Rebuilt my reloading bench

[AmbulanceDriver]

Or at least upgraded it.

I picked up a workbench from Lowe's about a year ago and had bolted on my Lee Classic Cast press on there. It worked fine for my single stage and all, but the top on it was cheap particle board. And had a *lot* of flex in it. I compensated by putting "real" wood under the press to spread the load out a little bit... But I just got my Lee Pro 1000, and I knew that wasn't gonna work...

So I decided to upgrade the top of the bench, and build a couple of mounts for the presses (the rams got in the way of the drawers under the bench).

The bench top is a 3/4 inch birch plywood. Nice and strong, very little flex. The mounts are made from 2x6 doug fir. The visible joints are made w/ wood glue and 3 inch wood screws. The mounts are attached to the bench top with six 3 inch lag bolts (2 per 2x6).

Yeah, it's probably over built. But I'll be darned if I ever break it......

And I have storage space underneath for supplies and components/ammo.

 

[Dirtypacman]

Pics not working

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

hrm. i'm noticing that... I'll try to go argue with it. thanks.

EDIT: Well, apparently the upload function didn't want to play nice with me. But photobucket still works..

 

[actionflies]

very nice setup.

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

Yeah, I'm kinda limited in the size of the bench I can build right now, as the wife and I are still in an apartment. Once we're in a house, I'll have more space to build a bigger bench, with more built in storage instead of relying on bins like I currently am.

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

Nice Setup! I like the red stuff myself!

 

[Sunray]

"...particle board..." Bought mine(a kit from a Beaver Lumber), long ago, with a 1" thick particle board top. It broke on the very first use. Put a square foot of 1/4" steel plate on and mounted the press on that. Oddly, I've had no problems since.
"...limited in the size of the bench..." Mine's 20" x 48". Fits just fine in a 1 bedroom apt. Mind you, there's just me. Your bench is about right just the way it is. I'd be storing the ammo boxes etc. elsewhere though. That'd give you a better place for your tumbler to live. I'd put the single stage press more towards the centre too. Give you a spot for a plastic bin on either side. That lets you process cases faster. One bin with cases needing processing, the other for processed.

 

[Dirtypacman]

Nice little setup you got going

 

[KeithB]

looking good

 

[K3]

Very nice.

I use 2 pieces of oak plywood for the bench surface. It's very strong, but there's still too much flex for my liking. So, I made some 1/4" steel plates to mount with the press. I haven't installed them yet.

Again, nice setup. Very professional looking.

 

[MinnMooney]

My solution to the flex problem.

I routered a 6"x6"x1/4" steel plate into the bottom side of a sheet of 3/4" particle board. I added a sheet of 1/8" pressed board on top for strengthening and 3/8" aprticle board under it all for stiffness. Nothing moves when I use the press and I didn't have to drill any holes in my pretty desk. I have a heavy hutch sitting on the back side of the desk which holds everything from moving. I don't even have to clamp it down.

P.S. I hope the picture gets attached.