reloading bench

midwestpredator

Active member
im going to be setting up a new reloading room (in my freshly self-finished basement
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) and I had planned on using steel triangle brackets mounted to the wall and a stainless steel top for the bench.

I myself have never had a problem with static but after redeading the other thread about static buildup Im wondering if I could end up with problems or if id be better off with a wood or other top??

thanks in advance!!
 
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Originally Posted By: midwestpredator im going to be setting up a new reloading room (in my freshly self-finished basement
w00t.gif
thumbup.gif
) and I had planned on using steel triangle brackets mounted to the wall and a stainless steel top for the bench.

I myself have never had a problem with static but after redeading the other thread about static buildup Im wondering if I could end up with problems or if id be better off with a wood or other top??

thanks in advance!!


Something about a metal bench makes me question, no particular reason. I personally am typing from a desk that is nothing but a butcher block top 30'' deep x 5' wide x 1.5'' thick and is on 3 triangle shelf brackets rated for 1500 lbs, lagged to the studs using those super expensive ledger board deck screws that are rated to 300lbs+ each. Well, I can push the lead edge down with one hand and notice the deflection. Strong is one thing, rigid is another. You want Rigid more than Strength in a reloading bench. Every time that press makes a stroke, a strong bench can wiggle when a rigid bench won't.

That said, I don't know your design, your brackets, or anything else, so you may very well have the above issue sorted.

My route was this: Went to Grizzly.com and ordered a maple butcher block "counter" top that was 10' long, 30'' wide and 1.5'' thick (sounds a lot like my desk I know...). Then I used 4"x4" posts as legs, and pocket screwed 2"x4"s underneath the top for framework and a shelf under that for both storage and bracing. Its heavy, which is one way to eliminate the wiggle effect. I am also finishing my reloading room right now, but here are some pictures. I've been very happy with this setup, and depending where you get your Stainless, this may be in the same ballpark pricewise. My bench was never even lagged to the wall, however it will be once the new room is done. (I tend to overdo things a bit, this bench is fine without, but its one of my things.)

The Bench:
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The new digs in process:
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having a rigid bench is a good point, and no I never directly thought about that but no that you mention it I could see the brackets as a flaw compared to a bench with legs. however I already have the bench materials mostly assembled. I used to work in a weld shop so I made 4 brackets with 1 1/4in x 1/8in square tube for the 2 sides of triangle and a 1 1/2 x3/16 flatbar for against the wall. the stainless top was a piece that was bent up for a customer and it was made wrong so I got that for free too. IIRC its about 11ga thick and 27in wide and 6ft long, I glued a couple of pcs of shelving board between the brackets and top. I used the bench in the garage as a work bench/welding bench and Its mighty stout for what it is. Ive had lots of weight on it, including me standing on it jumping up and down. It did vibrate/give some, dont know if it would bother though.
 
I was able to purchase a bowling alley that was being removed. What an awesome reloading bench these make. I used 8 feet of it and sold an 8 foot piece to a buddy. Made mine standard countertop width and used the other 14 inches and made a shelf for the back against the wall. Very stable and great for bolting presses to.
 
well I got my floor laid down and assembled my bench, so I thought it might be fitting to post up a few pics of what I have so far....

From the door looking into room

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Closet... (im putting a stand up freezer in there!
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)

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door/closet corner looking in...

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So thats the bench anyways, its a work in progress but I'll get there
 
Looking good. Heck if I would have gotten into your materials at your price, I'd have made it that way too! I'm sure it will be plenty strong by your description, I thought you meant store bought shelf brackets when I was talking about strength. When square tube is involved, good things happen.

Now the only concern might be to soften the surface of the bench to protect your guns a bit. I'd say one of the $10 cleaning mats for sure, or even better is a big piece of leather like you'll see some gunsmiths using. Then you can lay a fancy gun down without metal to metal or metal to wood contact. Handgun I mean, its a shame to lay a nice wood stocked rifle down anywhere.
 
esmith, I too had thought about something soft to cover it with. I like the idea of a nice piece of leather but that wouldnt be too cost effective. I was thinking a giant mouse pad would be ideal!!

luder, both of those rifels me a great deal to me!! the one in back is a sako L579 forrester in 22 250 made in 72' and the front one is a lakefield arms mk2. The sako is wearing a custom maple/walnut laminate that I got as a 95% from Emma Creek Gunworks. I spent many a hr sanding and shaping that thing so it was just right!! The lakefield used to be all red like in the checkering, it was real beat up so I sanded it down and hit it with a couple coats of natural stain then a couple of tru oil.

yotecallr, I would love to have me a dillon, unfortunately I still load 1 at a time with a inexpensive press. I dont load any large calibers so im not too hard on it so it works for now.

Thanks for the comments!!
 
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Thanks! ya I have alot to do yet and the bathroom has been nothing but problems so im held up there once again so I have been setting my room up piece by piece. I just hope I dont run out of loaded ammo before I get this completed, that would really
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a guy off.
 
I had a very used wood topped bench at our last house....it was chewed up and there were spaces between the boeards...so since I wanted a softer and more solid surface, I went to X-Mart and bout 2 of those concrete floor mat sets...the come in 1'x 1' squares and they inter lock....they are about 3/4 of an in thick and you can cut to fit...cost me less than $30 and was a very durable surface, resistant to oils and cleaning fluids....I glued it down to the wood, but you wouldn't have to.
 


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