OK guys. I need your help making up my mind.

The past two days and most of the nights after my morning run has been slaving in my garage and attic (So Hot)......

I have run electric lines and replaced much of the drywall in there - Round 1 of spackling and taping was done today. Sanding and round two of spackling (hopefully there will be no round 3) so all will be dry and ready to paint on Sunday.

Now for the reloading bench......

 

Would you guys build a solid countertop type workbench and frame fastened securely to the studs in the wall or would you build a "2x4 basics kit" type bench from Cabela's and hope it is sturdy and doesn't rock (and perhaps end up fastening that to the wall anyway) :?:

 

I could build it approximately 4 to 5 feet wide and 16 inches deep with it being flush with the chimney. I could also build it up to 20 inches deep or even larger if necessary. Just don't know if I need that depth.

 

Any tips from your own "Bench Building" experience or pics of your reloading area/setup are much appreciated!

My reloading bench is 12 feet long, 2 feet wide. It is secured to the walls on 3 sides with 3 legs in front. Built out of 2x4 and 2x6. My suface is white solid industrial countertops. White looks cleaner and is easier to spot spilled powder.

 

You will appreciate more depth, go more than 16 in. Do not limit yourself on length or width if you do not have to. I still wish I had more room.

I have a shelf like this:

 

 

It's screwed to the wall with some drywall screws and washers, With a piece of MDF bolted on top and the press bolted to the wood. I think it's pretty stable for pistol cartridges, i haven't tried rifle yet.

 

I would agree with tbtrout though, and make it as big as possible, the gun cleaning stuff, tools, and all the reloading junk consume your bench space very quickly

Take a look on these sites lots of great ideas.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... ng+benches

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=218720

yes i agree with tbtruot, if you get started you will increase your loading. i do not have a whole lot of room but utilize it well, my bench is 2ft deep and 8ft long. I even have one reloader that is not mounted to it.

 

I did start a thread lets see your reloading bench's.

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=302

OK. I just built mine. It is 80% done. I just checked out some people's reloading bench pics online and built something that fit well in my space. God Bless my wife! She was so excited that I can load for her she took care of the little guy while I went to the Depot and bought lumber.

It is 4 feet by 2 feet of countertop and it is 37 inches off the ground before I fasten the final countertop piece (not sure what that will be just yet) on top. I still have to cut the side panel for the right side but other than that and a few finishing pieces after I paint the floor with grey garage floor paint and the bench frame all white with this new Behr primer plus paint in one I just picked up for painting the garage.

I must say it is quite sturdy as I used nine Douglas Fir 2x4's in total and it is securely fastened to the studs in the wall of the garage.

I did not fasten the two front corner frame legs to the floor with anything but some Gorilla Glue so I will have to take another trip to the Depot and get some metal fasteners I can power-nail to the concrete in the garage just to ensure it doesn't lift up with the force I would need to seat the primers pn the upstroke on the press. If you guys have any ideas - Please PM me!

 

All in all....I say it was a good Friday night. 4.5 hours total from getting a wild hair to clean up (and a well needed shower) - It is humid as all heck out there tonight but it felt good to build something from a pile of wood and some decking screws!

It had been a while.

Disclaimer.......I did have a little help from my favorite power tools of course.

 

When it is all set up. I will post some pics in the other thread!

Sounds good, you can never go wrong with Doug Fir. My legs are not secured to the floor and it works fine for the primer seating. there is enough weight to hold it down. If you need that much pressure to seat a primer you have some issues and it is not the bench.

Sounds good, you can never go wrong with Doug Fir. My legs are not secured to the floor and it works fine for the primer seating. there is enough weight to hold it down. If you need that much pressure to seat a primer you have some issues and it is not the bench.

 

I was thinking the same thing when i read it.

 

I remember some time after i purchased my square deal i called about something and the guy on the other end said wait don't tell me, you broke your handle and i said no did someone brake the handle on theirs and he said yes, and i said glad i am not shooting their ammo.. and i just remembered i called to order the parts to upgrade it to a square deal "B".