Interesting Loading Bench Ideas

Barr · January 12, 2006, 11:01 AM

Looking for neat ideas how you store things and/or how your bench is arranged. Will post pics tonight.

Musketeer · January 12, 2006, 11:29 AM

My space is limited and I also have a 4 year old that plays in the basement where I reload. The solution came when my wife decided to toss her old microwave cart.

The very bottom of the cart as two swing open doors. In there I store primers and powder. Perhaps some other items like dies, tools and shell plates but specifically anything that can go BOOM. Just above that is an open area that I can store things like bullets, brass, and other items that I am not worried about.Above that is a flat table top. I drilled holes and mounted my LeePro 1000 to the top with a hole through the table top for the primers to drop through. I put a carboard box under the hole in that open area I mentioned before. Finally I throw a small sheet over it when not in use.

The whole thing is on wheels and can be rolled out of the corner and up and running in 2 minutes. When done I just put the whole primer tray and all other items away, lock it up and roll it into the corner. Loaded ammo goes in a locked cabinet I have.

jsflagstad · January 13, 2006, 03:46 PM

I am interested in bench layouts as well, as I am in the process of building one in my basement.

So far the 2'x6' bench with the 18" by 6' shelf above it is done.

I wired in an outlet below the bench for a tumbler and maybe a space heater. Also wired one on the bench along with a powerstrip. Picked up a set of the under-cabinet mini halogen lights (used in kitchens) and put them on the underside of the shelf. There are 6 lights in the pack, and they work pretty slick, but they are only 10w bulbs. I will probably upgrade to 20w bulbs as I could use a bit more light but they aren't too bad.

Still looking for more ideas...

JSF

Russ5924 · January 13, 2006, 05:13 PM

Been using a Microwave cart for a long time now just wish mine had the doors.But I put a bigger piece of plywood on top to bolt everything to.I bet you couldn't move it even with the wheels the loaded bullets and lead gets heavy.

Robert M Boren Sr · January 14, 2006, 02:33 AM

Here's mine Just for a idea is all.

Blue Heeler · January 14, 2006, 03:43 AM

Have a look at the pix in the Worst Loading Bench thread a few posts below here - especially cracked butt's bench.

caz223 · January 14, 2006, 10:38 AM

Yeah. There's an interesting *idea*.
Try to limit the torches and digital alarm clocks on your bench.

pearson1662 · January 14, 2006, 11:43 AM

Mr. Boren,
I would appreciate it if you would call my secretary and schedule an appointment to organize my reloading bench. It kinda looks like CrackedButt's but I've got a Skoal can and a spittoon on mine

Might help me find my Neco concentricity gauge

kingudaroad · January 14, 2006, 11:48 AM

So far I can keep everything except brass locked up in the black tool box. Kids can't get to it. Wife isn't thrilled but tolerant. Eventtually I will need more lockable space. Maybe a cabinet.

tvick66 · January 15, 2006, 12:00 AM

Like Kingudaroad I went the toolbox route. Sears had a sale on their rolling tool box bases for $80 and it has a bar that locks into place keeping the kids from opening the drawers. The bottom draw is deeper than their other models and can hold any of the 1lb. bottles that I have and the large top is nice for extra workspace.

beardking · January 15, 2006, 11:36 AM

Here is what I did for my reloading bench. Basically the 3rd bedroom in my house has been converted to my den. That's where I build r/c planes, mess around on the computer, keep my photography stuff, and reload ammo. I have no kids or visitors that will be getting into stuff, so locking it up and hiding it doesn't really matter to me, so I just took over the closet and built my bench in there. If I really needed to, I could put the door back on to hide things, but where's the fun in that? Besides, this is the cleanest area of my "den" right now.

January 12, 2006, 11:01 AM	#1
Barr Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2006 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 286	Interesting Loading Bench Ideas Looking for neat ideas how you store things and/or how your bench is arranged. Will post pics tonight.

January 13, 2006, 03:46 PM	#3
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	I am interested here too I am interested in bench layouts as well, as I am in the process of building one in my basement. So far the 2'x6' bench with the 18" by 6' shelf above it is done. I wired in an outlet below the bench for a tumbler and maybe a space heater. Also wired one on the bench along with a powerstrip. Picked up a set of the under-cabinet mini halogen lights (used in kitchens) and put them on the underside of the shelf. There are 6 lights in the pack, and they work pretty slick, but they are only 10w bulbs. I will probably upgrade to 20w bulbs as I could use a bit more light but they aren't too bad. Still looking for more ideas... JSF

January 13, 2006, 05:13 PM	#4
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	Been using a Microwave cart for a long time now just wish mine had the doors.But I put a bigger piece of plywood on top to bolt everything to.I bet you couldn't move it even with the wheels the loaded bullets and lead gets heavy. __________________ Russ5924

January 14, 2006, 10:38 AM	#7
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	Yeah. There's an interesting idea. Try to limit the torches and digital alarm clocks on your bench. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

January 14, 2006, 11:43 AM	#8
pearson1662 Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Posts: 52	Reload bench esthetics Mr. Boren, I would appreciate it if you would call my secretary and schedule an appointment to organize my reloading bench. It kinda looks like CrackedButt's but I've got a Skoal can and a spittoon on mine Might help me find my Neco concentricity gauge

January 12, 2006, 11:29 AM	#2
Musketeer Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2005 Posts: 3,733	My space is limited and I also have a 4 year old that plays in the basement where I reload. The solution came when my wife decided to toss her old microwave cart. The very bottom of the cart as two swing open doors. In there I store primers and powder. Perhaps some other items like dies, tools and shell plates but specifically anything that can go BOOM. Just above that is an open area that I can store things like bullets, brass, and other items that I am not worried about.Above that is a flat table top. I drilled holes and mounted my LeePro 1000 to the top with a hole through the table top for the primers to drop through. I put a carboard box under the hole in that open area I mentioned before. Finally I throw a small sheet over it when not in use. The whole thing is on wheels and can be rolled out of the corner and up and running in 2 minutes. When done I just put the whole primer tray and all other items away, lock it up and roll it into the corner. Loaded ammo goes in a locked cabinet I have.

January 14, 2006, 02:33 AM	#5
Robert M Boren Sr Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 269	Here's mine Just for a idea is all.

January 14, 2006, 03:43 AM	#6
Blue Heeler Junior member Join Date: October 4, 1999 Location: Queensland Posts: 1,043	Have a look at the pix in the Worst Loading Bench thread a few posts below here - especially cracked butt's bench.

January 14, 2006, 11:48 AM	#9
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	So far I can keep everything except brass locked up in the black tool box. Kids can't get to it. Wife isn't thrilled but tolerant. Eventtually I will need more lockable space. Maybe a cabinet.

January 15, 2006, 12:00 AM	#10
tvick66 Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: B'ham Posts: 23	Like Kingudaroad I went the toolbox route. Sears had a sale on their rolling tool box bases for $80 and it has a bar that locks into place keeping the kids from opening the drawers. The bottom draw is deeper than their other models and can hold any of the 1lb. bottles that I have and the large top is nice for extra workspace.

January 15, 2006, 11:36 AM	#11
beardking Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2004 Location: Dallas, TX (area) Posts: 128	Here is what I did for my reloading bench. Basically the 3rd bedroom in my house has been converted to my den. That's where I build r/c planes, mess around on the computer, keep my photography stuff, and reload ammo. I have no kids or visitors that will be getting into stuff, so locking it up and hiding it doesn't really matter to me, so I just took over the closet and built my bench in there. If I really needed to, I could put the door back on to hide things, but where's the fun in that? Besides, this is the cleanest area of my "den" right now.