New Reloading Bench

For those who like to roll their own.

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Jumping Frog
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New Reloading Bench

#1

Post by Jumping Frog »

Well, I'm glad I had enough ammo stockpiled to see me through the last six months while I settled into our new home in the Houston area. It is good to be back to reloading again, but before I could do so, I had to build a new reloading bench, and thought I'd share some of the techniques I decided to incorporate.

Frame left. Notice top lag screws are countersunk so that I have a flat surface underneath the bench top. I also cut the wood as shown to maximize the under bench space for my cabinet. I still wanted all the vertical weight to be born wood-on-wood, as shown, instead of relying only on hardware to hold it together.
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Frame right. I chose a 2x6 sideways to help resist torsion. Press torque is the primary stress.
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Liquid nail on bottom 3/4 pine plywood
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Top 3/4 in Oak plywood clamped to bottom 3/4 pine for liquid nail to set.
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I cut 2 dado cuts in the bench top to mount T-Track. It lets me share the bench space to use multiple presses, a vise, bench grinder, etc. Multi-purpose bench top. I used an ordinary bench saw to make the cuts.
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Next, I built a 5 drawer cabinet to go under the bench. These are the drawer fronts. All plywood was sealed with multiple coats of polyurethane because Houston weather is so humid.
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The drawers are made using Blum Metabox full extension 330M drawer slides. They are 22" deep by 19 1/2 wide, rated for 75 pounds.
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Mostly finished cabinet
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I cut the 48 inch T-Track in half at an angle so that it fit flush in the dado cuts.
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Mounted:
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Finished bench.
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Sense of scale for drawer size. Note that having full extension drawer slides instead of the more common 3/4 extension was important to me.
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Lightweight mount for my Lee C press that I use to resize bullets.
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A heavier mount is 1/16 steel plate backed by 3/4 plywood. This lets me countersink the bolt heads so the mount will sit flush on the bench.
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-Just call me Bob . . . Texas Firearms Coalition, NRA Life member, TSRA Life member, and OFCC Patron member

This froggie ain't boiling! Shall not be infringed! Μολών Λαβέ
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mktacop
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#2

Post by mktacop »

Very Nice!
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RHenriksen
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#3

Post by RHenriksen »

That's beautiful work, well done!
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texasmusic
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#4

Post by texasmusic »

I am envious sir! :tiphat:

Very nice worksmanship.
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Gyrogearhead
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#5

Post by Gyrogearhead »

WOW!! And WOW again! That is exemplary wood working. Wish I'd thought of half that when planning my bench. :drool: You'll be happy with that project for a lifetime. Very well Done. :cheers2:

Gerry
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F4injected
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#6

Post by F4injected »

Awesome work! I wish could work as well with my hands and make my own bench!
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Jumping Frog
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#7

Post by Jumping Frog »

Thanks for the compliments. The engineering side of me had me drawing out a complete set of plans/dimensions before I started cutting anything. I didn't use anything more complicated than a table saw, a circular saw, a jigsaw (all ordinary and inexpensive homeowner-grade tools), and clamps, t-squares, etc.
-Just call me Bob . . . Texas Firearms Coalition, NRA Life member, TSRA Life member, and OFCC Patron member

This froggie ain't boiling! Shall not be infringed! Μολών Λαβέ
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Don2
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#8

Post by Don2 »

I really like the way you took the time to do some joinery. That really does help in making it stable.
I use to have a friend that made furniture and cabinets with a lot of joinery and they held up amazingly long and well...!!!!

The bench looks very well....I like the addition of the drawers too. That's what I need to do to my benches..I just have plastic tubs under them which are NOT AS GOOD and easy to look through :smash:


GOOD JOB SIR.
Don2
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Don2
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#9

Post by Don2 »

[ Jumping Frog ]

Gotta question.

What type/brand of slides did you use for the drawers?
I have not looked at all the new type of drawer slides out there in years...But I want to make some for my benches at some time.

Thanks
Don2
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Jumping Frog
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#10

Post by Jumping Frog »

Don2 wrote: What type/brand of slides did you use for the drawers?
I used Blum Metabox 330M slides, the 22 in deep set. I priced about 5-6 places around the Internet, and purchased from ahturf.com for about $14 per set. I'd give you a link if I was on my computer, but it is difficult from my phone. Google Blum products for the manufacturer website and it lists both product specs and authorized Internet resellers. ahturf's service was mediocre, but their price was the best.
-Just call me Bob . . . Texas Firearms Coalition, NRA Life member, TSRA Life member, and OFCC Patron member

This froggie ain't boiling! Shall not be infringed! Μολών Λαβέ
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Don2
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#11

Post by Don2 »

Jumping Frog wrote:
Don2 wrote: What type/brand of slides did you use for the drawers?
I used Blum Metabox 330M slides, the 22 in deep set. I priced about 5-6 places around the Internet, and purchased from ahturf.com for about $14 per set. I'd give you a link if I was on my computer, but it is difficult from my phone. Google Blum products for the manufacturer website and it lists both product specs and authorized Internet resellers. ahturf's service was mediocre, but their price was the best.
Great...Thanks for the info.
I'll find it, no problem.

Thanks
Don2

FishInTx
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#12

Post by FishInTx »

Awesome work Frog!! :thumbs2: Almost makes me feel bad for customizing an old computer desk. I've been taking pics of my work in progress. Now if I can just get one of my kids to show me how to post them here. :headscratch :lol:
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Don2
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#13

Post by Don2 »

FishInTx wrote:Awesome work Frog!! :thumbs2: Almost makes me feel bad for customizing an old computer desk. I've been taking pics of my work in progress. Now if I can just get one of my kids to show me how to post them here. :headscratch :lol:
Ya know, I started with a "modified" computer desk that was all particle board construction. I had to add several vertical supports to keep it sturdy. Plus made some "L" brackets to screw it to the wall.
It actually lasted about a year and a half....Until it just broke down due to the stress ;-)
But that gave me time to get the bench's I wanted.

If we all had unlimited funds...Where would be the fun and adventure in that??? :???:

Keep moving forward------->

Don2
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Jumping Frog
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Re: New Reloading Bench

#14

Post by Jumping Frog »

Don2 wrote:Ya know, I started with a "modified" computer desk . . . But that gave me time to get the bench's I wanted.

If we all had unlimited funds...Where would be the fun and adventure in that??? :???:
My first reloading "bench" was a $3.00 garage sale student desk . . .

Took me about two weeks to put a major crack in the half-inch solid top. Remounted the press on a 2x12 on top of the desk and probably reloaded close to 20,000 rounds on it.
-Just call me Bob . . . Texas Firearms Coalition, NRA Life member, TSRA Life member, and OFCC Patron member

This froggie ain't boiling! Shall not be infringed! Μολών Λαβέ
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