Reloading/work bench build

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GunnyUSMC said:
You get those legs on that bench yet?
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About to go do it.

Well went to drill the holes.

I only got one set done before the @&#$$$* battery died and I’m too lazy to get out the corded one. I guess a new battery or two is in order when I get on up to Rural King (unless I find someone cheaper first)
 
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thomas15 said:
The L shape legs is a good idea. Consider gluing and screwing for a monolithic assembly.
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I ran the idea past my civil engineer Dad and he felt it was a good one. We both think it’s overkill, but what kind of engineer would I be if I didn’t overbuild it!

I screwed them for now. I may take them apart and glue once I have everything together and know it all fits right.

Right now the goal is to get all the pieces cut, and put together. After that I’ll worry about making it “pretty” and make any adjustments and updates.
 
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Hokie_PhD said:
View attachment 781061 Went to Hardee’s with my son for breakfast

We cane back and got to it

The framing for the top is done.

6’6” x30” this seems to be the perfect size fir my short arms and to make the studs line up evenly

The next step is to make the legs

Once they’re done I’ll bolt them to the top. We’ll then make the cross bracing to make it solid.
After that we’ll make the top and if I have enough material make a shelf on the bottom on the bracing.
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Looks just like mine. I should have done the L legs though. I took legs up 7’ to have a pegboard backsplash.
 
WestKentucky said:
Looks just like mine. I should have done the L legs though. I took legs up 7’ to have a pegboard backsplash.
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I’m not sure how I’m going to build the back.
I hate pegboard. So I’ll probably add a cabinet. Gunny sent me a set of plans, so I’ll use them for the cabinet as I liked the design.
 
4x4s can warp or bend, especially pressure treated lumber when it begins to dry out. The L shape makes this less likely. Also it makes it slightly easier to attach the bench top to the leg/support assembly and lower shelf. My bench currently uses commercial bench legs that I got from work, these are sturdy but at a bench height of 33" I really want something higher. When the weather gets a little bit nicer I'm going to make a whole new leg assembly using the L leg method, will glue, c-clamp then screw together to pick up 5 more inches of height. Using glue will make it so that I'm not relying on strictly the mechanical bond of the screws between the two parts.

Also, if you haven't already thought of this, consider putting vertical 2x4 supports or legs in the middle of the bench, front and back. This will help keep the lower shelf from sagging if you plan on storing lots of lead bullets there. You still might want to use heavy duty steel L brackets or some other method to attach the whole thing to the wall. Nothing better than a rock solid bench and it's almost impossible to engineer overkill in this regard.
 
I don’t plan on being in this house more than a few years so this bench will need to be easy to disassemble. Hence ghe6 way I’m building it.

I’d never use pressure treated lumber in doors. No need for it.

I’m not sure of the load that will be on the center of the bench. As of right now, I don’t see a need for a center leg. But if I do, it’ll be added.

Bracing on the wall likewise will be a TBD based on how I use the bench.
 
Hokie_PhD said:
I’m not sure how I’m going to build the back.
I hate pegboard. So I’ll probably add a cabinet. Gunny sent me a set of plans, so I’ll use them for the cabinet as I liked the design.
Click to expand...

I agree a hutch or cabinet I think is better than pegboard but some seem to like it. Even with a depth of 30" you bench is going to give you a long reach to the wall so having a hutch with shelves in my opinion is a good idea. Having tried several bench configurations I have come to the conclusion (for me at least) that 20" for the working surface is more than enough even when using ultramounts. If your back wall shelves/hutch/cabinets are 12" deep or so you still have 18" of useable work space which is plenty, especially if you mount the press directly to the bench top.

If you build a hutch just make sure you have enough space between the shelves to hold the things you plan on storing there. Might seem obvious but a little extra wiggle room will at some point may become much appreciated. When I added a Charge Master powder measure I decided I wanted to store it on the lower shelf of my hutch but the CM is about 1/2 inch too tall for the available shelf space. I ended up cutting a notch in the trim of the hutch to accommodate the CM. It looks and works fine but had I known that another 1/2 inch would be needed when I built the thing I could have avoided the problem.
 
Well I messed up royally.
It seems the bolts I planned to use weren’t all the same size.
I’m not sure how they got in the same bag (I suspect it was due to the move)

Anyway. It looks like I’m done until I make a trip to Lowe’s.

The good news is that it’s a minor issue and one easily fixed!
 
Walk along
I agree. I just went a long time not using my tools so I had once die. Actually I bought a new drill as it was cheaper than buying batteries.
 
thomas15 said:
I agree a hutch or cabinet I think is better than pegboard but some seem to like it. Even with a depth of 30" you bench is going to give you a long reach to the wall so having a hutch with shelves in my opinion is a good idea. Having tried several bench configurations I have come to the conclusion (for me at least) that 20" for the working surface is more than enough even when using ultramounts. If your back wall shelves/hutch/cabinets are 12" deep or so you still have 18" of useable work space which is plenty, especially if you mount the press directly to the bench top.

If you build a hutch just make sure you have enough space between the shelves to hold the things you plan on storing there. Might seem obvious but a little extra wiggle room will at some point may become much appreciated. When I added a Charge Master powder measure I decided I wanted to store it on the lower shelf of my hutch but the CM is about 1/2 inch too tall for the available shelf space. I ended up cutting a notch in the trim of the hutch to accommodate the CM. It looks and works fine but had I known that another 1/2 inch would be needed when I built the thing I could have avoided the problem.
Click to expand...


I’ll figure it out once I start using the bench!
 
I think we have all been there done that one. I hate getting slowed up like that though, and get irritated with myself when it is self inflicted. :)
 
Walkalong said:
I think we have all been there done that one. I hate getting slowed up like that though, and get irritated with myself when it is self inflicted. :)
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It is what it is.
The thing is, that I’m out in the country. So it’s not like when I was only 1 1/2 miles from Lowe’s and 2 from Home Depot.

We have aDollar General close and a few gas stations. Otherwise it’s a trip into town. Or a trip to the “big city”.
 
Hokie_PhD said:
cheaper than buying batteries.
Click to expand...
Ain't that about the truth. The B&D drill was abandoned and I bought another battery and a charger since I already had a B&D weed eater and two batteries. Someone stole my Porter Cable drill set when the broke into my house. That is when I bought the Dewalt.

I took a chance on this aftermarket battery for B&D and have been pleased with it. Now I have two here for the weedeater and two with the drill at the property.
 
Walkalong said:
Ain't that about the truth. The B&D drill was abandoned and I bought another battery and a charger since I already had a B&D weed eater and two batteries. Someone stole my Porter Cable drill set when the broke into my house. That is when I bought the Dewalt.

I took a chance on this aftermarket battery for B&D and have been pleased with it. Now I have two here for the weedeater and two with the drill at the property.
Click to expand...

I’ve toyed with taking the batteries apart and replacing the cells. The other option is the 20V adapter kit. So we’ll see.
Right now completing this bench is the top priority as far as indoor home projects.
 
Hokie_PhD said:
The thing is, that I’m out in the country. So it’s not like when I was only 1 1/2 miles from Lowe’s and 2 from Home Depot.
Click to expand...
My dream one day, have the property, just need to build and move. House here is paid off. I do projects up there and the last one was laying some block, needed one more bag of mix to finish last weekend. 15ish miles to a Lowes or Russel Do-it Center. *Sigh* Will finish up next time out. :)
 
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