Jaxondog
Member
20" is fine and the height is really up to you and you alone. Some people like to sit in an armed secratary type chair, someon a bar stool and the rest like to stand so it's up to the individual. 
Reloading/Workbench Question
- Thread starter AlabamaDan
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AlabamaDan
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- Jan 4, 2012
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Thanks for all the advice guys. I was going to buy/scrounge materials to build a bench. Then I came across the Harbor Freight workbench on sale for $160 and with a 20% coupon it's only $128. Anyone ever used one of those?
http://www.harborfreight.com/60-inch-workbench-93454.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/60-inch-workbench-93454.html
NeuseRvrRat
Member
that looks ok. you'll probably want to anchor it to the floor or wall somehow
That HF workbench will probably be fine to start with. A reloading bench is totally a personal thing, it's up to the individual to determine what's "perfect" for him. As was mentioned, some like to stand, some like bar stools, some like chairs. I prefer an office chair with wheels and adjustments, and so does my back.
IMHO, to me, storage is just as important as the bench itself, so I put 2x12's across the legs of my reloading table and made one hell-for-stout shelf to store boxes of bullets and whatever else I can put there. Also made a little shelf unit from 2x12's just for boxes with thousands of lead bullets, and my toolboxes sit on top of it. Plus the old bookcase I sawed in half and put on the back of my reloading table for whatever I can cram on it.
But besides the table I pictured as my reloading bench, I also have another table just like it about 4 feet away as a workbench. I have a sheet of plywood on the floor between the tables, and I can just spin around in my chair and wheel between the two tables, for reloading, gunsmithing/tinkering, stock refinishing, or whatever I want/need to do. That's my "gun corner". Dang near everything gun related I own is crammed in there, and it's currently a mess, and overflowing. Then there's all the stuff in the garage.....
This is my gun corner (old photo), IMO it's totally up to the individual how you want to build and arrange your setup, depending upon the space and location you have to work with. I'm just redneck enough to "repurpose" other peoples' discards and will use things for years. That old filing cabinet has two drawers filled with primers and powders, but the lock still works. Hey, nobody sees it but me and the wife anyway......
Build some simple shelving with 2x12's, and a piece of plywood across the back to stabilize it, and that'll hold more weight than you can imagine. This thing isn't very big, but with all the bullets and the toolboxes you can't see on top, it probably has as much weight as a Chevy V8 engine sitting on it.
IMHO, to me, storage is just as important as the bench itself, so I put 2x12's across the legs of my reloading table and made one hell-for-stout shelf to store boxes of bullets and whatever else I can put there. Also made a little shelf unit from 2x12's just for boxes with thousands of lead bullets, and my toolboxes sit on top of it. Plus the old bookcase I sawed in half and put on the back of my reloading table for whatever I can cram on it.
But besides the table I pictured as my reloading bench, I also have another table just like it about 4 feet away as a workbench. I have a sheet of plywood on the floor between the tables, and I can just spin around in my chair and wheel between the two tables, for reloading, gunsmithing/tinkering, stock refinishing, or whatever I want/need to do. That's my "gun corner". Dang near everything gun related I own is crammed in there, and it's currently a mess, and overflowing. Then there's all the stuff in the garage.....
This is my gun corner (old photo), IMO it's totally up to the individual how you want to build and arrange your setup, depending upon the space and location you have to work with. I'm just redneck enough to "repurpose" other peoples' discards and will use things for years. That old filing cabinet has two drawers filled with primers and powders, but the lock still works. Hey, nobody sees it but me and the wife anyway......
Build some simple shelving with 2x12's, and a piece of plywood across the back to stabilize it, and that'll hold more weight than you can imagine. This thing isn't very big, but with all the bullets and the toolboxes you can't see on top, it probably has as much weight as a Chevy V8 engine sitting on it.
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I do not have a bench, I have stands, I was thinking reloading was not fair, I keep seeing this 'thing' at the back of all the pictures, A WALL!?, Reloaders have walls? My walls are 3 feet away.
A local hospital was doing some remolding, things to go were fire-proof doors (solid core). known to someone at the hospital. I was asked if I was interested in all of the doors, they explained to me how heavy they were and handling doors was difficult, so they offered the doors free plus handling expense. I turned them down and they made me a better deal, they said I could have the doors but I had to get them down from upstairs.
I was in and out before they knew I was there, work bench tops, solid core. Still, I do not have a work bench. I do have a lathe base from the 1880s that ran off of a line shaft and a Work Mate, then there are saw horses.
F. Guffey
A local hospital was doing some remolding, things to go were fire-proof doors (solid core). known to someone at the hospital. I was asked if I was interested in all of the doors, they explained to me how heavy they were and handling doors was difficult, so they offered the doors free plus handling expense. I turned them down and they made me a better deal, they said I could have the doors but I had to get them down from upstairs.
I was in and out before they knew I was there, work bench tops, solid core. Still, I do not have a work bench. I do have a lathe base from the 1880s that ran off of a line shaft and a Work Mate, then there are saw horses.
