Chriznak Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 How sturdy does a work bench have to be so that the press doesn't move when you bring down the lever? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Durant Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 You definitely want a stable/sturdy bench. If its moving around you could have a few different problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Build the bench so it does not move at all when you sit or jump on it. THEN reinforce it some more! The handle exerts a lot of leverage and will still cause some movement. My bench is mounted with lag bolts on all three walls with 4X4 legs in the center to support the weight and pressure. My casefeeder still shook so bad that I had to bolt it directly to the bench to keep cases from flipping upside down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriznak Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 any good building plans out there for making your own reloading bench from scratch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Just solid. 4" think solid. It's 4" because it's 6' long w/o a center support & 20" deep. Works great. In stead of a reloading room like most of my friends I have reloading closet, so I got a 4" thick solid peice of hickory. Good to go. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriznak Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 Just solid. 4" think solid. It's 4" because it's 6' long w/o a center support & 20" deep. Works great. In stead of a reloading room like most of my friends I have reloading closet, so I got a 4" thick solid peice of hickory. Good to go. Hope this helps. Is there a specific attribute of hickory that makes it good for a reloading bench? Just wondering in case I can't find 4" thick hickory sheets and my local hardware stores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Not at all just bragging. Lol. It's hard as woodpecker lips, any is fine. Post some pics when you are done? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I have a bench that is made from a hollow core door, that most people would use as firewood!!!!! It has served me well for many years even though it is not ideal. That being said, I agree that your bench should be as sturdy and stable as possible. Invest and build once! Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlmiller1 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Friend of mine wanted me to build him a reloading bench. We were working our way through his wants & ideas when he said he wanted it on wheels but he didn't want it to shake or move at all. I had to stop him right there. I didn't feel there was anyway I could build a portable reloading bench narrow enough to fit through most doors that would be absolutely solid. I suggested to him that he find a solid metal bench/cabinet of some kind because I couldn't supply what he needed. Now this may not sound like a big deal but I'm not afraid to do any woodworking project at all. If it can be built of wood, I can do it. I didn't feel I could achieve the required goal in this case though. I guess I said all that to say this: if you want it solid, you have to plan for it to be solid. No Home Depot cardboard boxed cabinet sitting in the middle of your garage is gonna be all that solid, at least not for very long. MLM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 It's hard as woodpecker lips Had not heard that one in a loong time. Made me laugh out loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 It's been a while for me also..lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Bear Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 8/4 oak joined together. Bench is 30" deep and 8' long. Bench is then bolted to the steel beams in the basement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 (edited) That one sounds solid too....Longevity Is key when building/buying a bench. Edited March 21, 2013 by a matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Ryder Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 My wife said "You could park your car on that bench!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSteel Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Mine is 3/4" ply with 3/4" mdf glued to that with a top coat of 3/4" tongue / groove bamboo flooring 6" plank glued to that. This sits above hickory cabinets bolted to the wall. Sounds like overkill but with a 650 mounted on a strong mount with case feeder things want to move.. Laminated materials stop that!!! Cost for a 30" x 5' bench top was less than $80.00. Lowes hickory cabinet bottoms on sale were just useful bling!!! Yes, sturdy is good!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunsen Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 When I went to build mine the best response I got to a similar post was "Build it so you could stand on it and jump up and down." Then you have things covered! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriznak Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 Mine is 3/4" ply with 3/4" mdf glued to that with a top coat of 3/4" tongue / groove bamboo flooring 6" plank glued to that. This sits above hickory cabinets bolted to the wall. Sounds like overkill but with a 650 mounted on a strong mount with case feeder things want to move.. Laminated materials stop that!!! Cost for a 30" x 5' bench top was less than $80.00. Lowes hickory cabinet bottoms on sale were just useful bling!!! Yes, sturdy is good!!! How much do you estimate it weighs? How much weight do you think would be good enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Common themes in the above: A stiff mounting surface that doesn't flex. Heavy and/or bolted to the wall to prevent movement. Mine is 2 sheets of 3/4" ply glued together with a doorskin surface on top, 2x4 legs/bracing, bolted into the wall. Ugly as sin, but it's solid and doesn't move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuzinvinny Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I am using an old kitchen counter and cabinets for my reloading bench, but I don't have the press mounted to the bench. Instead I had a local fab shop take 2 pieces of 3/8" plate, approximately 12" square and weld them to the top and bottom of a piece of 4" square tubing. I lagged the bottom plate to the floor, and mounted the press on top. Total cost was less than $50. I took the idea from a similar set up at a local machine shop where they had a grinder mounted on top. This set up is rock solid. A few years later I found someone offering a set up very similar to mine over the internet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFZ2XeZSbms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+16 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 same here bought a kitchen cab. from lowes and installed a counter top, bolted to wall and floor. Solid and don't move Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiwayman Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Google National reloading manufacturers association. They have a set of plans for a very sturdy reloading bench. I've had mine for over 30 years and have no issues!! Can be modified to suite your needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoachLongShot Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Just get a 3/4" sheet of plywood. Good stuff, not that press board. 2 - 8' 4x4's and ask them to cut them in half for you if you don't have the saw to do it with. Get a couple of 2x4's and hammer those to the outside edge of the plywood. Put the 4x4's that you cut at the corners for legs. Screw all the parts to each other again. Done. Heavy, sturdy, won't wobble around and you can stand on it table for reloading. Adjust measurements or cuts as you see fit. any good building plans out there for making your own reloading bench from scratch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriznak Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Just get a 3/4" sheet of plywood. Good stuff, not that press board. 2 - 8' 4x4's and ask them to cut them in half for you if you don't have the saw to do it with. Get a couple of 2x4's and hammer those to the outside edge of the plywood. Put the 4x4's that you cut at the corners for legs. Screw all the parts to each other again. Done. Heavy, sturdy, won't wobble around and you can stand on it table for reloading. Adjust measurements or cuts as you see fit. any good building plans out there for making your own reloading bench from scratch? Thanks a lot for your help. Mind if I ask what type of screws to get and what drill I would need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob DuBois Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Sturdy is better, try and mount your machine level. It will run smoother. A good lighting source, Lowes carry's a small clamp on light with a movable head around $20 bucks. Put one on my 550 and 650. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Bear Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Just get a 3/4" sheet of plywood. Good stuff, not that press board. 2 - 8' 4x4's and ask them to cut them in half for you if you don't have the saw to do it with. Get a couple of 2x4's and hammer those to the outside edge of the plywood. Put the 4x4's that you cut at the corners for legs. Screw all the parts to each other again. Done. Heavy, sturdy, won't wobble around and you can stand on it table for reloading. Adjust measurements or cuts as you see fit. any good building plans out there for making your own reloading bench from scratch? Thanks a lot for your help. Mind if I ask what type of screws to get and what drill I would need? My bench is ALL oak. Being as my top is 2" thick I used 1/4" x 5 lag bolts to hold the 2x4's to the top. My legs are 2 2x4's bolted together in an L shape. I then used 5/16" x 3-1/2" bolts run into T-nuts to secure the legs to the bench top. If I ever notice an flex at all in the bench it is just a matter of minutes to snug all of the bolts back up. After 4 years it is still as solid as when I first built it, and I have not had to snug the bolts yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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