Just a heads up to anyone looking for a reloading workbench. Home Depot has a pretty nice setup on clearance that’s 50% off of list. The site has them listed as $199 but I found one in my local store for $99.
If I had room I’d snag one but I’m running out if space to put things!
Harbor Freight also has a nice wooden bench for $129 Black Friday.
http://www.harborfreight.com/60-inch-workbench-93454.html
If you’ve never reloaded, you need your bench to be immobile in any direction. No movement what so ever. Pretty much able to support your weight without flex.
I have that harbor freight bench. When i first set it up it would flex when sizing. I added a layer of half inch hardwood plywood, and a layer of 3/4" mdf. I used liquid nails between each layer then used a lot of 3 inch deck screws to attach all the layers permanently.
I added metal angle bracing in multiple spots. I attached a two by four to the back of the legs. 4 three inch deck screws along with a half inch bolt held the 2x4 to each leg. Then i used 3 quarter inch lag bolts to bolt it to the studs in the wall via the 2x4.
The measures i took were overkill, but after the bench flexed early on i decided that i would make sure it did not flex. I love the bench the bottom shelf can really hold some weight at one point i had 4000 pistol bullets along with all the brass it would hold. It did not bend or flex. I have not pushed it to see how much the shelf would hold that iw just the most weight i have had on it. The drawers are nice, and felt lined. It even has a small vice on the end.
I paid 149 when it was on sale locally. I would purchase it again, but if i had the tools to build one my self i would. Like i said it is great, but will probably need reinforcement for sizing rifle cases.
I have the same bench. I brought it home and assembled everything with the addition of wood glue at every joint including the drawers. Other than that the only thing I have had to do was cut and screw down some 4X4 to elevate the bench-top by the footprint of the legs. I also bolted down a couple of steel “L” brackets to the top that are lag bolted to the wall. I have a XL650 on a strong mount on the left side and a Horandy classic SS on the right. I use the vice on the end to hold my board mounted super swage.
I put together an all wood desk with nothing but the lumber, 2 1/2" deck screws, a circular saw, and a drill for about $80. It won’t win any beauty contests but it is 100% solid and way cheaper than a kit, especially one that needs reinforcing after the fact. If you have the means I highly recommend it for an easy DIY project on a lazy Saturday
Used the linked plan but left the back legs longer to attach some pegboard for hanging tools off of and changed the dimensions a little to fit in the room I’m using. Used 3/4" or 1" oak plywood for the main surface and some thicker than normal plywood for the shelf.
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20xl.html
I have my 550B on this very bench. It’s about perfect for a simple reloading setup. Cant beat that price.
If i knew it would need extra support i would have gone a different route. I went overboard to stiffen it, but i did not want to mess with it again.
I think the only reason the top flexed was my press placement. I put it as far left as i could so i would not block the drawers. I think if i put it in the middle it would not have flexed. When i operated the press you could see the corner flex downward it did not cause any problems i could measure. Im just very picky about my process.
I have been loading single stage for 16 years. I have used all types of presses, but my press is still a rock chucker. Im getting so tired of it i have only loaded a hundred rounds in the past couple months. I want a dillon. If i don’t end up with one soon i Will be forced to load some more on the rock chucker. Im rapidly running out of factory ammo.
Overall i like the bench, but if i had to make a recommendation. I would recommend that you build on your own. That way you get every thing you want. I wish i had some shelves, and peg board above like i had at my old place. My bench used to be in the garage, and much larger.
Paid $220 for this a few months ago for my reloading bench. It’s sturdy enough and not too bad if you put a bit of weight on the bottom and make sure the floor is level underneath.
For those of you in the trades, see if you can snag some leftover micro-lam from a jobsite. A few years ago I got some 1&1/2" x 1’-4" x 8’-0" pieces out of the dumpster along with a pile of PSL (parallel strand lumber) 2x4’s and made a workbench. Only had to buy the bolts and gorilla glue to hold it together. You could park a tank on it.
That’s a good deal. Bought the exact same thing for 200 a few years ago. For those of you that don’t like/ don’t want to make one, a nice thing about this bench is you can put both drawers on one side so they don’t interfere with your press.
Mines plenty stable when it’s loaded down with several thousand rounds on the bottom shelf. Haven’t had to bolt it to the wall, although it’s an option if you need to.