Reloading Bench Plans for Small Apartment Needed Please

[prelaw09]

Hi all,
I am getting into reloading and need to build a bench. I am pretty handy and have a friend that owns all the tools I would need (table saw, chopsaw, drills, etc). I have room in my small apartment for a bench about 2x3 feet (is this big enough). I was thinking of making it out of 3/4 plywood and 2x4s. It needs to be easy to take apart if I need to move. I just don't know how strong I need to make it, and how to set it up. I would only be reloading .223 and hopefully .45 soon.

Iused the search function, I found lots of pic of benches, but no plans. If you can help out a new guy here I would be very thankful.

thankyou

 

[mkl]

Here's a picture of the one I had made up when I was living in a small apartment:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=4635236&highlight=green+monster#post4635236

Still use it today, many, many, years later.

 

[Coltdriver]

I made a box on castor wheels. Used 1/2 inch ply and some split 2 x 4's. Used glue and screws to put it together. The box is 18 by 24 and is 34 inches tall. It has a bottom and a middle shelf and a couple of small shelves on one end for scales and trickler and trimmer.

Bullets and powder partitioned on the bottom on one side. Press and a tool box of other reloading parts (trays, puller, caliper, lee primer, electric scale etc) on the other side for storage. Dies and primers on the middle shelf. I clamped the press to the top when I used it and had plenty of room to work on one caliber at a time. I also mounted a rifle rest on the top so that I could clean my rifles from a stable platform.

It wheels around easily. Nice and compact. When it weighed about 120 pounds I took it to the basement and expanded my operation! But it worked nicely for about two years and let me keep my growing collection of reloading pieces in a neat and small space.

 

[Jacka L Ope]

A number of benches can be found via Google search. Here's one, for example:

http://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/downloads/bench_plans.pdf

Good luck!

 

[lgbloader]

I have a well stocked man cave in the garage but I made a small bench for the family room in the house out of an old kitchen chopping block table. This sits next to my recliner and I process brass on it. I slowly added a press, another Uniflo w/stand, RCBS Scale and a few odds and ends. I can process most rounds a-z on it now. It just shows that sometimes, you don't need to build a bench but sometimes just use something you already have or find something at a garage sale. Someone's junk is someone else's treasure.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4896568&postcount=22


LGB

 

[bullseye308]

Bolt it all together with carriage bolts and wingnuts. Make the top at least 2 layers thick to reduce flexing.

 

[Ky Larry]

I used an old Black & Decker Workmate when I lived in an apartment. It was plenty big enough and folded for storage.

 

[Canuc Shooter]

20 years into reloading and I'm still using a B & D workmate, keeps me organized. Less space = less stuff to clutter up my work space. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

 

[JimJD]

If you haven't, take a look at the thread I started.
I placed links from where I got the info and "plans".

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=435832

It seems like it could be an option for you. Hope that helps!

 

[oneounceload]

+1 on the B&D workmate, as long as you reinforce the top with some serious plywood glued and screwed to handle the torque of a press.....perfect for a small space

 

[rfwobbly]

Oh, Yea ?

Betcha I could design and build something in wood that is lighter and stronger than a B&D WorkMate in under 3 years for a mere $1000 !!


Actually, the WorkMate looks like a great idea. Also check out the steel work bench ends (~$28/ set) offered at places like Northern Tool and Harbor Freight. You simply add your own wooden top and back of any length you desire. Make it short now, make it long tomorrow.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I built my bench using Rockler's steel router table leg set. I added their heavy duty locking casters so that I can roll it out to where I use it, then roll it all back when done. It would easily fit in a closet, and keeping all the equipment together is a nice plus. Also, by having it on casters, I can use all four sides, which makes a small bench much bigger in use. I added a top and two shelves below, and with lots of gear, bullets, brass and powder on the lower shelves, it's pretty solid with the casters locked (they are the type that locks both the wheel and the pivot). Rockler has rails for several different sizes of benches with their leg sets. They are made from heavy cold rolled steel, and every joint uses double 3/8" carriage bolts.

Andy