Organizing small tools on your reloading bench

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Hummer70

Hummer70

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Finding a place to keep the small tooling used in reloading can be a real pain and I just discovered something I find to be very useful.


Went to Home Depot looking for parts bin boxes and found a Husky 11" Bin box for 3.97 that has the best set of hinges and latches I have seen in these style boxes so I got a couple.


I filled the first one up and immediately realized it was all in one place and I realized I need a way label the bins so I came up with a document that when printed and trimmed fits inside the lid of the bin organizer.


1dylO2g.jpg



These are neck turning tools for uniforming case necks to enhance accuracy of my long range rifles but obviously it is good for storing other things like shell holders (by number and caliber) and other small parts.


I opened WORD and designed the document shown in the lid in the above. If you would like to make up such open the below and print it out and follow the directions on the document and cut along the outer line and it will fit this size box perfectly.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3vWwz0ljvP5OHdMWlo1YWQ4eG8/view?usp=sharing

FLASH: I made up templates for two more Husky boxes and posted them in the cloud on google and last night I decided to download the template and print it out and the google version prints the template about 1/4" smaller on all sides. I uploaded the file from my documents but something got lost in the changeover. If this happens to you just PM me with email address and I will send you the file right from my documents. I now have templates for the 7", 9" and 11" bin boxs so can send you all three at once.

If anyone knows how to get such translated WITHOUT the change in size please PM me and tell me how to fix this. Sorry for the problem guys but Yogi Berra was right, "you don't know what you don't know till you know what you don't know" and I don't know how to correct this haha.
 
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I like it. I bought a few of the little bitty plastic 3 drawer stacks at biglots and have a drawer for each type of item. Shell holders, primer shell holders, lee autoprime parts, various other small tools and press attachments, parts to guns I am working on, I also use the drawers to store load cards for new loads until I finish my card and put it in the box.
 
Plano makes great organizers, too. Check the fishing section @ Walmart.
Last one purchased was $3.88. Several types to choose from.
 
Tackle box. Plano makes a ton of them Walmart has a couple with the good latches for under $5. I've got close to 80 of them stacked up out in the shop.


Yeah I have a LOT of fishing tackle.
 
Over the years I have acquired many small plastic containers from the purchase of bullets. Speer, Berry's, etc. Those I just put a label on and store them in the drawers on my reloading bench. I also use those little "command" adhesive hooks to hang die wrenches, bullet puller and my calipers from.
 
I have a small container with sliding drawers on the bench that holds my small stuff. The top of it makes a handy small shelf. The back of my table has a steel pegboard and I hang the larger things there.
 
image.jpeg image.jpeg
I use the small box with sliding drawers for small press parts. Also picked up a small rolling 4drawer box at Thanksgiving for half price @ 49 bucks. Use it for the tumbler and rolls out of the way when needed.
 
Omaney said:
Also, on my bench, I use a magnetic knife bar to hold screwdrivers etc.
Click to expand...

Same here, works great.

I constantly struggle with organization, whether it's small reloading tools, gun parts or brass. I also use the crap out of the Plano Tackle boxes from Walmart and bought a rolling toolbox and top cabinet from HD:

Next project is a larger reloading bench that goes the length of the wall. As it is I'm cramped for space due to 5 presses.

Chuck
 
Organizing the small stuff can be hard. Keeping things nailed down to there proper place can be difficult for me. And of course working in a basement means that anything you drop always ends up under something that you just can't move, like the furnace. Just got a new Tool Chest from the Wife, so the old one will do duty for gun parts and tools. Something lacking in the past. Thanks for all the good ideas. Maybe I can finally stop loosing springs and decapping pins.
 
I knew a retired Colonel and his loading bench was a 2X10 bolted to a wall with about four reloading tools on it. He said he never could maintain a neat bench (I can identify with that) so he made the bench just large enough for a shell tray and lube etc. There was no room for anything else.

When I got my fifth Marquart I knew it was high time they were all living together.

Went back to HD today and got some 9" Husky boxes and I spent about an hour this evening making a template for that one. Also got some more 7" and will try and make a template for that one tomorrow. Here is the link for the 9" Husky bin.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3vWwz0ljvP5ajNUd2FlOXZBRms/view?usp=sharing

Going to check the Plano boxes at Walmart as well. Don't know why I have not noticed them before.

If you look around you can find a book called SHOP SAVVY by Roy Moungovan. He came up with a very inventive set of drawers for tools that should you move you just pick up the whole thing and move it. I have three of his designs I made up for my shop. Don't know what I would do without them. They are designed to be made from scrap 3/4" and 3/8" plywood. Only metal in them is the finish nails you tack it together with.

I see them on ebay and found my copy at a flea market in 1989 in Columbus, Ga. I used to lay in bed at night thumbing through the projects and ideas he came up with. Guess you could also check used book dealers. Great ideas.
 
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My Dillon uses a lot of Allen wrenches and other small tools. I bought some strong rectangular magnets at Lowes, placed those on the Strong Mount base, and now all my commonly used tools are right there at my finger tips.
 
I also save sardine cans and cut the entire top out with can opener, wash them and they are useful for small things like shell holders. I also use them to store cast bullets in after they are lubed.
 
rfwobbly said:
My Dillon uses a lot of Allen wrenches and other small tools. I bought some strong rectangular magnets at Lowes, placed those on the Strong Mount base, and now all my commonly used tools are right there at my finger tips.
Click to expand...

Don't get me started on Allen wrenches. I have a LnL AP and a 650 sitting side by side. Between them is a pile of Allen wrenches.
 
Storing loading dies can also be a problem, especially when they are stacked on a shelf and the ones you want are always on the bottom of the pile. When I had my loading room built I had drawers built into the loading desk so the die boxes are end up where they are conveniently located and accessible, as shown in attached photo. With this arrangement I can grab any set of dies I need without getting out of my chair. Which has proven to be a blessing because I usually don’t tend to be so well organized. DRAWER1.JPG
 
Cannibul said:
Don't get me started on Allen wrenches. I have a LnL AP and a 650 sitting side by side. Between them is a pile of Allen wrenches.
Click to expand...

I just grab a small block of wood, drill appropriate sized holes for the wrenches that fit that press, and leave it next to the press.

Chuck
 
I use a few sizes of the plastic food containers (they come in multi-packs) for storing bulk bullets and larger tools. I also use some super magnets (neodymium) to hold on to other steel tools like allen wrenches, screwdrivers, files, die wrenches, etc
 
Do you think Lyman should add a chapter to their reloading books? How to organize your loading bench?:uhoh: I am so disorganized I would lose the book.:D:eek:
 
Offhand, I really like your storage design for your dies. Wish I had thought of storing them on end like that. I segregate my drawers by Pistol, Rifle and by dies I will seldom use like 25 ACP, 6.5 and 7.7 Jap. I let the rifles go but kept the dies. Then when I find a good deal on dies at a flea market I will buy them even if I don't have a rifle for them just to have them on hand.
 
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