Chills1994 Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 I didn't want to hijack the Kobalt bench thread. I figured that used surplus parts bins and benches would be ideal for reloading. Searching all of Craig's List for the manufacturer "Equipto", I found this workbench: for $250 on Tucson CL. Equipto is also known for their parts bins/drawer units: If you're handy, you could make some legs for that and a top. Or gang two or more of those drawer units together to make a bench. Other makers to look for are Lista, Vidmar, and Durham Manufacturing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDRGlock Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 We had a kitchen renovation because of some issues. I had some cabinets that I had installed in my work room. I didn't care about a surface so I said, just use reinforced wood.I found an old college professor desk from Habitat for Humanity thrift store for $40. It's about 120-140 lbs. solid wood.All you will do is drill a bunch of holes into a table. It doesn't need to be expensive. The table has to be solid to provide a stable base for your presses.I have three progressive and one single stage.Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted September 8, 2017 Author Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) On Wed Sep 06 2017 at 8:42 PM, CDRGlock said: We had a kitchen renovation because of some issues. I had some cabinets that I had installed in my work room. I didn't care about a surface so I said, just use reinforced wood. I found an old college professor desk from Habitat for Humanity thrift store for $40. It's about 120-140 lbs. solid wood. All you will do is drill a bunch of holes into a table. It doesn't need to be expensive. The table has to be solid to provide a stable base for your presses. I have three progressive and one single stage. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Very nice! I am currently using an old dresser for my reloading bench right now. The downside is the wooden drawers were not meant to carry the weight of bulk bullets. Which of course got me looking for drawers with ball bearing slides...which in turn led me to Snap On Classic 78 rolling toolboxes. Even used, those Snap On rolling toolboxes are not cheap. Cha ching! At my work, they have several Durham manufacturing metal shelving cabinets that would be ideal for storing powder, primers, cases, or bullets. They are really sturdy, and the doors lock. So it would present a neat appearance...kind of an uncluttered out of sight out of mind thing. Then the different shops and labs at work have Lista cabinets with real maple butcher block counter tops. Very nice! Edited September 8, 2017 by Chills1994 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camaross400 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I just built one out of plywood, 2x4s & 4x4s.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 ^ thats nice looking for a plywood bench! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted September 9, 2017 Author Share Posted September 9, 2017 17 hours ago, lefty o said: ^ thats nice looking for a plywood bench! It looks like the plywood got doubled up in thickness. Then the raw edges which would normally show the laminations got covered with some real wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camaross400 Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 It looks like the plywood got doubled up in thickness. Then the raw edges which would normally show the laminations got covered with some real wood. Yes. You're right. I put 1x2 pine around the edge to make it look nicer.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacticalJesus Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 On 9/10/2017 at 9:04 AM, camaross400 said: Yes. You're right. I put 1x2 pine around the edge to make it look nicer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk What are the dimensions on that? I'm trying to figure out how much depth I actually need on my bench before I build it. I like that L-shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntenseImage Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I've been really happy with the "2x4 Basics" bench kitsSent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camaross400 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 What are the dimensions on that? I'm trying to figure out how much depth I actually need on my bench before I build it. I like that L-shape. The bench is 6ft by 7ft 8in. It is 25 1/2 in deep including the pine trim.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camaross400 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I've been really happy with the "2x4 Basics" bench kits Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk It looks like you upgraded to a 1050 from an LNL like I did! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntenseImage Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 It looks like you upgraded to a 1050 from an LNL like I did! Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkYep sold one of the LnLs to move to a driven 1050. Having to load for 3 of us now was the main factor. Kept the other LnL to do the stuff I shoot in lower volumesSent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Want2BS8ed Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 My bench came from the scrap bin. Cheap B/C plywood trimmed in mahogany. Bench itself is 2 layers of 3/4 plywood covered by a layer of 3/4" MDF. Very solid (and very very heavy). Ignore the LNL - it's long since been replaced by a Dillon 1050.MPS there is also a LOT more junk on those shelves now! LOLSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R1_Demon Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Damn you people!!!! I now have bench envy! LMAO!!! Bad thing is, I have ZERO room. I need to move into another house that actually has a garage, basement or a room for a bench. Sigh...in the meantime I will have to live vicariously through all of you and your wonderful benches while I stick with my little, small, measly portable bench. LOL!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 On Mon Sep 18 2017 at 2:24 PM, R1_Demon said: Damn you people!!!! I now have bench envy! LMAO!!! Bad thing is, I have ZERO room. I need to move into another house that actually has a garage, basement or a room for a bench. Sigh...in the meantime I will have to live vicariously through all of you and your wonderful benches while I stick with my little, small, measly portable bench. LOL!!!! I remember those days of smaller portable benches. Luckily, the Air Force bases I was at had their own wood hobby shops, so I was able to make my own bench back then about 20 years ago. One base had a mortising machine so the first bench I made is mortise and tenoned together. It's now in my basement where all my casting equipment is stored. I am still looking at metal drawer cabinets and tall storage cabinets on Craig's List...I keep telling myself there has got to be a neater more organized looking way to store all the reloading paraphenalia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Harbor freight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 yeah....I have seen those HF benches. I was leaning more towards the metal tool boxes and such because the drawer runners or drawer glides should have ball bearings, so I could load them down with bullets. At Home Depot, Husky does make an adjustable height bench which would kind of solve that age old question "How tall should I make my bench?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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