Reloading/work bench build

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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. :)

On Feb. 1st we made our last mortgage payment so this is the first month in 30 years that we haven't had to make that payment. It's 14 miles to the nearest Lowes although there is a hardware store a bit closer but they keep old fashioned hours and I still work full time. Anyway I can shoot In my yard, we have 4 acres, and do a little bit from time to time and test out new loads but one of my neighbors doesn't like it so for the sake of peace and tranquility in the area I don't do it much. If something ever went wrong or if someone else sent a shot flying in error, well I don't want to have to deal with it. So I belong to several clubs and do most of my shooting there. One of the clubs I belong to (Ontelaunee) is in my opinion the premier club in NE PA and only costs $30.00 per year LOL! But to your point I know the feeling well about planning your trips carefully to the store.
 
Ouch

Don’t think so. It’s what the wimps I’ve woeked with complain about for being too strong. Some people like it strong enough to melt the cup, I prefer it so it melts the cup, then the handle as you jump away. Lol
@GunnyUSMC
I always tell people there's four kinds of caffeinated coffee.

1. Two bean coffee water
2. All day coffee
3. Regular coffee
4. And then there's wake up juice

I make wake up juice. My dad and brother won't touch it without a ton of half and half. I drink a half pot of it, laugh, and then ask who wants to go ride bikes.

Glad you're finally getting that bench built Hokie Doc.
 
Looking forward to the finished bench. I screw all my projects together so I have the option to change in the future. I also roast my beans, grind them and then the coffee comes out of the pot strong enough to walk to my cup. Good coffee does not need anything else, now to get my wife to agree.
 
@GunnyUSMC
I always tell people there's four kinds of caffeinated coffee.

1. Two bean coffee water
2. All day coffee
3. Regular coffee
4. And then there's wake up juice

I make wake up juice. My dad and brother won't touch it without a ton of half and half. I drink a half pot of it, laugh, and then ask who wants to go ride bikes.

Glad you're finally getting that bench built Hokie Doc.

Yeah, when I'm at my brothers camp, I can always tell when one of the military guys made the coffee. The basket is completely full!!
 
If I might add to the distance to the store theme, we can all live without our reloading benches for a day but not being able to take a shower or flush the toilet is another thing all together. A few months ago I decided it was time to replace all of the copper water supply pipe to the main bathroom with PEX. First time using this material. I purchased all of the pipe, fittings clamps, connectors/elbows/valves and of course the all important crimp tool.

Got ready to do the work and with fear in my heart pulled out all of the old pipes. Point of no return. This runs through a conduit and under a slab, about 20 feet then under the slab floor at a really awkward angle in the bathroom. Got everything run and ready to hook up to the water supply in the basement and discovered that one of the 1" connectors to the supply was the wrong size. It was 8:35 PM, everyone wanted to take a shower and flush so a mad rush to Lowes before they close at 9:00
 
If I might add to the distance to the store theme, we can all live without our reloading benches for a day but not being able to take a shower or flush the toilet is another thing all together. A few months ago I decided it was time to replace all of the copper water supply pipe to the main bathroom with PEX. First time using this material. I purchased all of the pipe, fittings clamps, connectors/elbows/valves and of course the all important crimp tool.

Got ready to do the work and with fear in my heart pulled out all of the old pipes. Point of no return. This runs through a conduit and under a slab, about 20 feet then under the slab floor at a really awkward angle in the bathroom. Got everything run and ready to hook up to the water supply in the basement and discovered that one of the 1" connectors to the supply was the wrong size. It was 8:35 PM, everyone wanted to take a shower and flush so a mad rush to Lowes before they close at 9:00

I moved 2-1/2 hours from “home” almost 2 years ago leaving behind friends, family, and 2 rental houses. 2 rentals soon became a rental and a SOLD, then when we had trouble with “creative repairs” from tenants destroying the place the other one became an eviction and then SOLD. It’s never more frustrating than knowing that you have exactly what you need and having to buy it again just because it’s too far away, but those late nights during renovation where the water was off, well that’s a close second...yeah sometimes ya gotta dig a latrine. Not exactly what the wife wanted to do. At least we had showers waiting at our house when we got home.
 
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.
Drywall screws are my go to method as I'm somewhat hammer challenged now, and even predrill/countersink those screw holes.
I also pre-assemble with finish nails, saves a lot of clamping.
So it's finish nails/no clamps, predrill/countersink screw holes, install screws, and just leave those finish nails in there :uhoh:.
:D
 
hey... I assume this is a mock up of the steel one you are going to build with your lincoln mig right :D looks great for a wood one :p
 
Drywall screws are my go to method as I'm somewhat hammer challenged now, and even predrill/countersink those screw holes.

So it's finish nails/no clamps, predrill/countersink screw holes, install screws, and just leave those finish nails in there :uhoh::D
I like nail/screw combination.

For my portable bench, I pre-drilled all the nail/screw holes (to prevent kiln dried 2x4s from splitting) and nailed the 2x4 pieces for two bench tops with 16d nails and screwed the hardwood veneered plywood with 1 5/8" yellow zinc screws every 6 inches. No glue was used.

