Anyone use a Harbor freight wood bench for reloading ?

adamc · January 19, 2013, 09:11 AM

I saw one 150$
Looked ok for a cheap bench

Hf imo is mostly

Mitchw123456 · January 19, 2013, 09:53 AM

For harbor freight it's actually pretty decent quality. I'm using one now secured to the wall with a 2x6 running the length of the bench with zero issues. My only complaint is it has several small holes in the top for putting pegs in to hold stuff in place. Tumbling media is great at getting in these holes and going into the top drawers.

PoiDog · January 19, 2013, 03:14 PM

I bought one recently to use as a secondary bench for light work, such as trimming brass, mounting scopes, etc.

It's actually a very nice bench, well made and it went together easily. It's the nicest thing I've bought from any Chinese vendor. They must be picking up their quality.

I might mount a single stage on it using clamps to perform primer pocket swaging. Also might put my sizer press there.

A good value.

Mike40-11 · January 19, 2013, 07:50 PM

I have one as well. I use it as as a generic gun bench, loading , cleaning, etc, but don't have a press mounted to it. I agree, it's quite a nice bench. Solid and well made.

If I were to mount a press, I'd secure it to the wall and/or floor. Doesn't have enough weight to stay still when you start yanking on a press handle, IMO. Secured, it will work great.

**4V50 Gary** · January 19, 2013, 08:03 PM

Search for a coupon. They have them for $139.

318 · January 19, 2013, 09:10 PM

China freight has some decent stuff. I shop there frequently. "This thread is worthless without pics". Lmao. I want to see it if you buy it and set it up. Got me interested. Mrs 318 will love you for this. More stuff to buy. Lmao. Good idea brother. Keep us posted.

fishbones182 · January 19, 2013, 09:37 PM

I use it and like it allot. I also use their large tumbler now for years with great results. I know some of their stuff is junk but what you get that does work. Sure make a great deal.

bubbacrabb · January 20, 2013, 05:05 AM

Just my idea but 150 bucks can buy you a lot of lumber. You could make a real heavy duty bench for less than that. I think I got 40 bucks wrapped up in my bench. I've seen the bench you're talking about though. Its not a bad looking bench. I imagine it would work just fine.

deepforks · January 20, 2013, 08:28 AM

agreed. build one for way cheaper and how you want it.

**Mike Irwin** · January 20, 2013, 09:54 AM

Have you checked the prices of lumber lately?

It's pretty much insane.

I rebuilt the porch on my Mother's house last year. 30 pine deck boards were nearly $200. You don't want to know what fir would have cost. The pressure treated 2x6s and other boards added another nearly $100, and we're not talking a lot of lumber here.

The big benefit to a bench like that, whether it's Harbor Freight or not, is that it's all cut and all you have to do is assemble it. No clouds of saw dust in the air in your basement...

Stukaman · January 20, 2013, 10:09 AM

I've gotten all my benches from places around DFW that were shutting down just gotta drive around the industrial areas and look.

hounddawg · January 20, 2013, 10:36 AM

I use one as a secondary bench also. No press mounted on it but I do all my casework there and use the drawers for primer and bullet storage. Pretty decent bench for the money. I built my primary from 2x6's. I think it probably cost me just as much in lumber. If you use it for mounting a press I would recommend fastening it to the wall studs with a couple of L brackets

TXAZ · January 20, 2013, 10:37 AM

I have one of the benches you refer to. I'm very happy with it. I also considered a similar bench from Home Depot but like the quality, features and price of the HF much better.

Assembly is easy and took about 45 minutes. The finish is nice.

Good luck.

biganimal · January 20, 2013, 01:55 PM

if someone can build a bench with 4 drawers (lined) and as solid as the one I bought at HF for 40 bucks please put me down for six!!

I love mine and have two powder measures mounted but my presses are on another bench because doing so would hinder the use of the drawers.

bubbacrabb · January 21, 2013, 02:07 AM

Biganimal, shipping would put us over budget

while I don't have drawers I do have a sturdy shelf and a very heavy bench that works for 40 bucks. I'm sure the hf bench is good. I just thought it was pretty costly

justsoIcanupvotethis · January 21, 2013, 10:23 PM

I have the Harbor Freight wood bench for my set up. Great bench. I used corks for the holes in the top for the wood clamp mounting system. Have an RCBS trimmer mounted in the vise. I really like mine. I think mine was $99 on sale and then it took two weeks to get it so they knocked another $20 off for the wait. It was well worth $80 with the wait.

