I'm trying to design my new reloading room. I have a room that is 11x12 with 14' walls. It's sole purpose is for reloading and gun storage. I have a bunch of left over 2x4s, 2x6s, 2x10, and maybe a few 2x12s and a really long LVL. I would like to make the work top out of the 2x10s - plane the edges to remove the rounded corners. The floor will be 3/4" plywood on top of 2x4s, so the bench legs can go down to the concrete for anchoring if needed. I suck at creativity when it comes to projects like this, so any ideas would help.
Reloading Room design
- Thread starter Armymutt
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combatinfidel
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- Joined
- Jul 4, 2016
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- 22
Sounds like a good start I recommend cubbies and shelves peg boards are dated but useful
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bbqreloader
Member
The possibilites are endless! Can you post a pic? Maybe throw out some ideas what you are planning to fill the gun room with, i.e. safes, sizes of, rifle racks. More advantageous to see what you have to work with, to include how many presses you are planning for. Have you also taken a trip throught the "show us your reloading bench" thread. Some of the people have made spectacular rooms with very little, could glean some ideas.
Wow, 14' walls? I would look at gun storage first, is there a safe in the mix? A good bench is a must and don't forget about storage. It is nice to have everything organized and will help keep your bench clean. Like others have asked, what equipment do you plan on using.
the Black Spot
Member
14' walls? You could have a loft. You could make loft floor joists from 2x8 and store firearms between the joists.
RugerBob
Member
I have a slightly larger room in basement. By the time I set up area for press's , lube sizer, cleaning station and gun safe/storage area I realized I had no free counter space for just setting things down randomly. When I get back from range there was nowhere but floor space to put things. rifles, handguns, sort brass , table for comparing loading manuals. So I built an island in the middle. Stand up height.
Not to mention getting two more press's. 5 now. Look at the reloading room pics here in the reloading section. Great ideas.
Not to mention getting two more press's. 5 now. Look at the reloading room pics here in the reloading section. Great ideas.
I would recommend shelving, lots of shelving. Make your shelves heavy duty designed to support a lot of weight. The weight of storing brass, bullets and loaded ammunition adds up really fast.
I envy you, all my reloading is done on a Rock Chucker mounted on a Craftsman roll around toolbox.
I envy you, all my reloading is done on a Rock Chucker mounted on a Craftsman roll around toolbox.
witchhunter
Member
Make sure the bench top is at the right height. I think that is the most important thing. Put lots of shelves in the right spots. Build the bench and mount your press. Now look at where you want your scale, powder measure, trimmer, etc. If you are using a progressive, make sure you have room to use and refill it. I have two Craftsman tool cabinets with drawers in mine, plus and old dresser for storage. Make your shelves that will hold ammo sturdy, as ammo cans get heavy when full.
Blue68f100
Member
Depending on how long you have been reloading you will need lots of storage space. 5 types are needed, tools (dies), primers, powder, bullets and loaded ammo. If your using the metal ammo cans for storage these stack very good but can be extremely heavy depending on what you fill them with. Again if you dealing with high volume rounds you end up with lots of supplies. I have discovered over the years you actually need 2 different bench heights. One for standing and the other sitting. As you get older your needs change.
Thanks all.
As far as pictures, right now, there's nothing there. No light in it yet - waiting for the electrician to come out. The walls are 14" because it's in the garage and the builder told me not to grade the lot, which is on a hill. Hadn't thought about a loft.
I'll have a 44" wide Drake safe in there, and probably one of my current off brand safes - about 18x22. No rifle racks. The room is made of 2x4s, insulation, and drywall. It'll have a security door, but that's it. We're out in the middle of nowhere, and there are plenty of breaching tools in the garage.
I read up on the bench height thing last night. My current bench is a Gladiator that is too low - requires me to drop my shoulder down with each stroke. Right now, I only have the Hornady LNL AP. Works for all of my current needs. Might get a single stage in the far future, and maybe a shotshell press. I'm building a 300 yard range, so I plan to do a lot more shooting, if I can afford to after buying everything I need to for this place. I like the idea of an island to lay weapons on for cleaning, maintenance, etc. My current brass storage solution is Ziploc tubs. Works so far, and I like that they are see through. My current ammo storage is a rolling Gladiator locker box. I like the idea of being able to roll it out in case of a fire, but not sure that is very practical or realistic with several thousands of rounds in it. I currently store all my reloading tools and supplies in a Gladiator wall box - dies, shell plates, powder, primers, bullets (at least as much as fits), books, etc.