Vertical 2x4s were then nailed/screwed to the bench top 2x4s. Pegboard was screwed to the back 2x4s to provide additional stiffness.

When we moved to our retirement house, the bench was loaded with over 2000 pounds of bullets/components/equipment (HF moving dolly casters on bottom of bench failed) and after 14 hours of rough moving truck ride, bench was still tight without any movement. I replaced the casters and the bench was as tight as the day I built it.

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Replace the copper---Why?? Need to sell it tobuy more reloading supplies??

House was built in 1976. We bought it in 2004. I think the plumber used the cheapest copper water pipe as I had been fixing holes 3 or 4 times/year for 13 years always on the cold water side. Under the bathroom floor I had patches on top of patches
.
So finally got fed up, ripped it out and enjoying no leaks. Funny, because I was in a hurry to finish, I left about 12" of copper in the cold water line from the sink to the toilet. I did this because it was in the wall and of course had a shut off valve. I used a shark bit to tie the new to the old. A few weeks ago I heard hissing in the wall, that 12" of old copper managed to spring a leak. Now everything top to bottom except the case board heaters is either PEX or CPVC.
 
Gunny,
I’m looking forward to seeing your benches clean and pics of new projects on them. Yours look like whoever taught you to build was of the same school who taught me. Build it strong, over build it and do it once.

In my case if I wasn’t moving again in a few years I’d do it differently. So some of the way I’m doing it is to be strong, but to be able to break it down to move.
 
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.

I've built benches with L shaped legs, only I used a 2x3 for one side of the "L" and a 2x4 for the other.
Doing it that way adds symmetry to the appearance of the leg...anal I know :uhoh:
:D
 
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Jezz would you guys quit talking about coffee like a bunch of book club lady's and get to building the bench. We're all waiting on pics.
 
Jezz would you guys quit talking about coffee like a bunch of book club lady's and get to building the bench. We're all waiting on pics.

Because I’m swamped with work until Thursday or Friday!

So have to kill some time until then.

I could have mentioned flavored coffee too, but figured that wouldn’t be appreciated.

It’ll be done this weekend.
 
For those waiting. The last few days have been insanely busy with work so I didn’t have a chance to get to Lowe’s. What’s so annoying is I had a meeting today and drove past Home Depot, Lowe’s and a True Value and didn’t have time to stop.

So the plan is to get the right bolts tomorrow if I can get out of work early. If not, I’ll get them early Saturday morning.

I’ll get the legs bolted on, then get the bracing for the legs cut and bolted. Then work on the top will begin.
 
Life happens. Been there too many times.

Good thing is you are working on a bench to "relax" away from life's hassles soon. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Take your time ... bench is not going anywhere. I have been "designing" a permanent portable bench for Dillon 650 since late last year ... and now that Pro 4000 is on pre-order, I now need to figure out how to mount both on the same 2'x3' castered bench. :(
 
I could have mentioned flavored coffee too,
Oh, now that PHD is coming out! ;)

I'll admit that I don't drink much of the Navy coffee, but at least I don't drink - gasp - flavored! :p

And since I was brought up on Cafe con Leche (It's a Cuban thing), I take my coffee with sugar. Black, but with sugar.
And for the record, much prefer DoubleD to Starbucks. :thumbup:

Oh, BTW, the bench is coming out very good. On the top, are you planning on doubling up the MDF top? Will you bolt the press to the underlying support 2x4s? I ask as MDF isn't structural and I don't know how it'll hold up to the stresses imparted by the press.
 
Oh, now that PHD is coming out! ;)

I'll admit that I don't drink much of the Navy coffee, but at least I don't drink - gasp - flavored! :p

And since I was brought up on Cafe con Leche (It's a Cuban thing), I take my coffee with sugar. Black, but with sugar.
And for the record, much prefer DoubleD to Starbucks. :thumbup:

I not much of a coffee drinker. But when I drink it I like good coffee. That said, years ago I worked for a guy who was a coffee fanatic. One day he made Creme Bulee and the smell in the office was insanely good. So good I had to have some. So seldom do I drink it but when I do, that’s a favorite. Flavored or not it’s got to be strong ditto with tea. Just can’t stanf weak coffee or tea.
 
For a bit I liked flavored coffees, and can deal with French Vanilla, but one time overdid the Hazelnut creamer and it just soured me, to where I can't even stand the smell anymore. So, just black -- with sugar.
My former boss was forbidden from making coffee in the office. She would fill the filter basket all the way and make black tar!
Our office neighbors also have an espresso machine and we make Cuban coffee a couple times a day. Basically a very strong espresso stirred into sugar as it just finishes brewing. You drink it out of small cups and one serving will have about as much caffeine as a normal cup of joe.

BTW, I work at a college as well, but not a PHD by any stretch. But I deal with faculty all the time, I'm a technology trainer/instructional designer and work with them on bringing their courses online and using the tech tools for teaching.
 
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