LoveMyKimbers Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Getting ready to build a new reloading bench. Any suggestions? I think I am going to use a oak butcher block counter top from IKEA. It's 96 7/8" x 25 5/8" x 1 1/2". Do you think this will be wide enough and sturdy enough to mount a Dillion XL650 with the case feed on a strong mount. Just looking for options and opinions. I do not want to build it twice. Thanks for the help in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Steele Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) Brian, if you got about 3 hours; go to the Gallery forum and at the top reloading benches is pinned and you'll have plenty of suggestions. Enjoy and welcome to BE. Scott Edited February 23, 2013 by Scott Steele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polizei1 Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 All depends on how much you want to spend. Me? I went cheap...I built mine out of a 4x8 sheet of MDF and 2x4's. And it's sturdy as a rock! I would also suggest going to the gallery and checking out pictures. But yes, that should work... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I'm looking at the Ikea website right now, and I am not seeing butcher block counter top that long. All I am seeing are the 73.25" lengths Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmup68 Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Use thick block of wood or double up a couple of pieces of 1 inch plywood for the top. Thicker/heavier the better. Or if you go thinner, put a nice 3/16" piece of steel under the press. I prefer higher than normal benchtops since I am tall, take that into consideration. Also, make it wide enough for all of the stuff you want to have within reach. HTH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan45hk Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 All depends on how much you want to spend. Me? I went cheap...I built mine out of a 4x8 sheet of MDF and 2x4's. And it's sturdy as a rock! I would also suggest going to the gallery and checking out pictures. But yes, that should work... Yeah that's pretty much what I did, get a full sheet of 4x8 MDF and cut it length wise, use those two pieces on top of each other for the top, then four 4x4s for the legs, and 2x4s for all the bracing. Torx screw heads for each disassembly if needed. Very sturdy, cheap, and can hold a ton of weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polizei1 Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) Yep, I had scrap 2x4's laying around so that's why I chose those. For the center leg, I tripled the 2x4's for added bracing and strength. All together, I think I have like $60 in it. Edited February 23, 2013 by polizei1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzi Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) The bench I built last year I crafted from 2x8"x and 2x4" pine. Four 2x8"x8' deep for the top of the bench. Rest is just 2x4 lumber . good yellow pine not that soft white stuff. Bench surface is right at 41" tall which works out perfect for me at 6' tall. The 650 mounted directly to the surface. The case hopper is just low enough to dump brass in, got to watch ceiling height!!! EDIT. I thought I'd mention the base of my bench is built with 2x4's boxed all around the legs so the base is very solid when done that way. I'd not want to try and pull it off with 2x4 verticals without boxing the base in either boxing from outside or inside whichever floats ones boat. The middle shelf is essentially another box of 2x4's . Very solid. I don't have to bend when cycling the press. THe bench is heavy enough with a middle shelf section and a lower shelf made of 1/2" plywood to not rock at all when in use. I added top shelfing a foot or so deep. I didn't bother with any lamination of the bench surface. Just good polyurathane finish. Corners were bolted with real bolts and nuts where appropiate. Rest of the bench I just used drywall type screws of variouis lengths. My press is in my living room , carpeted floor. Used to be in the garage but I grew weary of crappy WX here in Gulf Coast Texas. Reloading in A/C comfort is much nicer. I did find some rubber like black matting to lay down at the bench to highlight the occasional dropped primers. Haha. I can get away with it. No female XO in the house to bar me from doing stuff like that in the 'living room'. No kids to worry about so I dont' have to lock any room doors. If I had kids about I'd want to build a set up like that in a room I could lock up. I'd think that oak slab you are looking at would be fine. In my case I built as cheap as I could. Edited February 23, 2013 by Buzi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMyKimbers Posted February 24, 2013 Author Share Posted February 24, 2013 I called them before I drove a hour and forty five minutes to make sure they had one in stock. They said yep it shows we have 13. Well long story short their inventory was off by 13. They had zero in stock. I was not happy. But they said they would hold one for me and knock $70 off he price. So for $99 I can't go wrong. Plus my wife wants to go back anyhow. Thanks for the input guys. @Chills1994 the Article Number: 600.573.95 try this link. