Reloading Bench, Finished!

[ScottsGT]

Here's a few photos of how I built my reloading bench. I started with an old piece of furniture I had in my workshop that was just a junk collector and cut it in half. I now reload off the side and store everything else correctly instead of scattered all over the shop. As you can see, I carpeted the top so brass won't roll off onto the floor. All of the shelves are adjustabel so I can set the heighths accordingly. This is just my first set up. I'm sure as I use it, I'll adjust accordingly for better use of the shelf space.


I also made two of the shelves with cut outs to hold the die turrets so the bottoms of the dies won't be damaged.


Work light on the side over my press....


And a "quiet chamber" for the tumbler on a shelf with pull out rails. Notice the timer. I can turn on the tumbler by pressing a button giving it either 1 hour, 2, 4 or 8 hours of tumble time and then close the door for a quiet tumble. This way I can run it without being home to turn it off. I also glued down a 3/16 foam padding to the shelf to help isolate the noise.

 

[fineredmist]

You have some very clever ideas in that setup and I hope it works well for you.

 

[Walkalong]

Very, very nice. You definitly put a lot of thought into it.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Good setup

I've just mounted my Loadmaster to my computer desk, as I haven't had a vehicle to transport lumber for a bench. With good reinforcement, a desk can hold pretty well. Anyway, It looks like your press is pretty close to the wall, but that's personal taste in any case. I do most of my work on the right side. I like the setup on the tumbler. I'll have to try something like that. The carpeting might hinder spilt powder cleanup, as you'll have to shop-vac it. It might look ugly, but you might consider going with a 12" square piece of carpeting that you can put the cases on and have the rest of the bench bare.

 

[RustyFN]

Nice bench. Great job, I like the shelves you put behind the bench.
Rusty

 

[ScottsGT]

I actually wanted a rubber top with either the corrugated finish or the coin type, but could not find it, or I either had to order a minimum of 50 sq. ft. So I opted out for the carpet. I used a low tack glue so it can be peeled up for replacement if it gets stained or soiled and won't clean up. It was only $10 for the piece of carpet.
Now I have to move on to my "gun cleaning bench" and "modeling bench" since my other hobby is building large scale plastic models. I've got two really nice pieces of 2' X 6' stainless steel I'm thinking of using for both of those.

Oh, the location of the press- I'm right handed and I always find myself setting to the left of the press operating the handle with my right hand and loading everything with my left hand.

 

[MarshallDodge]

That is a neat little setup.

A word of caution-
You should have some ventilation on your tumbler enclosure. The air in there will get warm with the wood and sound insulation not being very good heat conductors. Maybe a little fan out of a PC or similar would suffice.

Years ago Midway had issues with the motors burning up and there was a recall due to overheating.

 

[ScottsGT]

Not a bad idea. I've got about a dozen of these laying around from some equipment we modified at work. I'll install one of these on the side or rear of the cabinet and wire it into the timer so it runs while the tumbler runs.

 

[presspuller]

Nice set up.

The timer is a good idea. So is the fan.

 

[scrat]

i love the pullout drawer with the case tumbler thats classic

 

[SSN Vet]

nice job!

Looks like you pulled some ideas from the wood shop world into your reloading set up. I saw a similar "quiet box" idea for an oil-less air compressor in a wood working magazine....

How's the theory to practice proving out with this? is it significantly lowering the noise level?

I'm experimenting with a cushioned platform, but still get a lot of noise.....even when on basement floor. The kids complain they have to turn up the t.v.

 

[ScottsGT]

How's the theory to practice proving out with this? is it significantly lowering the noise level?

I'm experimenting with a cushioned platform, but still get a lot of noise.....even when on basement floor. The kids complain they have to turn up the t.v.
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Hehehe.. I got the same complaints Kids have a room in the basement next to mine. When I cranked up the tumbler for the first time and closed the doors, you should have seen the look on the kids faces. I was priceless. "Wow, we can hear the TV now. My workshop is 16' X 20' and it is right under my family room. I could even hear it running upstairs thru the floor. Not now though. I thought about egg crate foam on the inside, but it really does not need it. If I were you, I'd just build a box to set over it while it runs, or maybe an old refrigerator?
You ought to hear them scream when I crank up the 60 gallon air compressor out in the garage that is strategically located right behind their couch on the other side of the wall
House is on the side of a hill, one side is basement, the other side is garage.

 

[SSN Vet]

I'm in exactly the same boat.....

You ought to hear them scream when I crank up the 60 gallon air compressor out in the garage that is strategically located right behind their couch on the other side of the wall

I used to have to go upstairs and warn everybody when I fired up the air compressor, because it would make the baby cry.

 

[LAH]

Nice Scott, great ideas..........Creeker

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Nice bench. I really like the quiet chamber. If there is one thing that will drive me nuts it is listening to a tumbler for a couple of hours. Luckily I have a fallout/storm shelter in my basement, that's where my tumbler goes.