Sawhorses for a cheap reloading bench?

[ListerD]

I'm about to get started with reloading and have been looking at ideas for a cheap DIY bench. I'm not a great carpenter so I was looking for some quick-start ideas. Was at Harbor Freight checking out a wooden workbench when I saw the sawhorses and thought they might serve as a cheap and easy base (about 30 bucks for a pair). They're thick wood topped with steel legs, supposedly rated to 1000# each, so was thinking about connecting them up with a couple 2x4s then laying a 1 1/2" plywood or MDF top. Could even fit a plywood shelf on the bottom. Just wondering if anyone has used such a setup and/or if it would be sturdy enough. A little concerned that it could tip on the downstroke, though it will be against a wall. Plan on starting with a Lee Classic Turret.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[dickttx]

Not the absolute sturdiest, but it should work OK with the LCT. I have found that on something like that, if you can get the back against a wall, a 1"x2" strip screwed to the wall really makes it solid.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Not sturdy enough, IMO.

 

[mmitch]

If you do not anchor it to a wall or hang some heavy weight from it, it will be too light.

Mike

 

[ListerD]

Thanks for the quick feedback! Guess its either secure it to the wall or go back to the drawing board.

 

[oneounceload]

go look at Gorilla Racks from Costco/Sam's - add a plywood top from 5/8" doubled/glued/screwed - that will give you either a 4 or 8 foot bench with shelves that won't go anywhere

 

[twofifty]

Salvation Army store

For about the same money, you could buy a used desk or low dresser. Screw it to a wall ledger/wall studs. This would be heavier to start with, sturdier, and bonus you get some drawers for the gear.

Mount your press directly to the desktop, maybe with a plywood backing & washers underneath the top to spread out the flex loads.

Think Sally Ann or garage sale.

 

[clone]

http://www.harborfreight.com/folding-clamping-workbench-with-movable-pegs-47844.html

This what you where referring to? Seems sturdy enough and portable. Anyone tried one?

 

[ListerD]

Clone,
Actually I was referring to these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/two-piece-foldable-saw-horse-set-41577.html

I've seen some folks have made portable reloading benches from the folding "Workmate" style benches, but I believe they're usually this style for better stability:

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-WM425-Workmate-Capacity/dp/B0000224R9

Though two of those that you posted would probably work equally well if not better than the sawhorses for about the same price.

 

[ListerD]

twofifty,

Thanks for the good suggestion. My problem there is that I don't have easy access to a truck and need something that will disassemble to fit in my hatchback. I can fit a fair bit in there, but an assembled dresser or desk would be a stretch. I've even seen a couple of desks for free on craigslist that would fit the bill, but transport is an issue.

 

[Toforo]

(old) TV stand on wheels...

cost?
Nothing
(they're useless now with flatscreen tv's) and you can find them all over for nothing or next-to-nothing (GoodWill, SalvationArmy, Garage Sales - etc)

The wood on the bottom is a 2x4 notched out on each end (for the wheels) to act as "wheel-chocks" to stabilize it - I remove the "chocks" and roll it into the closet out of the way when I'm done reloading

Works GREAT - not shown in THIS pic, but I recently added a shelf on the bottom to store my tumbler and media-seperator bucket/wheel

In the second pic, you'll see a 1x1x6" attached to the side of my work desk, the "bench" gets pushed UNDER this block to "dog it down" while using the bench - still, just unchock the wheels and roll it back into the closet...

 

[Lost Sheep]

Bolt it to the center of the Earth

My first loading sessions saw my press bolted to a 2x6 board about 30" long wedged in the drawer of a nightstand. I steadied the press with my left hand and worked the handle with my right. The slight backward lean, I found to be quite handy, as the position of the press was a little low, and facing slightly up was just perfect.

I also sometimes used a belt to fasten the board and press to the top of the nightstand/end table (with a towel or several sheets of newspaper between the board and the furniture to prevent marring the finish).

Now, I use a folding workbench, either my Stanley or my Black & Decker.

If the assembly is too light and bounces around, just take all your extra bullets, loaded rounds or whatever is handy and heavy and pile it onto or hang it from the bottom shelf or legs.

It's one solution of many.

Still, the best way is to get really long fasteners and bolt it to the center of the Earth.

Good luck. Be safe. Always, all ways.

Lost Sheep

 

[twofifty]

Like the TV stand idea. Very compact and just big enough for an efficient basic setup. Maybe it would fit in your hatchback.

If you're right handed, try and mount the press further to the right. Leaving about 6-8" on the right is just about ideal.

If you find that things roll off, glue & finish nail a thin strip of wood against the top's edge, with the strip extending above the top a tiny bit except maybe at the front.

 

[hanno]

Get a Black & Decker Workmate. Remove the top and in it's place bolt a piece of 3/4 " plywood. You are good to go and it folds up and out of the way when not needed.

The picture of mine shows it newly put together. I have been using it for years.

 

[mdi]

Here's my Workmate Reloading Bench. Scrap counter top, 2x4 screwed to bottom, press and vise bolted to top, top clamped into Workmate. Sturdy and easily disassembled to stow...

 

[amlevin]

I used a Workmate while living in an apartment and it made a fantastic loading bench. The offset in the legs makes it more stable when sizing a larger, difficult, case. I set mine up with different tops for Shotshell loading, my Lee Progressive, and RCBS Rock Chucker.

Everything could go on a closet shelf and the Workmate folded in there as well.

 

[ListerD]

I like the workmate idea, at least for a start and for portability. Seems like a versatile and low-cost solution.

 

[Clark]

I use saw horses for painting boards. That is about it.

My brother took my $5 workmate for a shooting bench.
So I got another one for free, for cutting boards.

For a reloading bench, the best I have found is a printer table.
They are stiff and strong.. and often free.


This would cost $400 new, but when a biz goes out of biz, the office furniture goes for next to nothing.

 

[Red Cent]

ListerD, where are you placing the reloading bench?

 

[joeoim]

I built a quick sawhorse for a bench out of scrap 30 years ago and loaded thousands of 357s with a rockchucker press. Then I got one of these, http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=155024
It worked a lot better, easer to move and takes a lot less space. I only loaded .357 and 41 magnum, but worked like a champ for that.

Joe

 

[tlen]

Get a used solid core exterior door and mount banquet table legs on it. It will be heavy & thick. The only problem you may have is the reloading press down stroke [handle comes up during sizing] lifting the table off the ground. In that case you need to bolt it down.