One of my issues currently is all the dust from tumbling. I want to stay with the tumbler. Thinking about building a specific area just for the tumbler with the ability to enclose it. I'll just vacuum out the dust with a shop vac.
I also plan to use a T-track system like the one on Ultimate Reloader. Seems to be a pretty convenient way to move tools around. On the other hand, I may not need it, and instead just have several different locations that I move to in order to perform certain tasks. I like the peg board idea for storing shell plates and rotor plates for the auto feeders.
As far as pictures, right now, there's nothing there. No light in it yet - waiting for the electrician to come out. The walls are 14" because it's in the garage and the builder told me not to grade the lot, which is on a hill. Hadn't thought about a loft.
I'll have a 44" wide Drake safe in there, and probably one of my current off brand safes - about 18x22. No rifle racks. The room is made of 2x4s, insulation, and drywall. It'll have a security door, but that's it. We're out in the middle of nowhere, and there are plenty of breaching tools in the garage.
I read up on the bench height thing last night. My current bench is a Gladiator that is too low - requires me to drop my shoulder down with each stroke. Right now, I only have the Hornady LNL AP. Works for all of my current needs. Might get a single stage in the far future, and maybe a shotshell press. I'm building a 300 yard range, so I plan to do a lot more shooting, if I can afford to after buying everything I need to for this place. I like the idea of an island to lay weapons on for cleaning, maintenance, etc. My current brass storage solution is Ziploc tubs. Works so far, and I like that they are see through. My current ammo storage is a rolling Gladiator locker box. I like the idea of being able to roll it out in case of a fire, but not sure that is very practical or realistic with several thousands of rounds in it. I currently store all my reloading tools and supplies in a Gladiator wall box - dies, shell plates, powder, primers, bullets (at least as much as fits), books, etc.
One of my issues currently is all the dust from tumbling. I want to stay with the tumbler. Thinking about building a specific area just for the tumbler with the ability to enclose it. I'll just vacuum out the dust with a shop vac.
I also plan to use a T-track system like the one on Ultimate Reloader. Seems to be a pretty convenient way to move tools around. On the other hand, I may not need it, and instead just have several different locations that I move to in order to perform certain tasks. I like the peg board idea for storing shell plates and rotor plates for the auto feeders.
gpurp
Member
Don't forget about heating and cooling your reloading area. I just had a ductless AC unit w/heat pump installed in my garage. Running the press while sweating or shivering ain't no fun.
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burrhead
Member
Since you haven't run the electrical yet, I suggest you put outlets every 4' or closer above bench height. You can't have too much lighting or outlets. Lots of shelves and drawer stacks in the bench. In my 15 X 20 room I have one 12' X 18" bench at the standard 36" height. I can clamp single stages or different specialty tools to it and use them while standing. Also use it for cleaning and light gunsmithing. I also have a '2 X 6' bench at table height so I can sit while using my progressive.
Good luck.
Good luck.
These are just brain stormed ideas. Feel free to take and use them of not.
Think about lighting with LEDs under the shelves above the tables. It saves space and looks good. I would make one long bench with shelving over it for various components and tools. Perhaps a butcher block in the center for the press itself. Something else that may look good would be a dedicated area for cleaning and maintenance of firearms, separated from the reloading area. Use some hole board to organize your cleaning and maintenance tools as well.
Think about lighting with LEDs under the shelves above the tables. It saves space and looks good. I would make one long bench with shelving over it for various components and tools. Perhaps a butcher block in the center for the press itself. Something else that may look good would be a dedicated area for cleaning and maintenance of firearms, separated from the reloading area. Use some hole board to organize your cleaning and maintenance tools as well.
splattergun
Member
14' walls? Cool! I see a giraffe trophy in your future!
