but it's not so critical now. I'll be loading my first batch today so we'll see if the production rate goes up - I have a feeling it will

 

[chbrow10]

I live in the Mississippi gulf coast and reload in my garage. I mostly reload at night, with the garage door open to let what little breeze there is in.

I'd love a man cave inside to do all this in. One corner would be the reloading press, another for the TV and Lazyboy...

 

[tiger rag]

I agree neighbor,maybee I should assert myself and move hobby in the house !

 

[philbo]

Bout time Bullseye! Not only is it cooler indoors, you'll find yourself reloading at odd time when you wouldn't have before if the press is handy.

I bet that's the cleanest that bench will ever be though.

 

[lgbloader]

That's it!!! I've heard enough!!! I'm yanking my Rockchucker out of retirement and mounting it to the damn kitchen table!!!! We can eat on the dang floor if we need to!! I want an inside-the-house Cave, too!!!

 

[MCMXI]

I made a deal with my wife and moved into a large closet in a spare bedroom that we use as an office!!! It sounds weird but it works great. I built a 2" thick bench into the wall, added some shelves, moved a couple of safes in there and with central a/c I couldn't be happier.

Here's a photo of the bench I built with one of my presses and a Christmas present from the wife.

 

[BullsEye10x]

Bout time Bullseye! Not only is it cooler indoors, you'll find yourself reloading at odd time when you wouldn't have before if the press is handy.

I bet that's the cleanest that bench will ever be though.

Thanks Phil! I made several hundred rounds last night and wasn't rushing like I used to just to get out of the heat. Having all that empty storage space also made me realize I need to stock up on components

 

[nambu1]

My garage is part of the house, but I shut off most of the duct work. It stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but I have a fan and a small heater there to help keep it comfortable. I know how hot it can get in Texas. You have a nice set-up.

 

[rc109a]

ReloaderFred
Your just wrong! My garage finally got unbearable (101 and still no were near as hot as the guys from TX or AZ). I would have to wear a heavy coat to reload in your garage. Nice setup Bullseye...

 

[MCMXI]

As important as a good reloading bench is, I find the biggest challenge is keeping everything organized and finding space for everything. I don't have a big enough bench to have both my presses mounted at the same time. When I want to reload handgun ammunition, I remove the single stage press which is secured with stainless steel bolts and wingnuts, and install my progressive press. It works but it's not ideal. Anyway, here's a shot of my "getaway" which has become one of my favorite places to be. I can close the door to the office so that my wife isn't bothered by the beeping of the RCBS ChargeMaster when I'm reloading at 2:00am (a common occurrence!)

 

[Halo]

My setup used to be out in the garage, but the humidity was so bad it rusted every bit of bare metal, like the press ram. Now it's in a basement/garage at my mountain house, since that's where I do 90% of my shooting anyway. It very seldom gets above the 60s in there. If I could just find a good job there....