portable/hidden reloading activities?

[mr_dove]

I'm considering taking up reloading since 45ACP is pretty expensive.

I'm sure many folks share my problem though. I don't have any work space.

My wife would never tolerate a permanent reloading press sitting on our kitchen table.

I was curious if anyone had ever set up a reloading press on a portable type platform? Two ideas that I had were:

The square deal B if the press that I'm currently considering.

1. attaching the press to stand with wheels that can be put in a closet or otherwise secreted away when not in use. Something kinda like a microwave stand only much more sturdy. I've seen lots of portable tool chests with work areas on top that would probably work nicely.

2. building a decorative cabinet (with doors to hide the reloading gear). The press would sit inside the case (hidden by the doors) except when being used. While in use the press would come out and be mounted on the top of the cabinet.

I've seen one person here who had his press mounted on a board with clamps. That might be a possibility but its not a very pretty option.

This brings me to a few other questions.

1. how much space does a square deal B require when in use?
2. how much space would be needed while in storage mode?
3. what's the minimum amount of counterspace needed to reload, including other necessities such as a scale?

 

[Sisco]

I do all my loading on a 4' long piece of counter top. If you only bring to the bench what you need it really doesn't take much space.
Here's one idea for a portable:
http://www.larrywillis.com/tip001.html

 

[30Cal]

There's always the Lyman 310 tong tool which requires only enough table space to fit a powder scale...

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/dies.htm

Ty

 

[mtnbkr]

I got my dad started with a Lee Handpress. It worked fine for his 45Colt loads. Plus, everything you'll need will fit in a milk crate or similar size container. He loaded at the kitchen table without having to mount anything.

What I did for myself was to take a Lee turret press, attach it to a board, and use "C" clamps to clamp it to my desk. I then put it away when not in use. I probably loaded 1500 rounds this way.

Chris

 

[Sunray]

One of those Black and Decker Workmate tables will do in a pinch.
http://www.blackanddecker.com/productguide/ProductListByType.aspx?RHID=630

 

[JohnK]

Midway has a portable reloading stand for $50 that might do the trick for you: http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/155024

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

2. building a decorative cabinet (with doors to hide the reloading gear). The press would sit inside the case (hidden by the doors) except when being used. While in use the press would come out and be mounted on the top of the cabinet.

If you have the ability to do that, then do that! It would look nice and be easy and clean.

I tried a folding work bench thing but the press was offset too much so that it would rock too much.

The Midway Portable Bench might work, you can pile on a pretty good amount on one.

 

[chink]

I got the same problem. i took my Lee Challenger bolted it to a ¾†piece of scrap I had laying around from an old project and C-clamp it to any flat surface I can get the clamps around. Its seems to work right now. Eventually I think I am going to make a more permanent reloading bench that will come apart easily

 

[BlindRat]

Here's one of the cooler reloading cabinets I've run across. Maybe it will fit your bill. Link is to plans in a pdf format.

Ray-Vin's Corner Reloading Cabinet Plans
(you'll need Acrobat to view the plans)

 

[mr_dove]

That's a pretty nice looking plan. I would do something smaller and more decorative though. It looks as if that builder has more space than he needs. I see lots of empty space in there.

 

[TooTaxed]

I've lived in small apartments for quite a while, having to move every couple of years with my job.

I started out with a 3' long 2"steel tube with a 6"x 6" plate welded on each end, with holes drilled for 3/8" bolts to mount my RCBS Jr O-press and the bottom to a 2' x 4' piece of plywood, with two or three 3/4" boards on the bottom of the plywood to clear the bolt heads from the floor/rug. Powder measure and check scale, and components, are on any adjacent table or folding table. This is very portable and served me well for years.

I now use a folding Black&Deker work table with a piece of 3/4" plywood bolted to the top. This is large enough to handle the press, automatic powder measure, and components, except for the check scale which is on an adjacent table to avoid jarring (I check very tenth load of powder).

Both units kept my wife satisfied...and me in many thousands of rounds of rifle and pistol ammo!

 

[zeke]

mr_dove-have a small and heavy reloading bench on wheels (locking castors). If needed it rolls on back to the storage room. The locks are not needed, if bench is heavy enough. It has a Rockchucker, powder measure and case trimmer mounted on it.

 

[Brian Williams]

Get yourself one of these and dies in 45 acp and get started. All you need with this is some powder (win231) Primers, and bullets.

Check out the free press at the bottom of this page. http://www.leeprecision.com/catalog/browse.cgi?1077973529.30=rlpress2.html

 

[mr_dove]

what kind of dimensions does the square deal B have when fully set up? I.E. how much space (height, width, depth) would it take up while put away.

I'll need good dimensions for building the cabinet to size.

 

[Fumbler]

I bought a Lee Hand Press because I don't have much space and wanted to be able to take it places easily.

Everyone said bottlenecked ammo would be a pain in the butt to fully resize.
I have loaded 30 rounds of .308 so far and truthfully lubed .308 cases are easier to resize than unlubed straightwall pistol cases (I have 9mm and 357mag).
I have never used any other press, so it is possible that I don't know what I am missing, but it is not that hard.
It is actually harder to neck size with Lee's collet neck sizing die than it is to fully resize a lubed case.

All my reloading stuff (Hand Press, beam scale, bullets, primers, funnel, 3 sets of dies), with the exception of powder of course, fits in a large utility box that I got from walmart.

 

[ocabj]

Sinclair Intl just came out with a neat looking press stand:

http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=search&item=09-820&type=store

I want one, but I figure I can make something similar myself for the cost of wood.

 

[Clark]

Mr Dove, I load at home AND at the range, so my system is portable.
I have presses on a board that "C" clamps to a bench at home and a table at the range.

The heavy press that does the resizing is endwise and instead of twisting the board, it tries to lift the whole bench up endwise.

Sisco,
You are good at websites, photographs, writing, workmanship on the bench, ect.
Is your real name Ned Flanders?
-Homer

 

[dmftoy1]

When I was in college and my first couple of years out in the real world I had a small bench that fit inside my closet. I put up a flourescent light on the bottom of the closet shelf and did all my reloading there. The bench was about 39 inches tall, maybe 2 1/2 - 3feet wide, and as deep as the closet. It had an old piece of countertop mounted on what was basically just some legs with plywood on 3 sides. Inside the base there were shelves that held all my reloading supplies, books, etc. It worked great for me. I loaded 4-5k worth of .45 acp and I don't know how many thousands of rounds of .38 special.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Sam Adams]

I got the same problem. i took my Lee Challenger bolted it to a ¾†piece of scrap I had laying around from an old project and C-clamp it to any flat surface I can get the clamps around. Its seems to work right now.

That worked for me for years, when I lived in an apartment. I clamped my setup in front of the microwave in the kitchen (something that my wife would never allow now - but I was single then). Now I've got it bolted to my workbench with easily removable bolts (cordless drills are great), so I can still remove it if I need to do a big woodworking project.

Just get a 2x6 that's the width of your bench. Screw/nail it to 2 pieces about 4" wide on either end, and clamp the thing down. The wood and the hardware will run you about $10 at most, even if new.