Reloading/Workbench Question

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AlabamaDan

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I have a quick question I'm hoping y'all can answer. I have a lead on some old tabletops that I could easily turn into nice workbenches just by adding legs. The dimensions are 20" deep, 56" long. Is 20" too shallow? My initial thought is that it would work and anything deeper would just collect junk anyway.
 
20" should be plenty. You are right about a wider table collecting junk. One look at mine would prove you are right.
 
Follow up question...how high is your bench height? I was looking at the NRMA bench plans and it has the height as 42". That seems a little high.
 
I reload both standing and sitting. The height of my portable bench for sit down reloading is 35" but that's for me to be comfortable. I also use an office chair with height adjustment to fine-tune a comfortable height for my reloading sessions. The C-H single stage press mounted on the same bench also allows comfortable resizing of rifle cases while standing for me.

Whether you reload standing/sitting, you should determine the motion range of your press's ram lever and see what mounted height of the press will allow you to reload most comfortably.
 
I reload both standing and sitting. The height of my portable bench for sit down reloading is 35" but that's for me to be comfortable. I also use an office chair with height adjustment to fine-tune a comfortable height for my reloading sessions. The C-H single stage press mounted on the same bench also allows comfortable resizing of rifle cases while standing for me.

Whether you reload standing/sitting, you should determine the motion range of your press's ram lever and see what mounted height of the press will allow you to reload most comfortably.
Same here but at 38", I'm 6'3.
 
I'd say it depends on the individual, his tastes, his needs, and the available space. I use an old folding banquet table which is 24" deep for a bench, but then I cut an old bookshelf in half and put it on the back of the table for shelving. (I'm not a cheap bastage, I'm a "repurposer":D).

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Mine's 23" deep and at 35" high. I reload in an office chair. It's just about right.
 
My bench is "42x"20 and it holds my 650(casefeeder and GSI bullet feeder) and Classic turret easily enough. I have room for loading trays and component containers, etc...
 
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Mine sits at about 30" high and is just perfect. I think it's about 22" wide so 20" should be just fine.
 
My bench is at standard counter height....so 36" ....and I sit on a wooden bar stool to load...
 
I use an old laundry table made with an angle iron frame and a wood top. It is approximately 4 ft by 18-20 inches deep. The table is standard table height.

But, my presses are mounted to free standing floor stands and not to the table. They are heighten than the table, approximately kitchen counter height, plus/minus. Apologies that my reloading room is not handy to my current location.

Frequently, I have to clear the table off to keep working room. That is good, keeps the junk from piling up. I have shelves and storage drawers to catch the equipment and tools that are not in use.

For the press height, make your mount so that it can be changed, height wise. Then, if you pick a height that is not comfortable, you can change it without too much difficulty. It is one bridge you do not want to burn until you figured out what you like. If you are not comfortable while reloading, reloading will be a chore.

i sit in a chair while reloading. many folks sit on a stool or stand while reloading.

Finally, build your leg system sturdy with no flex. I suggest good bracing, bolted or screwed connections with adhesive in the joints. The bench does not have to be heavy if you have accounted for the various forces applied to it by the press, but weight can make up for poor geometry and bracing. In either case, flex is not your friend.

Hope this helps. Have fun building your bench.
 
I prefer to sit while reloading. My bench is 34" high, 28" deep, and 60" long. I have 3 presses on it along with a case trimmer, powder measure, and priming tool mounted on it. I have metal drawers across the back and just enough room between things for loading blocks.
 
Mine is 30 inches high and I sit on a standard chair to reload. 20 inches deep will be OK. Mine is 24, but like others have said, the other space collects "things".
 
My bench is 37" high. I use a bar stool height chair. That height works for me when standing as well. It is 20" deep, but the surface is rounded front and back, so the working space is around 19". It is plenty for me, but larger can't hurt if you have the space. I have a little shelf on the wall above it as well as a cabinet hung on the wall above it for goodies.
 

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My bench is 96" wide x 38" deep. :what: It was built in place. I put shelves along the back and the effective depth is now 32" It does seem to collect a lot of stuff. It's just too big and heavy to take it apart and cut it down. :eek:

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Charlie
 
make you reloading bench as long as you can mine are 34"x11 34"x9 26"x7
and all are 37" tall
 

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I think outside of a store, yours is the first press that I've seen locked up.

The reason my press has a bike lock on it is my grandson. When he was younger and I'd just started reloading, I showed him how I was doing it. When I was done, I turned the powder measure off, for some inane reason. So, he being a young boy that has to put his fingers on everything, he decided to "help me out" and made a few .45 rounds for me, when I wasn't around. With no powder in them.

The results - two ruined 1911 barrels. Hence, the bike lock on the press.

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Mine is 24"x48". The depth is good but I wish it made it longer.
 

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Mine is 30" deep and is L shaped, 12 feet 6 inches wide by 8 foot. It stands 40 inches tall and works great for me. I am 6 foot 4 inches tall with long arms and this heght works well from my bar stool or standing. I have my two Dillon RL 550B presses on the 8 foot section and have my Lyman Orange Crusher on the long section.
 
My bench is 46" height. Everyone that comes over and sees it says "wow that's tall". After they work on it a few minutes they says "this is perfect". I'm 5'11" I have a bar height chair I use if I want to sit so it works both ways.
 
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