F. Guffey
AlabamaDan
Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2012
- Messages
- 32
Going to by the HF bench tonight and assemble tomorrow. After assembly if it needs modifications I'll go with that. Thanks for all the advice guys and I'll post a pic sometime.
mcdonl
Member
Rondog... is that a basement? I really like the wall coverings. I am going to be buying a bunch of t&g pine for a ceiling on my back porch this spring I may start doing my basement in it. Starting with my man cave of course...
Flt Simulation
Member
I posted this in the "Show us a picture of your reloading bench" thread, but here it is again:
This Sears workbench has been great .. $165 when ordered on the internet, and no shipping charges if it's delivered to your local Sears store. They will charge you the required state tax though.
It's 6' long and weighs about 100 lb. (not flimsy at all)
The height is a standard 41", so it's the correct height for a stool (like the adjustable height Northern Tool stool shown in the photo)
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...0P&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=31-60811287-2
This Sears workbench has been great .. $165 when ordered on the internet, and no shipping charges if it's delivered to your local Sears store. They will charge you the required state tax though.
It's 6' long and weighs about 100 lb. (not flimsy at all)
The height is a standard 41", so it's the correct height for a stool (like the adjustable height Northern Tool stool shown in the photo)
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...0P&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=31-60811287-2
J_McLeod
Member
I think about 12" deep is all I really need. Anything more is a bonus.
aerod1
Member
Mine is 30" high, 34 " deep and 96" long. I sit in an office chair to reload ammo and clean guns. Just right for me.
Yeah, it's our basement, but I LOL'd at your comment because the basement was "finished" by a previous owner who was apparently "challenged" when it comes to construction! That's the cheapest, crappiest paneling I've ever seen, and the shoddiest workmanship of all time. It's really embarrassing.
1SOW
Member
My bench is 38" high and 30" deep. The press is elevated about 4" above the table. This steel and plywood in layers press mount was added later for comfort and vision.
I can comfortably reload and can clearly see the powder in the case standing or sitting on a home made stool with a back support pad. I prefer sitting for longer sessions.
It's in a small alcove made for a freezer in the garage. I made cabinets above and below the bench, with a level shelf at eye height for the powder scale that never moves.
It cost about $20 for the stain and hardware plus on-hand scrap wood and steel.
I'm 5' 8" tall.
I can comfortably reload and can clearly see the powder in the case standing or sitting on a home made stool with a back support pad. I prefer sitting for longer sessions.
It's in a small alcove made for a freezer in the garage. I made cabinets above and below the bench, with a level shelf at eye height for the powder scale that never moves.
It cost about $20 for the stain and hardware plus on-hand scrap wood and steel.
I'm 5' 8" tall.
Three of my benches are 24", one is 18" in depth. The 24's are about perfect...narrow enough to force you to put stuff away and not clutter up the bench, but deep enough to allow good access to your scale, die set, calipers, primers, fired cases, finished rounds, load data sheet etc.
I've ended up using the 18" one as a cleaning bench, made it on lockable casters to ease movement away from the wall for cleaning rifles but it's just too narrow for rifle or handgun use with my presses. It does do double duty as a shotgun bench on the rare occasions when I'm loading for the scatter guns. But even then it's really too narrow.
Here's a cpl of pics...I do like the drawers I've installed below the work surface...keeps the clutter to a minimum and allows easy access to dies, scales etc.
The top pic is of the three loading benches...24"x54"...made from my wife's old counter tops. On the left is the handgun bench with two Dillon 550Bs..one for small primers, the other for large. The bench in the middle is for case prep, powder workup etc. The bench on the right next to the safe, is for rifle work only. Two presses: a 50 yr old Herters' #3 (paid $13 for it from their eclectic old catalogue when I was 16!) and a Harrell Turret. Oddly enuf, the Herters is every bit as accurate as to runout as the expensive Harrell, tho not as elegant.
The 2nd one is of my "Cleaning Bench"...also for shotgun use...on casters, with a cpl drawers for cleaning stuff.
If you're building a new one...measure your stool, and get a good bench height that'll allow you to work sitting down if that's your style...it's worth the trouble to get it just right!
Best Regards, HTH's Rod
I've ended up using the 18" one as a cleaning bench, made it on lockable casters to ease movement away from the wall for cleaning rifles but it's just too narrow for rifle or handgun use with my presses. It does do double duty as a shotgun bench on the rare occasions when I'm loading for the scatter guns. But even then it's really too narrow.
Here's a cpl of pics...I do like the drawers I've installed below the work surface...keeps the clutter to a minimum and allows easy access to dies, scales etc.
The top pic is of the three loading benches...24"x54"...made from my wife's old counter tops. On the left is the handgun bench with two Dillon 550Bs..one for small primers, the other for large. The bench in the middle is for case prep, powder workup etc. The bench on the right next to the safe, is for rifle work only. Two presses: a 50 yr old Herters' #3 (paid $13 for it from their eclectic old catalogue when I was 16!) and a Harrell Turret. Oddly enuf, the Herters is every bit as accurate as to runout as the expensive Harrell, tho not as elegant.
The 2nd one is of my "Cleaning Bench"...also for shotgun use...on casters, with a cpl drawers for cleaning stuff.
If you're building a new one...measure your stool, and get a good bench height that'll allow you to work sitting down if that's your style...it's worth the trouble to get it just right!
Best Regards, HTH's Rod
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