Source for Reloading Benches & Press Mounting

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Anthony

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Hello Everyone,

I'm currently converting a moderately sized bedroom into a GUN ROOM and am looking for a nicely size workbench for cleaning rifles and reloading. It seems like no one really sells a top quality bench with a wood top judging from my surfing around the various hardware stores and other such websites.

Can anyone suggest a manufacturer/supplier of a truly top drawer quality workbench with a wood top that will last a lifetime?

What types of materials are best for the bench surface you intend to drill and bolt the reloading press too?

What materials should I avoid?

Thanks for the help.
 
Great points, Medulla.

Unfortunately I am allergic to any type of home project larger than fixing small problems around the house. I'm one of those shooters who would rather be at the range than sanding a top for my workbench.
 
near by college

I'd check the closest college and see if they have a surplus store.
My local university just gutted an old science building. I was able to get a table from one of their labs pretty cheap. ~3' x 5' It was stable and had a 2" thick wood top.
 
I am not handy at all and I built a workbench from the plans in this link. The trick is to go to Home Depot or Lowes on a Tuesday night or something when no one is there. Then you can have the 2X4's cut and you won't have to wait. Having the wood cut is the hardest part the rest is just screwing it together. It cost me $45 and took about 2 hours including the trip to Lowes. This was a last resort but I wanted something sturdy and I would have had to spend $300 to get something as sturdy as this one I made myself.

Here is the link.
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20.html

Here is the bench.
 

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Take a look at the mapletop workbench at Sam's Club. You can search their website and find picture and detailed description. It's a 72"x25" by 1 3/4" thick butcherboard-type polished top with six adjustable powdercoated legs. Adding drawers and bottom shelves would be easy. It goes for $200. They also have a smaller version for the same price that has drawers and a lighted pegboard tool hanging 'wall'. Both are sturdy and quality-built. I don't see the second bench on the Sam's Club website.

Vista
 
Best thing is build the bench your self. I built mine from scratch, but there are plenty of DIY plans out there that anyone can build. I must add I have a pretty complete wood shop and built it out of scap wood left over from other projects. I put in three draws on one side and shelves on the other. Top is masenite over 3/4" plywood with 2x half lapped frame. Very stout top and you want it to be. The masenite is smooth and cheap. Good luck.
 
I'm with Vista on this one. I saw the bench at Sam's club, and the wood is fantastic. I have priced maple tops to make a new gunsmithing bench, and the top alone, including shipping would cost more than the whole bench from Sam's.
 
Midway sells a "Kennedy Kencraft" bench that's got a nice wooden top, but light 'cause it's mostly made of sheet metal, has drawers on one side, etc. Since mine's indoors as well, I got one. I like it.

Edit: oh, wow. It's now listed for $450, up from $325 when I got mine...
 
For benches look for industrial supply. Here are two sources Grainer and McMaster Car. I purchased an Edsal commercial duty adjustable ht work bench 48x24 particle board top like show below and have been very happy with it. Drilled mounting holes for my Hornady LNL and fastened it to the bench. Store powder and bullets on the lower shelf.
XL-1W810.JPG


You can buy benches with different type tops from steel to butcher block. Often you buy the legs and the top seperate.
 
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Here's mine. It's an old banquet table from my American Legion Hall. The only metallic I reload is .32 Win Spec with a Lee Loader (yes you do use a hammer to get the new primer in)

I reload mostly shotgun with the loaders mounted in cake pans and clamped to the table, so it doesn't get the torque/pressure that a metallic press will inflict. Plus having a ton of crap on it helps. Several sheets of thick plywood (not OSB or particle board) make a great top for any bench.

HTH.

(PS. The Pacifc DL-350 is not pictured as it's out in the garage being cleaned up.)
 
Home Depot has or had work bench kits but I don't remember the cost and I think Dillon might have a bench kit as well. what ever you do make sure you make the top 1 1/2 ' thick my first bench top was 3/4 '
after three stroke on a single stage press I cracked the top. Bought a sheet of 3/4' plywood and re enforced the top of the bench 2 1/4' thick didn't crack after that
 
I built a pice of countertop into the wall for a bench. Attatched a 2X4 to the wall, put the countertop on that with common brackets and prefabed table legs on the front. Rock solid. I weigh 225, and I can stand on the thing with no flex.

Total cost around 150 bucks. Four hours worth of work.

I reccomend a white surface for better visibility.
 
I have a table similar to scout26 above, what I did differently was taking a 2x4 about 4' long and another about 3' long and used c-clamps to fasten them to the table (4' on top, 3' on bottom). The 4 footer hangs off the table, and I mounted my Lee Pro 1000 there. I did it this way because of space constraints, I don't have room for a dedicated reloading bench, but I can un-mount this one and store it in the closet or whatever until I use it next. So far, no problems, except for envying those with a real reloading table. :)
 
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