The majority of your tumbling dust issues can be rectified by:
a) using a solid cover (not slotted). If yours is slotted, just use it for media sifting. Replace the top you use on the tumbler body with a solid sheet of plexiglass (3/16 to 1/4 thick). If you find it to be noisy, take a piece of rubber hose, slit it down the middle, and fit it over the edge of the bowl as a cushion (a little RTV to fill the crack will keep the dust in)
b) add a cut up (used) dryer sheet to the media bowl. These tend to trap a lot of the real fine stuff that makes a real mess. Replace frequently.
c) make sure the tumbler is on a level, flat, smooth surface. Keep it off of textures surfaces like carpet, because these tend to erode and compromise the motor cooling fan.
Good luck with your new room!
-Ed
a) using a solid cover (not slotted). If yours is slotted, just use it for media sifting. Replace the top you use on the tumbler body with a solid sheet of plexiglass (3/16 to 1/4 thick). If you find it to be noisy, take a piece of rubber hose, slit it down the middle, and fit it over the edge of the bowl as a cushion (a little RTV to fill the crack will keep the dust in)
b) add a cut up (used) dryer sheet to the media bowl. These tend to trap a lot of the real fine stuff that makes a real mess. Replace frequently.
c) make sure the tumbler is on a level, flat, smooth surface. Keep it off of textures surfaces like carpet, because these tend to erode and compromise the motor cooling fan.
Good luck with your new room!
-Ed
Definitely. Mini-split was in the original plan.
Toprudder
Member
Shelves. I use the wire type Closetmaid shelves in my reloading area. These are NOT heavy enough to store bullets, but I store everything else on them. The thing I like about them are that 1) they don't collect dust, 2) light shines down through them, and 3) you can see up through them. If you have 14' walls, you can run the shelves up pretty high and still be able to see what is stored there.
I like the idea of a loft.
I like the idea of a loft.
Crashbox
Member
Light. And LOTS of it. I have approximately 100 foot-candles at the top of my bench which is accomplished by several LED 60-watt and a couple of 100-watt equivalents, along with a four-foot fluorescent two-tuber.
Chuck R.
Member
Think about HVAC and/or a solid dehumidifier.
My room is below grade (safe room under 3 car garage) and is on my Geothermal system as it's own zone. I still run a dehumidifier in the summer to keep a handle on the moisture.
Chuck
My room is below grade (safe room under 3 car garage) and is on my Geothermal system as it's own zone. I still run a dehumidifier in the summer to keep a handle on the moisture.
Chuck
Toprudder
Member
Oh, YES! I insulated my reloading shack VERY well, and keep it climate controlled. Small window AC in the summer, and electric radiator in the winter. I may upgrade to a small split system in the future. It is more comfortable sometimes than my house. You know - priorities.
Kingcreek
Member
++ on lots of light and power outlets are cheap. My benches are duty specific. I have a long reloading bench that currently holds 3 presses. All powder, primers, bullets ie components are on a different wall on steel shelves so that when I'm reloading, only 1 combination of powder, bullets, etc is allowed on the reloading bench (never any confusion nor do I forget what I was using when I come back to it 3 days later). I have a separate dedicated gun rack and cleaning bench where dirty guns go until cleaned/lubed and moved to the main racks (long guns) and shelves (handguns).
I don't care if pegboard is old, I used it above benches and added some shelves. My ammo and component shelves are HD steel.
AND I have a locking door and a small Halon fire extinguisher inside the room and a large ABC mounted outside the door.
I don't care if pegboard is old, I used it above benches and added some shelves. My ammo and component shelves are HD steel.
AND I have a locking door and a small Halon fire extinguisher inside the room and a large ABC mounted outside the door.
Looked at the room tonight. The ceiling is only 11' high. I thought 14 sounded a little much when I was told that. I've asked them to tell me when the electrician is going to be out there. Of course, they will probably send him out on a day that I'm seeing patients.
Regarding the humidity factor. I'll have a mini-split system. Does anyone think I'll need an additional dehumidifier?
Regarding the humidity factor. I'll have a mini-split system. Does anyone think I'll need an additional dehumidifier?
Blue68f100
Member
All depends on your area and cycle time of your unit. It's better to be low on BTU to increase cycle time to dehumidify. I had to add a dehumidifier to my reloading room/shop. But where I live the humidity averages 60% year round. The only way to know will be to setup a Humidity Meter and see what it does. I know it was bad when some of my hand tools started rusting.
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