Got my loading bench finished (updated)


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I've been dying to get back to reloading. I haven't set down and loaded a single round of centerfire metallic ammo since last summer. Since I moved I haven't had a place to set the presses up until this last month. Got the room painted and a new solid bamboo floor put down and now the base cabinets. Hopefully I can get the top done this week and the presses set next week. The top is going to be 3/4" plywood covered with the same bamboo I used on the floor all trimmed with white oak.

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Having storage space don't suck....

Finished the top and trim today...

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All in all I'm pleased with how it turned out.

hangunnr

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Love the storage space, and the general overall look of the cabinets. However, it all looks like a forced "stand-up" arrangement. There's no knee-hole to allow you to sit down and work the reloading equipment. Have you made plans for allowing sit-down operation of your equipment. I think that might be a good added feature to your facilities, don't you?

Doc

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The way I'll have the presses mounted will negate having to sit under the bench. The swing of the press arm will stop you from sitting too close anyway. There will be a bar stool or draftsman style chair which should put me at the right height. We'll see.....

hangunnr

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The way I'll have the presses mounted will negate having to sit under the bench. The swing of the press arm will stop you from sitting too close anyway. There will be a bar stool or draftsman style chair which should put me at the right height. We'll see.....

hangunnr

Yes, for press operations, I have my press off to the side so those operations are not done while sitting "into" the bench. But for powder measuring and dispensing as well as trimming and priming, I like the comfort of sitting close to my work, so I generally roll myself into the bench. It's just something that I take for granted and probably others do things differently and don't really need the "knee-hole" feature.

Another thing that I don't have, but which seems like a good idea would be to have some sort of shallow lip across the front of the bench to prevent run-away components from escaping the bench. I remember once when a box of primers got away from me and wound up all over the floor. Most of them found the most unhandy places to wind up. Just a little lip across the front of the bench would have kept them from leaving the bench.

Doc

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It's hard to tell in the pix but there is a 1/4" lip on the front and end and a 1" in back. That should keep everything on top.

I'll have a Dillon 550 and a Forster Co-Ax mounted inside but I'll do my sizing/trimming of the bottleneck stuff out in the garage. Easier to contain the mess that way. I'll have to make up a weighted stand for the powder measure as the Co-Ax won't work with it. I had previously used a Lyman O frame press with the powder measure but that press is going to be relagated to sizing/trimming only now.

I'm still debating on putting a couple shelves across the back. Probably will, just haven't gotten there yet.

hangunnr

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It's hard to tell in the pix but there is a 1/4" lip on the front and end and a 1" in back. That should keep everything on top.

I'll have a Dillon 550 and a Forster Co-Ax mounted inside but I'll do my sizing/trimming of the bottleneck stuff out in the garage. Easier to contain the mess that way. I'll have to make up a weighted stand for the powder measure as the Co-Ax won't work with it. I had previously used a Lyman O frame press with the powder measure but that press is going to be relagated to sizing/trimming only now.

I'm still debating on putting a couple shelves across the back. Probably will, just haven't gotten there yet.

hangunnr

The 1/4" lip is perfect. That's just what I was thinking. As far as the additional shelving, you never can have too much storage. By the way, you might want to consider peg board on the wall in that area, depending on what all you think you might be storing there. The only problem with that is the temptation to completely fill the pegboard up with things that really don't belong there. My shop has pegboard covering every wall, and its so full, it's hard to see the pegboard anymore ...... lol.

At any rate, be sure to add some pictures when everything is done and loaded up and in use. I always like seeing the set-ups that people come up with, and the different ways they approach storage and work-space problems. It's a good way to get a few ideas.

Doc

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Well Doc, you were right, it did need additional shelving. Came up with this...

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You can now see how the presses will be mounted. I have another of the strong mounts coming for the 550. As you can see I also added a trac light on the ceiling. I'll add another pic when fully completed.

hangunnr

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So when's the "Reloading Room Warming" party????:eat:

That is a great idea.

Kinda like "Tool Time" meets "Mail Call"

Tim "the tool man" Taylor meets R. Lee Ermey.

Sweet.

I also have some .223 brass that could break that table in.:D

Either way, you did a heck of a job on that room.

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Thanks for the comments. I'm happy with how it turned out.

A room warming party eh... Sounds good to me...:beer:

I'm going to christen this bench with a box of 470 Capstick. Then I've got a pile of 308 projectiles here to try new loads in my newly restocked 308 Win.

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....but this is a story for another day.....

hangunnr

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