S-Hurt Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Help! I need to build a new reloading bench ASAP. I need it to be at least 8' or 9' long to hold a Dillon 1050 and Dillon 650. What is the best countertop? My old countertop was a cheap one from Lowes and its done a good job but I wondering if there is something better? Come on ... give me ideas with pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Help! I need to build a new reloading bench ASAP. I need it to be at least 8' or 9' long to hold a Dillon 1050 and Dillon 650. What is the best countertop? My old countertop was a cheap one from Lowes and its done a good job but I wondering if there is something better? Come on ... give me ideas with pictures! http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5485&view=findpost&p=67681 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 If you have an Austin Hardwoods in your area, they have maple (and other woods) butcherblock. That is where I got my piece for my bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 I just built mine from pressure treated 2x6's and 2x8's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Hurt Posted June 27, 2010 Author Share Posted June 27, 2010 Thanks ... that post says it all. We can stop right here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 I just built mine from pressure treated 2x6's and 2x8's One of those fancy shmancy types huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boz1911 Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Good support for the top is as important as the top itself. My next one will likely be two sections of 3/4 plywood laminated together then trimmed with some type of hardwood to cover the edges. I also slant the top to the rear ever so slightly so when tiny parts fall they tend to stay on the bench and not fall on the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CocoBolo Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Good support for the top is as important as the top itself. My next one will likely be two sections of 3/4 plywood laminated together then trimmed with some type of hardwood to cover the edges. I also slant the top to the rear ever so slightly so when tiny parts fall they tend to stay on the bench and not fall on the floor. Just put a little piece of trim around it. Mines got 2x6 as a base with 3/4" plywood screwed on top of that. All aged wood taken out of an old Emu pin. A bit stained. I need my barn so couldn't do barn wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranger Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 I just bought a work table from Sams Wholesale Club - it has a butcher block top that is unreal. It take two men to move it. Very well made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 I just built mine from pressure treated 2x6's and 2x8's One of those fancy shmancy types huh? Sarge, you and I both know that some of the ugliest guns shoot the best, so it's the same with my bench! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 (edited) I just bought a work table from Sams Wholesale Club - it has a butcher block top that is unreal. It take two men to move it. Very well made. Yep, I've got the same one...it is VERY sturdy! I added two shelves to the right side by putting brackets between the legs and adding semi-finished wood from Lowes (don't recall the thickness, but it's pretty stout). I've got hundreds of pounds of bullets on the shelves and it's quite stable...it's not even bolted to the wall and I can crank on it hard without movement. R, http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=101756 Edited June 28, 2010 by G-ManBart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 (edited) I just bought a work table from Sams Wholesale Club - it has a butcher block top that is unreal. It take two men to move it. Very well made. Yep, I've got the same one...it is VERY sturdy! I added two shelves to the right side by putting brackets between the legs and adding semi-finished wood from Lowes (don't recall the thickness, but it's pretty stout). I've got hundreds of pounds of bullets on the shelves and it's quite stable...it's not even bolted to the wall and I can crank on it hard without movement. R, http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=101756 Well, I have one as well. But when it came time to bolting a press to it, well, it was just to damn pretty, with that maple top and all (plus it set up just a bit too high for me). That's where my supplies and tumblers are. Edited June 28, 2010 by GrumpyOne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gohuskers Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 (edited) Harbor freight also sells a pretty nice one: My link Edited June 29, 2010 by gohuskers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryO Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 (edited) I just bought a work table from Sams Wholesale Club - it has a butcher block top that is unreal. It take two men to move it. Very well made. Yep, I've got the same one...it is VERY sturdy! I added two shelves to the right side by putting brackets between the legs and adding semi-finished wood from Lowes (don't recall the thickness, but it's pretty stout). I've got hundreds of pounds of bullets on the shelves and it's quite stable...it's not even bolted to the wall and I can crank on it hard without movement. R, http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=101756 +1 on these work benchs. I put two end to end which gives about 12 feet of space. I've read lots of posts about bolting your loading table to the wall for less movement but these things are heavy enough that I haven't had to do it and have had no problem with movement either. Edited June 29, 2010 by tohlmann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzShooter Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I