Whither the press?

[RexDart]

We recently moved into a bigger house, and I was able to secure some of the equity from the sale of the old house to purchase reloading gear. So far so good.

Now my question: where to set up?

The plan all along has been to set up in the attached garage. I have shop space there, two work benches, plenty of space. These benches are/will be used for other things, so not *dedicated* space, but wholly mine. The big issue, growing more relevant as summer waxes, is the complete lack of climate control; both uncomfortable for me and (so I read here) bad for powder and primers.

Which leads me to consider option two. We're putting one of the basement bedrooms in commission as an office, and plan to install a work table. I could conceivably utilize that, though my wife also has designs upon it. Nice and cool (warm in the winter), but shared space. Everything will have to be c-clamped rather than bolted, and stored in closets or elsewhere in the house when not in use.

I'm new to this; my goal in taking up reloading is primarily to economically produce ammo for plinking/practice with my milsurps: presently two Lee-Enfields and a K-31. A secondary purpose will be to recycle the 9mm and .40 brass that the wife and I generate from handgun practice.

So, better to reign in the hotbox (garage) than scrimp in paradise (basement)? Opinions of the experienced are welcome.

 

[cdrt]

I'd put the presses in the shop and store primers and powder in the basement room, but heck, I'm in Texas; hot and cold are normal around here.

 

[dcloco]

Move inside. The climate will be HARD on the equipment as well.

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

Basement. Be creative with dual purpose benches.

 

[ranger335v]

I would do my loading in the exterior shop and fix up a corner dedicated to that work, reigning in my own realm. Granted, it may be hot during the day but maybe you could load in the cool of the evening until you can get a window AC installed, even if you have to cut a hole in the wall to do it.

Even without the AC, it is unlikely you will be storing the powder for the several years it would take to make any real difference in such a shop. No temperture you can stand will harm primers, they are quite hardy.

 

[SDC]

It's easy to make a movable press by bolting it to a piece of oak board, then c-clamping that board to a bench or strong table whenever you need it.

 

[Sunray]

"...the complete lack of climate control..." Fix that or move her sewing room into the garage(Yes I can say that. I don't live there). Neither powders nor loaded ammo like being stored in places with temperature and humidity extremes.