January 19, 2013, 09:11 AM	#1
adamc Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2013 Location: Stalingrad Connecticut Posts: 212	Anyone use a Harbor freight wood bench for reloading ? I saw one 150$ Looked ok for a cheap bench Hf imo is mostly

January 19, 2013, 03:14 PM	#3
PoiDog Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 1999 Location: IL Posts: 189	I bought one recently to use as a secondary bench for light work, such as trimming brass, mounting scopes, etc. It's actually a very nice bench, well made and it went together easily. It's the nicest thing I've bought from any Chinese vendor. They must be picking up their quality. I might mount a single stage on it using clamps to perform primer pocket swaging. Also might put my sizer press there. A good value. __________________ "Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." William Pitt, speech to the House of Commons, [Nov. 18, 1783]

January 19, 2013, 08:03 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 15,549	Search for a coupon. They have them for $139. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

January 20, 2013, 09:54 AM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,305	Have you checked the prices of lumber lately? It's pretty much insane. I rebuilt the porch on my Mother's house last year. 30 pine deck boards were nearly $200. You don't want to know what fir would have cost. The pressure treated 2x6s and other boards added another nearly $100, and we're not talking a lot of lumber here. The big benefit to a bench like that, whether it's Harbor Freight or not, is that it's all cut and all you have to do is assemble it. No clouds of saw dust in the air in your basement... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 20, 2013, 10:36 AM	#12
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 760	I use one as a secondary bench also. No press mounted on it but I do all my casework there and use the drawers for primer and bullet storage. Pretty decent bench for the money. I built my primary from 2x6's. I think it probably cost me just as much in lumber. If you use it for mounting a press I would recommend fastening it to the wall studs with a couple of L brackets __________________ Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. - Ronald Reagan

January 19, 2013, 09:53 AM	#2
Mitchw123456 Junior Member Join Date: January 10, 2013 Posts: 6	For harbor freight it's actually pretty decent quality. I'm using one now secured to the wall with a 2x6 running the length of the bench with zero issues. My only complaint is it has several small holes in the top for putting pegs in to hold stuff in place. Tumbling media is great at getting in these holes and going into the top drawers.

January 19, 2013, 07:50 PM	#4
Mike40-11 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 771	I have one as well. I use it as as a generic gun bench, loading , cleaning, etc, but don't have a press mounted to it. I agree, it's quite a nice bench. Solid and well made. If I were to mount a press, I'd secure it to the wall and/or floor. Doesn't have enough weight to stay still when you start yanking on a press handle, IMO. Secured, it will work great.

January 19, 2013, 09:10 PM	#6
318 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 102	China freight has some decent stuff. I shop there frequently. "This thread is worthless without pics". Lmao. I want to see it if you buy it and set it up. Got me interested. Mrs 318 will love you for this. More stuff to buy. Lmao. Good idea brother. Keep us posted.

January 19, 2013, 09:37 PM	#7
fishbones182 Member Join Date: August 1, 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 98	I use it and like it allot. I also use their large tumbler now for years with great results. I know some of their stuff is junk but what you get that does work. Sure make a great deal.

January 20, 2013, 05:05 AM	#8
bubbacrabb Member Join Date: April 7, 2011 Posts: 35	Just my idea but 150 bucks can buy you a lot of lumber. You could make a real heavy duty bench for less than that. I think I got 40 bucks wrapped up in my bench. I've seen the bench you're talking about though. Its not a bad looking bench. I imagine it would work just fine.

January 20, 2013, 08:28 AM	#9
deepforks Member Join Date: October 15, 2011 Location: Southwest Idaho Posts: 74	agreed. build one for way cheaper and how you want it.

January 20, 2013, 10:09 AM	#11
Stukaman Member Join Date: October 17, 2010 Posts: 78	I've gotten all my benches from places around DFW that were shutting down just gotta drive around the industrial areas and look.

January 20, 2013, 10:37 AM	#13
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 813	I have one of the benches you refer to. I'm very happy with it. I also considered a similar bench from Home Depot but like the quality, features and price of the HF much better. Assembly is easy and took about 45 minutes. The finish is nice. Good luck. __________________ !أنا لست إرهابي

January 20, 2013, 01:55 PM	#14
biganimal Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2001 Location: south carolina Posts: 435	if someone can build a bench with 4 drawers (lined) and as solid as the one I bought at HF for 40 bucks please put me down for six!! I love mine and have two powder measures mounted but my presses are on another bench because doing so would hinder the use of the drawers. __________________ Other than That, Mrs Lincoln, How was the play?

January 21, 2013, 02:07 AM	#15
bubbacrabb Member Join Date: April 7, 2011 Posts: 35	Biganimal, shipping would put us over budget while I don't have drawers I do have a sturdy shelf and a very heavy bench that works for 40 bucks. I'm sure the hf bench is good. I just thought it was pretty costly

January 21, 2013, 10:23 PM	#16
justsoIcanupvotethis Member Join Date: June 11, 2012 Posts: 27	I have the Harbor Freight wood bench for my set up. Great bench. I used corks for the holes in the top for the wood clamp mounting system. Have an RCBS trimmer mounted in the vise. I really like mine. I think mine was $99 on sale and then it took two weeks to get it so they knocked another $20 off for the wait. It was well worth $80 with the wait. Last edited by justsoIcanupvotethis; January 21, 2013 at 10:28 PM.