just ordered one from Harbour Freight. They are on sale for $159 instead of $400. Works out great. I'm moving next month and need to set up the garage for my reloading area. I may just have to order a second one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I just ordered one from Harbour Freight. They are on sale for $159 instead of $400. Works out great. I'm moving next month and need to set up the garage for my reloading area. I may just have to order a second one. I have an older version of that HF bench. I like it for small tasks, and used it for a loading bench, but it's not nearly as sturdy as the Sam's club bench ($200). R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoNsTeR Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 My bench tops are just 3/4" cabinet grade plywood (birch maybe?). They're smaller though, only 4' wide, so there's no flex. At 8' you might want to go with two layers, or one or two crossbars for extra rigidity. The second one which I built for my 1050 is reinforced where the press mounts with a second layer of plywood underneath. It's no butcher block, but it's cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 (edited) People tend to underestimate the importance of the top and over estimate the importance of the legs. My top is two 3/4 peices of scrap plywood, glued and screwed. Then add 4.25" wide X .5"" thick hardwood flooring, glued and nailed. My legs are 44" long and are simple 1 inch pipe. With the top attached to the wall all the pipe does is hold up to top. It carries zero side loading if the top does not flex. If the top flexes then the base carries side loadings. A typical kitchen countertop flexes a lot more then you want and it will require bracing in the legs to eliminate movement. So the top being strong and attached to the wall is the most important part of the process. Edited July 1, 2010 by 98sr20ve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gohuskers Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 My top is solid ash. Only takes a couple of hours to make the top and it won't budge an inch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritinUSA Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 I bought the Seville work-bench today based on the recommendations in this thread. This is a SOLID table. I got the press mounted today, I just have to recalibrate everything (it's been in storage for 9 weeks during my house move). Now I can start reloading again, just in time as I'm down to my last 200-300 rounds. It took a little while to get the table level as the garage floor has a slight decline towards the door (I presume for drainage). I signed up for Sam's Club just so I could get this thing, even with the $40 membership it was worth every penny. It was a tight fit in my Land Rover.... I'm going to save up some money and get the set of drawers to go with it, I assume it will fit under the table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rig Magician Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 I bought a solid wood door, and built a frame for that. Now I need to add plywood for a storage bench underneath and build a shelf on top. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigEdJr Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I know it's late, but I am in the process of building one myself. I just found some 1" thick playwood at homedepot. It's used for flooring, but I am planning on doubling that up and using some 4x4 posts for legs. I'm hoping that will work well. Cost of everything should be about $50-$60. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I bought the Seville work-bench today based on the recommendations in this thread. This is a SOLID table. I got the press mounted today, I just have to recalibrate everything (it's been in storage for 9 weeks during my house move). Now I can start reloading again, just in time as I'm down to my last 200-300 rounds. It took a little while to get the table level as the garage floor has a slight decline towards the door (I presume for drainage). I signed up for Sam's Club just so I could get this thing, even with the $40 membership it was worth every penny. It was a tight fit in my Land Rover.... I'm going to save up some money and get the set of drawers to go with it, I assume it will fit under the table. Cool...I've been very happy with mine. If you want to see a pic of how I made shelves for the right side, let me know and I'll take a couple. R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannix Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 (edited) Well, I have one as well. But when it came time to bolting a press to it, well, it was just to damn pretty, with that maple top and all (plus it set up just a bit too high for me). That's where my supplies and tumblers are. You could take a look at Pat's RockDock. http://www.patmarlins.com/ http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=68714 gohuskers, that sure is a nice ash top. How did you sand it down to even the boards up? Not a bad setup, though I'd probably make up some plugs myself. Edited July 27, 2010 by Dannix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJ Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I'm going to save up some money and get the set of drawers to go with it, I assume it will fit under the table. I think they are designed to fit, but check them out in the store before you buy if possible. I bought the same table a while ago and looked at the cabinets. Unfortunately the cabinets were noticibly poorly made compared to the table. Things not square or flush, little gaps, etc. Just seemed very cheap compared to the great table, and the cabinets are $$$. Too bad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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