The Ultimate shooting enthusiast work bench

[Fill]

I have a magazine from 5 years ago (Family Handyman Sept 05) that has some clever ideas and schematics...what are the rules regarding PDFing and posting?

Basically, it's a 12' cantilevered workbench with rolling chests that go under it. The tops of the chests are set up for tablesaw, miter saw, or infeed/outfeed.

[Dedicated_Dad]

That "rock dock" is a neat idea, though I too don't like the top-mount of the "dock" bits...

A friend has a pretty sweet setup for his stuff. He bought a bench-top drill press, table-saw, planer, etc. He mounted each tool on a square of 3/4" marine-grade plywood, each pre-drilled for the bolts to mount it to the bench.

The bench has holes in the top and "prong-nuts" - I don't know the proper name, but they're threaded to go in the hole and have prongs which grab the wood - on the bottom. He uses eye-bolts to secure the "plates" to the benchtop, locking the tool in rock-solid.

When the tools aren't being used, they're stored in some "Shelves" he built for them. He used 2x2 horizontals to make "grooves" which the plywood bases slide into, so all the tools "stack" in the space a couple of vertical-filing cabs would take up. This setup lets him maximize his space -- no way he could have as many options in the small space he has if he did it any other way.

HTH...

[HTRN]

I can tell you what I plan to do.

1)top is going to be butcher block - min 30" deep, and 72" long - 36"x96" is better though. Also, 2.25" thick. besides the legs, it will also be lag screwed to the studs in the wall, in at least 2 locations.
2)T slot mounting system, at least part of the bench, if not the entire length - everything will be palletized. This offers the most versatility in mounting location, and lets me have multiple presses/accessories whereever I need them, and out of the way when I don't.
3)Frame - 2" welded square tube, with threaded plugs on the legs for leveling feet.
4)Height of bench - just high enough for 5"
5)Under bench storage - rollaways with butcherblock tops on them(and yup, t slots ). an 8 foot bench should be able to fit possibly 3(or perhaps 2 wide cabinets). The idea is that if you want to sit, or need more work surface, you roll the cabinet out from under the bench
6) wall cabinets, like you have in the kitchen, for above top storage - those presses have to go somewhere. undercabinet lighting on these, along with an outlet strip(I mean one of those 6' long ones, not those rinky dink little ones you see advertised).
7)the "ultimate post" - ideally sunk into a soniform tube and the floor patched around it, otherwise done with a plate with floor anchors, it's a 4" heavy wall steel post, filled with concrete or lead shot for dampening, with the top plate welded on with t slot spacing the same as everything else - the idea is this is what you use when you're swaging bullets, radically resizing brass, etc when the regular bench just isn't stable enough. Few will see the need for it though.

[Combat Controller]

Huh, just finished clearing an area for a new one myself.

[blackeagle603]

Necroposting time.

Subject: What is Optimal Reloading Bench Depth

Relocated. I can move old bench from CA to TX but thinking this is an opportunity to build reload bench 4.0.

The 24 inch depth I currently have just promotes clutter and makes reaching stuff stored on shelves up the wall more difficult than necessary.

[Cobar]

If the goal is to get as close to get closer to the shelving at the back I would probably figure out the footprint of whatever tray or container you use and make sure it can fit (probably with a little clearance around it just so it is not teetering on the edge.

Of course you need to make sure that where your press is mounted that you have room for it to function and leaving some room around it to change dies and such or do any repairs.

If it is located in a corner you could go with an L shape. That could let you reach more without the need to move from your working position. It all depends on your workflow and just how much horizontal workspace you need.

[Netpackrat]

You want the depth of bench for when (or in case) you need to mount a taller press to your bench, like a Dillon with an electric case feeder on an Inline Fabrication mount. I have a 24"+ deep bench, and the Dillon still limits how much of the wall behind can be covered with shelves. It's also nice to have room behind your presses to set components and stuff down, but still have it within easy reach. Get a folding step stool if you are having trouble reaching stuff on top of the shelves.

[blackeagle603]

Those Dillon setups with trimmer are sexy.

Probably got what I'll have till I get dirt on my face.I've got a Hornady LNL-AP with case feeder, a MEC- 650 and a couple old single stage presses I use for odd operations or fiddling and experimenting..

L-shape is a good ponder...

[Netpackrat]

L-shape is a good ponder...

I've posted this picture of mine before:



It's got more stuff on it now. I need to get around to peddling that SDB since I have the XL750.

[blackeagle603]

I'm thinking about installing T-tracks and trying that this time for flexible configure of presses.

Seemed like a good idea when it was discussed here back in the forum dark ages. Any feedback on how these held up in actual service?