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40057396/#/60057395 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I would not have gone that route at full price but for $ 99, I think it is a good top. I went with a doubled up plywood top and these days even that will set you back $ 40+. Mine is in the garage and not going to be seen by anyone so I did not care about appearance plus I'm not the neatest person so it is a pretty messy bench. Make sure the base is plenty stout too - 4x4 legs and bolted to the wall would be my recommendation. If money was no object and I knew I'd never change the configuration of the garage, I'd set 3" pipe into the slab and fill them with concrete as well for legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldfish Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 The Gallery has lots of this. Also consider safety, light & outlet locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee G Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 After getting my 1050 I needed a new place to park my Hornady LNL. I don't have much room and wanted something with a small footprint so this is what I came up with. Maybe $20 worth of materials and you can make it deeper to support a case feeder. The cheapest way to build a bench is to fasten it to a wall. Use MDF instead of plywood, it has much less flex to it and it's flat unlike big box store Chinese ply. Dimensions are 24" wide x 9" deep x 10" tall. It was constructed with scrap MDF and poplar for the edging. Case was constructed using Dados and rabbit joints to keep everything rigid. I tapered the base to 6" to ensure it wouldn't interfere with the press. I think it was about an 8 degree slope, but I just eyeballed it out of laziness. I laminated the top with a second piece of MDF to prevent the bench top from flexing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee G Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Dressed the sides with poplar. Probably not ideal, but I didn't feel like surfacing Ash or maple. I won't be pounding on it so I think it will last. I used a plate jointer for alignment. The top was a little uneven so I leveled it with a block plane. Mounted it to the wall using 4 lag bolts through studs. I ran a few rounds through it and it's plenty sturdy. I'm 180 and it supports my weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzi Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Awesome use of a compact situation. I've heard of gun porn is this a sub set 'reloader porn'? Great pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMyKimbers Posted February 26, 2013 Author Share Posted February 26, 2013 Wow. Lee G nice pics and info. That looks great. I have enough room so I'm making the bench about 8' long. Then I can use it to work on guns too. Thanks again for all the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franco79 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 wheres this at? you have a link? Brian, if you got about 3 hours; go to the Gallery forum and at the top reloading benches is pinned and you'll have plenty of suggestions. Enjoy and welcome to BE. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
congewe Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 This is what I'm using. Very happy with it. HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS $159.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glynnm45 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Super build and with the tools you have in your shop I am envious. Bessey Clamps; Delta Table Saw with outfeed roller for support of stock; Biscuit Jointer; Delta 6" Jointer; Block Plane, serious woodworking setup. I have almost the same setup but my Table Saw is a Craftsman contractor saw. I also have a thickness sander (ryobi) and a Powermatic Lathe. Right now I am making and marketing Bench Loader Blocks from Walnut and Cherry. Again a great build and gets me motivated to construct an additional Bench. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GR8GIFT Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 This is what I'm using. Very happy with it. HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS $159.99 How about a link to the workbench or part number? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franco79 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Harbor freight.com its the only wood bench they sell. Im actually using the same one. after coupons, discounts yada yada yada i paid around $90 for mine.. Best bench for the buck IMO. This is what I'm using. Very happy with it. HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS $159.99 How about a link to the workbench or part number? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
congewe Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 http://www.harborfreight.com/60-inch-workbench-93454.html If you have a Harbor Freight store near you check it out. Using the discount coupon thing reduces the cost. Most often by alot. That's what I did.i Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WideOpenThrottle Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 wheres this at? you have a link? Brian, if you got about 3 hours; go to the Gallery forum and at the top reloading benches is pinned and you'll have plenty of suggestions. Enjoy and welcome to BE. Scott Here you go. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5485 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcdon Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 This is what I'm using. Very happy with it. HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS $159.99 How about a link to the workbench or part number? Thanks! I just picked one up today for $139.00 on sale. It's item #69054 and the coupon code is #55550874. Now all I have to do is build it, place an order with Brian, and wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_m68 Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 This is what I'm using. Very happy with it. HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS $159.99 How about a link to the workbench or part number? Thanks! I just picked one up today for $139.00 on sale. It's item #69054 and the coupon code is #55550874. Now all I have to do is build it, place an order with Brian, and wait! This is what I'm using. Very happy with it. HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS $159.99 How about a link to the workbench or part number? Thanks! I just picked one up today for $139.00 on sale. It's item #69054 and the coupon code is #55550874. Now all I have to do is build it, place an order with Brian, and wait! Do you know if they already have them put together at the store/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcdon Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 (edited) Do you know if they already have them put together at the store/ I don't think so; at least not at the store in Portland. Edited March 11, 2013 by bcdon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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