Construction of Reloading Bench

[Duke Nukem]

Thanks, everyone!  I have my Ultramount ordered...

Don't forget the height of the Ultramount in your calculations !!

Exactly!  If the bench is at 36", plus the Ultramount at 9", and the press lever adding 10", I end up right at shoulder height both seated and standing.  That's what I've read is ideal, hopefully it's ideal for me! 

[Wobbly]

There's so much movement in reloading that the height doesn't need to be exact. It's not like, say for instance, typing where 1 inch makes a huge difference.

If you get close, then you'll be good.

[Togmaster]

Determine if you want to stand or sit when using the press. I prefer standing.  From the position you want drop both arms down with you elbows close to your body. Raise the hand operating the lever without moving your  elbow. The height of your hand will be the perfect height of bench +press+mount.  Hope this makes sense. It does in my head which isn't saying much.

[Duke Nukem]

Still waiting on my Ultramount to ship (label has been printed), but have the bench mounted:


The support seems rigid, I can't get anything to flex or budge.  Plenty of 3" screws.


It's a very solid top, pretty heavy, too!

The middle 2x4 is for the back bolts on the riser.
The height should be good for standing or sitting, it's 36".  Still have to build a cabinet for over one end, and a shelf for the scale.
I may add a shelf underneath the bench, both for storage and for a foot rest, but shelves are dust collectors so it might just be a foot rail.
Looking forward to getting set up,

[Earl Keese]

You might want to reinforce that bench top some more. 
That looks very nice!!

[Dan_69GTX]

You might want to reinforce that bench top some more. 
That looks very nice!!

Yea - 1" plate steel!!   

When I mounted my press I didn't want to have to bend my back at all - so I made sure when the handle was all the way down, I didn't have to bend at ALL.  This was prior to back surgery and I still like it this way.

[Duke Nukem]

You might want to reinforce that bench top some more. 
That looks very nice!!

Thanks!  I'm trying to find a happy medium between functional and pretty; part of me wants to stain and varnish those supports.  We'll see which part wins, right now I'm thinking it's good 'nuff.

I'm glad there wasn't 1" plate steel in it when I picked it up!  I'm also building some large doors for the shop (5x8x2-1/4"), they're a handful for two people, I'll be glad when they're finished and I can start working in grains instead of pounds.   

[Pistolet]

Dillon sells a mount for almost $25 less. How does it compare to the inline one?

[eastman]

... I may add a shelf underneath the bench, both for storage and for a foot rest, but shelves are dust collectors so it might just be a foot rail...

wire shelves are better at not collecting dust than flat, solid shelves

[RoverSig]

Nice looking bench.

Mine is made of heavy rough grade "outdoor" lumber.   It is my second bench; the first one was nailed together, while this one is screwed (and in some key locations bolted) together for greater rigidity and stability -- good qualities for any reloading bench. 

The Redding T7 press is up a little higher than might be typical so that the turret is about eye level - the dies, and the top of the ram, are where my eyes look (and hands go) to make changes and handle components.

I added a large shelf under the working table top for storage of bullets, which are heavy and best kept low.  Powder is kept some distance away, nowhere near the overhead light bulb, metal tools, the flashlight, or the press itself -- nor, obviously, near where the primers are kept. 

[Wobbly]

You'll probably need more electrical outlets. Press lights, electronic scales, case prep center, case feeder, phone charger, tumblers, they all take AC.

You'll want a 1x6 shelf mounted on the wall just above the outlet to hold your scale and caliper.

[Duke Nukem]

wire shelves are better at not collecting dust than flat, solid shelves

Of course, you're right!  I may try to fit wire shelves around or between those supports, another idea is to close in a shelf with cabinet sides and a door . . that would stop dust from getting on what's on the shelf.  I think I'm going to have to address my dust collection a bit more, capture (more of) it at the source, my current system needs improvement.

[Duke Nukem]

You'll probably need more electrical outlets. Press lights, electronic scales, case prep center, case feeder, phone charger, tumblers, they all take AC.

You'll want a 1x6 shelf mounted on the wall just above the outlet to hold your scale and caliper.

I had outlets put in every four feet when this was built, so there's another one not far away, but I can easily swap out the front plate on that box and jumper another outlet.  Right now all I have to plug in is a light, but as you point out, in the future . .
Shelf is planned, both to keep things off the bench and to get the scale in a location more protected from vibration and air currents. 

[redbaron]

Keep us updated with your progress, I'm in the process of plotting out what my new bench will look like and I'm always looking for new ideas

[rg422]

That looks good to me.

One thing I would say is do not underestimate the amount of things you will end up buying. With that, I would recommend enough storage space to accommodate the things you will purchase along the way.

Good luck and keep us posted in your progress.