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Small reloading bench build on a budget

3910 Views 29 Replies 13 Participants Last post by AR-6.8spc, Nov 2, 2016

AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · Oct 30, 2016

2

Needed a bench for my newly purchased press and equipment. I needed something small enough to put in my room or in another small space area as needed.

I needed it to be as cheap as possible also.

I purchased one sheet of 1/2" sanded plywood and had Home Depot slice it up into 2' x 4' strips.

I already had some 2x4's. I purchased some screws and felt pads for feet so it doesn't scratch the floor if slid around.

I cut two side panels to 17" wide by 31" tall. The back panel is 31" wide by 31" tall. The top is two sheets are 24" deep by 38" wide. Sheets are stacked, screwed and glued to make the top thick enough. The shelf piece is made from some of the scrap pieces. It will be attached after the finish is completed.

The small flat piece is a base for my Hornady case trimmer.

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crayj

· #2 · Oct 30, 2016

thumbs up! looks good and should do the job well

Ratdog68

· #3 · Oct 30, 2016

The best part of making things yourself is... you get just what you want. Good on ya for taking the project on. :a06:

303 HUNTER

· #4 · Oct 30, 2016

Looks great! Let us see some pics when you're finished. I'm planning on building a portable bench, and you've come up with some good ideas.

Conaso

· #5 · Oct 30, 2016

FYI - This does not qualify as a small, transportable table but I thought someone would be interested in another low-cost idea. I went to a place that does kitchen renovations and asked if they had any "islands" or overhead cabinets from renovations that they would like to get rid of. I was shown to a huge pile of cabinets, islands, etc. They let me pick a nice island and overhead cabinet and was glad to get rid of them for $20. I use the island to store primers, powders, and bullets; and as a work surface (with clamps) for cleaning/repairing/building firearms, trimming, swagging, etc. The cabinet stores brass, tools, case prep center, etc. BTW - Years ago I built a separate (solid) bench for my press.

AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 30, 2016

2

303 HUNTER said:
Looks great! Let us see some pics when you're finished. I'm planning on building a portable bench, and you've come up with some good ideas.

My initial plan was to leave the top removable and the three sides hinged together so they would bi-fold together into a single sized panel group for storage. However, I decided just to screw the side panel uprights into the table top support 2x4's from the inside. Its now like a pedestal or podium.

Currently staining it and then coating with floor poly.

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AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 1, 2016

2

Got it stained and poly coated. Also did some decopage stuff to it before I sealed it.

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Blowout

· #8 · Nov 1, 2016

Ah, just saw this thread and you finished it before I could post. Could add a shelf underneath to add some storage space and then stack bullets and other stuff on it to weigh the bench down.

AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 1, 2016

Blowout said:
Ah, just saw this thread and you finished it before I could post. Could add a shelf underneath to add some storage space and then stack bullets and other stuff on it to weigh the bench down.

Oh yeah. Still several storage ideas for it yet. Since I am starting with loading only one caliber I may not need much storage for a while.

GLShooter

· #10 · Nov 1, 2016

Very nice. You'll outgrow it in a few years but this one teaches you what you might want to change. I wish I had cabinetry skills but I'm a little old to develop those now.

Greg

AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 1, 2016 (Edited)

GLShooter said:
Very nice. You'll outgrow it in a few years but this one teaches you what you might want to change. I wish I had cabinetry skills but I'm a little old to develop those now.

Greg

Sir, I have no wood working skills to brag about. Matter of fact, and I wont show it to you, but one side panel has grain running up and down and the other panel is running front to back :a19:

I will say this though, it would be a lot easier and make for a nicer job if I had more than a skill saw and framing square to work with.

AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 1, 2016

Got the Hornady LnL Case Trimmer mounted on its base. Keeping it mobile so I can move it out of the way.

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crayj

· #13 · Nov 1, 2016

i went to a gun show couple of weeks back hoping this older guy (older than me which makes him ancient) would be there. he always has bits and pieces of reloading stuff and lots of bullets. i took 2 hand crank trimmers there, the guy i hoped would be present wasn't tho, so i just walked up to someone i'd never seen before who had some reloading stuff and gave him both of them, told him i was sick and tired of them and never wanted to see them again LOL i just walked off before he could say anything.

CaptGrumpy

· #14 · Nov 1, 2016

AR-6.8spc said:
Got the Hornady LnL Case Trimmer mounted on its base. Keeping it mobile so I can move it out of the way.

What is this thing??? Must be as old as the guy CrayJ was looking for! LOL This is kinda like owning an old crank start Ford!:a39::a21:

Nice work station that you are building!

Ratdog68

· #15 · Nov 1, 2016

AR-6.8spc said:
Sir, I have no wood working skills to brag about. Matter of fact, and I wont show it to you, but one side panel has grain running up and down and the other panel is running front to back :a19:

I will say this though, it would be a lot easier and make for a nicer job if I had more than a skill saw and framing square to work with.

Something you can make yourself... to enable you to rip panels with your skill saw, and make a straight cut. Get a scrap of Masonite and straight 1x2. Glue/screw the 1x2 to the Masonite (countersink the screw heads). Set the edge of your saw's plate against the 1x2 and cut the Masonite. You now have a jig/straight edge which you can clamp to sheet goods. With your newly cut edge right on your pencil line, clamp the 1x2 side of your jig to the panel, place your saw on your jig and make your cut.

bedlamite

· #16 · Nov 1, 2016

One more thing you can do is mount the press, trimmer, and other tools to a 2x6, and then mount that to a couple carriage bolts set into the top of the bench with the threads sticking up. Then with a couple of wing nuts you can quickly swap out the press for whatever tou need, and you don't have tools you don't need in the way.

bedlamite

· #17 · Nov 1, 2016

Ratdog68 said:
Something you can make yourself... to enable you to rip panels with your skill saw, and make a straight cut. Get a scrap of Masonite and straight 1x2. Glue/screw the 1x2 to the Masonite (countersink the screw heads). Set the edge of your saw's plate against the 1x2 and cut the Masonite. You now have a jig/straight edge which you can clamp to sheet goods. With your newly cut edge right on your pencil line, clamp the 1x2 side of your jig to the panel, place your saw on your jig and make your cut.

I usually recommend a piece of 1" angle aluminum for a rip fence, since wood never seems to stay straight.

AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 1, 2016

CaptGrumpy said:
What is this thing??? Must be as old as the guy CrayJ was looking for! LOL This is kinda like owning an old crank start Ford!:a39::a21:

Nice work station that you are building!

Yup!! I am starting slow and old school. I need to make certain what I do is correct. I am in no hurry.

wintys

· #19 · Nov 1, 2016

crayj said:
i went to a gun show couple of weeks back hoping this older guy (older than me which makes him ancient) would be there. he always has bits and pieces of reloading stuff and lots of bullets. i took 2 hand crank trimmers there, the guy i hoped would be present wasn't tho, so i just walked up to someone i'd never seen before who had some reloading stuff and gave him both of them, told him i was sick and tired of them and never wanted to see them again LOL i just walked off before he could say anything.

Hahaaahaaahaaa

AR-6.8spc

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 2, 2016

3

Finally finished. This is not where it will be. Its going into my room. This location just for photos.

My last bit of decopage. Put a Winchester image on the top shelf.

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