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Posted: 5/28/2015 9:32:58 AM EDT
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My bench is currently 4 4x4's with 2x4's around the top and half way down the legs toped with a 4x8 sheet of plywood. The bench has, so far, been strong enough for my retired LCT and my new 550. I set the bench up this way because it was free from work.
However I have found that you get what you pay for  The bench is too deep and ends up just being a mess as things get shoved back and I cannot reach them. I think I am just going to cut the bench in half so I have a 2x8 bench.
What should I do with the other have the bench? do shelves hold well with a 550 or would the free standing bench rock to much? I could put it on the bottom as a big shelf, but wasnt sure how well that would work either. Sorry, this all came to me at work this morning, so hopefully a photo will follow to show current setup. Sean |
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I'm not sure I'd cut it in half . . . depends on how you use your bench and what tools you use . . . a 24" deep bench restricts what can be stored right there on the back of your benchtop, where you are working, without bending.
I find a 30" (or even 36") bench much better. For example, I can put one or more small parts cabinet(s) (24 drawers, 6.5" deep) against the back and still have 24" or more clear space to work with. The extra clear space comes in handy, eg, cleaning long guns and other stuff. If you went with 30", you could use the remaining 17 3/4" piece of plywood for shelving higher up or under the bench. Just something to think about. |
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Quoted: My bench is currently 4 4x4's with 2x4's around the top and half way down the legs toped with a 4x8 sheet of plywood. The bench has, so far, been strong enough for my retired LCT and my new 550. I set the bench up this way because it was free from work. However I have found that you get what you pay for The bench is too deep and ends up just being a mess as things get shoved back and I cannot reach them. I think I am just going to cut the bench in half so I have a 2x8 bench. What should I do with the other have the bench? do shelves hold well with a 550 or would the free standing bench rock to much? I could put it on the bottom as a big shelf, but wasnt sure how well that would work either. Sorry, this all came to me at work this morning, so hopefully a photo will follow to show current setup. Sean What I would do is use the 2x4's from the unused side to reinforce your top by placing cross braces, fore to aft on the table top. I would space them every foot to 16 inches apart. You need a flex free top to your bench. Take the left over plywood top and add it to the present top., to make it 1 1/2 inches thick. The minimum thickness for a reloading bench top IMO. Be sure to glue and screw all joints. |
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Bench width depends on your reach and needs.
I you have a long reach like me I made my bench 32" wide and did it on a corner. On wall is 8 foot the other 11 foot. I used oak flooring for my top. Glued and nailed it on top of 2 layers of 3/4 plywood. I finished it with 3 coats of poly. I installed 2 of the Inline Fabrication plates and can switch my press with a few different items. My bench is also 40" to the top. I am tall and using a kitchen counter height bench kills my back. I don't like clutter and stuff on the bench. I made cabinets to hang on the wall 18" above the bench. I installed pegboard in the space for hanging small items. My bench serves all needs for a workbench. one 1/2 of the EL shape is for reloading. The other half is for everything else. Still need to make the cabinet doors. I had to make everything custom because my house is 100 years old and my area is in the basement. A stone foundation makes it interesting to hang things. |
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Quoted: Eight feet long by 32 inches deep. Built frame from reclaimed studs. Shelves are six feet long using ShelfLinks from 2X4 Basics. http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q783/HawgPhixer/gun%20room/e2bf75711393320e0cb644fa2fe7400d_zpskg0cwpr5.jpg |
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Quoted:
Looks good. Sure hope that door is solid, not hollowcore. Quoted:
Quoted:
Eight feet long by 32 inches deep. Built frame from reclaimed studs. Shelves are six feet long using ShelfLinks from 2X4 Basics. http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q783/HawgPhixer/gun%20room/e2bf75711393320e0cb644fa2fe7400d_zpskg0cwpr5.jpg Thanks. It's not a door, 3/4 hardwood plywood over 3/4 OSB with two coats polyurethane. |
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I built my bench just 2' deep. Just deep enough to comfortably hold the press, with powder measure and scale just behind and to the sides. Shelf on the bottom holds all my bullets, and the added weight aids greatly in stability. Any deeper, and it just becomes a clutter magnet, in my garage. |
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My bench is also 24" deep, which seems about right. It its anchored to wall studs, with 4X6 posts in front setting on my concrete basement floor. The top is 2X6" planks layed lengthwise and nailed to the frame. A plywood top would work too, so long as it were thick enough, say 3/4". Because the bench is anchored to the wall, its now part of the house, not portable when/if I move. Sturdiness is all important, since I have a 4" vise and my Rockchucker bolted to the 2X6s.
The wall behind the bench is finished with cedar fence planks. Various tools, targets and other miscellany are hanging from nails there. There is a narrow plywood shelf underneath for primers and bullets. The floor underneath is cluttered with boxes of gun parts, accessories, shotgun wads, etc. Powder is stored in a separate homemade "bookshelf" about 10 feet away for safety. A key dimension is the height of the working surface. Mine is set so my forearms rest comfortably on the work surface when I'm standing. - CW |
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My bench is anchored and does not move. The top is 2.5" thick MDF covered with oak plywood. The 650 press seems solid, but the case feeder is the furthest point and tends to shake enough to cause feed jams. I loosened the pole from the press and made a separate solid steel bar mount and it no longer shakes.
Last time I was at the steel yard, I found a cheap 1/2" thick steel plate sized for just the strong mount. That is what my press is going on top of next. If I find the shake is coming from the strong mount, I will then make one out of 5/16" steel. Vibration does cause inaccurate powder throws. Your bench must be rock solid. |
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Thanks everyone!
This thread makes me bench look messy and cheap. Hopefully soon one of those things will change. Also I have sourced another sheet of plywood or mdf, not sure which it is, to layer on top. I didnt realize movement effected powder drop. Might need to rethink not getting a Strong Mount for the 550. |
Just wanted to update you all on where I went with your help.
Bench is 30 inch front to back and 8 foot long. The cut out in the front is for the swing of the 550's handle. 
Under the press mount I put a 2x6 on its side and then sandwiched two 2x4s vertical front to back under the table top for strength. Didn't have money for a fancy top like I want, but it should help. I haven't had any issues yet with powder or OAL constancy, but a strong mount might make a great Christmas present for me. Unfortunately I went down to work on the bench more Saturday during a rain storm, and found our sump pump had given up the ghost. Thankfully nothing important got wet, but I did take 5 hours to clean up and fix, and the money I would have spent on reloading supplies went to a new sump. |
I remodeled my bench years ago after being shamed into it by my wife.
Before: 
After: 
I used a torsion beam design to prevent flex in the top, as described in the following build thread: Torsion Beam Bench Why a torsion beam? Very inexpensive to build without losing the strength needed.....try twisting a triple 2x4 beam. IMO, I would use the 2'x8' cut off by ripping it again, and using the 1' wide pieces as shelving above the bench. |
So little one was sick and was unable to go to day care. So, during one of his naps I tired to get some of the bench loaded back up so I can start loading ammo again. Still have some tools on the bench that need picked up, but it is much better than before! Also need to spend some time with a a label maker.
On the left you can see my Akro bins for sorting brass. I used a Harvey Deprimer while sorting so I can go from sort to wet tumble and back to the press. Still have to handle the brass a few more times than dry tumbling but sure beats sorting and depriming at different times. |
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