The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Who here owns a Harbor Freight workbench?

ClemBert · February 4, 2010, 07:21 PM

Hmmmm, I actually have two rather large workbenches (72" x 36" each) in the garage that are very similar to this bench. Except that mine have double stack drawers on the left side. They have 2" thick butcher block maple tops. So why am I asking about the HF workbench? Because down here in Orlando it gets hotter than hell and humid in my garage 7 months out of the year. No a/c in the garage. Plus my garage benches always seem to be covered by stuff for whatever the project of the week is. It'd be hard to keep them clean for bench reloading. I'd hate to get insecticide, fertilizer, paint, or filth in general mixed in with my reloading equipment.

Y'all are probably right about that HF bench. Probably not heavy duty enough. However, it would seem to me that a press could be bolted with bolts countersunk and pointed up instead of down. That way the drawers still could be used. Also, the bench top could be anchored into wall studs by simply using a couple of angle brackets. I just thought that HF workbench might not look too terribly bad inside the house where the watchful eye of the master is queen of her domain.

I think for $140 I'd have a hard time building something that looked as nice AND had drawers but maybe I underestimate myself. However, as y'all point out spending $140 on something that isn't going to work anyways isn't a good plan.

BTW, I should mention I'm not a power re-loader like some of y'all. I have just a simple Lee Challenger Breech Lock single stage press like this. So I don't know...maybe the HF workbench might work. Thoughts anyone?

February 4, 2010, 07:21 PM	#8
ClemBert Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 936	Hmmmm, I actually have two rather large workbenches (72" x 36" each) in the garage that are very similar to this bench. Except that mine have double stack drawers on the left side. They have 2" thick butcher block maple tops. So why am I asking about the HF workbench? Because down here in Orlando it gets hotter than hell and humid in my garage 7 months out of the year. No a/c in the garage. Plus my garage benches always seem to be covered by stuff for whatever the project of the week is. It'd be hard to keep them clean for bench reloading. I'd hate to get insecticide, fertilizer, paint, or filth in general mixed in with my reloading equipment. Y'all are probably right about that HF bench. Probably not heavy duty enough. However, it would seem to me that a press could be bolted with bolts countersunk and pointed up instead of down. That way the drawers still could be used. Also, the bench top could be anchored into wall studs by simply using a couple of angle brackets. I just thought that HF workbench might not look too terribly bad inside the house where the watchful eye of the master is queen of her domain. I think for $140 I'd have a hard time building something that looked as nice AND had drawers but maybe I underestimate myself. However, as y'all point out spending $140 on something that isn't going to work anyways isn't a good plan. BTW, I should mention I'm not a power re-loader like some of y'all. I have just a simple Lee Challenger Breech Lock single stage press like this. So I don't know...maybe the HF workbench might work. Thoughts anyone?