ya he's likely been loading longer than you have been alive
Building the Perfect Reloading Room
- Thread starter sirhrmechanic
- Start date
Having to move my reloading room. Just finished it not too long ago, but my baby boy will soon need his own room once he gets here. So I’m building a 8x16 room in my 30x40 shop.
This room will be 100% insulated and have a 110v mini split with a dehumidifier built in. Probably doing Sheetrock on the inside too because it’s cheaper than OSB. Eventually the rest of the shop will be spray foamed, but that will have to wait
This room will be 100% insulated and have a 110v mini split with a dehumidifier built in. Probably doing Sheetrock on the inside too because it’s cheaper than OSB. Eventually the rest of the shop will be spray foamed, but that will have to wait
Glad to see your little one is on the way, praying for a safe, healthy birth and long and healthy life for the young fellow. Shop looks good. I basically need to do the same in my shop. I have a reloading area but it is open to the entire shop. Dirt, dust and grime everywhere, cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
Good luck and everything and keep the pictures coming.
My room has always been a work in progress. I’ve had this room done, then moved everything into my garage only to be back in this room, lol. I’ve switched things up a bit this time to give me a more organized solution and help get things off the bench top. The biggest benefit is getting most of my things back out of my garage as it’s just way too nasty here in Houston sometimes.
I have a 6’ bench coming soon for the left hand side of the room which will allow for space for my XL750 and a dedicated decapping station. I also ordered additional pieces of the laminate flooring which is through my house so I’ll have to rip carpet up in a few weeks to put the laminate down.
I still need to work out the order of operations to better place the kit and then I’ll order some Inline Fab flat mount plates for both the bench and bench top chest.
I also really need to address my lighting. I replaced the two bulbs in the ceiling light with some 75w LED bulbs and it is still not enough for my aging eyes. I need to find a solution to hang directly over the benches more in the 5500-6500k. All the things you forget about as we embark on our journeys.
I have a 6’ bench coming soon for the left hand side of the room which will allow for space for my XL750 and a dedicated decapping station. I also ordered additional pieces of the laminate flooring which is through my house so I’ll have to rip carpet up in a few weeks to put the laminate down.
I still need to work out the order of operations to better place the kit and then I’ll order some Inline Fab flat mount plates for both the bench and bench top chest.
I also really need to address my lighting. I replaced the two bulbs in the ceiling light with some 75w LED bulbs and it is still not enough for my aging eyes. I need to find a solution to hang directly over the benches more in the 5500-6500k. All the things you forget about as we embark on our journeys.
2 more full days of work. I was hoping to have been further along than this, but this is all I got done. R19 insulation. 5/8” rock on the ceiling and 1/2” on the walls. I also have enough 3/4” plywood to fully cover the top (storage) and of course around the 36” door. 110v mini split with dehumidifier is on the way too. Will go in the back wall that isn’t insulated yet
Never floated Sheetrock before, so I have a friend coming over to assist when I’m ready.
Never floated Sheetrock before, so I have a friend coming over to assist when I’m ready.
Picked up another bench from Sam's Club so now I need to work on workflow and then I can start mounting things to benches. I am still undecided on whether to use the Inline Fab flush mount system for things to keep the bench tops clean or figure out the flow and leave everything set up. I have a pattern vise which will go on the front edge of the Sam's bench so I can clamp up a rifle if I had to. I will drill the hole for that tomorrow once I pick up my drill guide I loaned a friend, lol. Am lovin the drawer organizer from Home Goods. They are way cheaper than I can make them and it's nice you can just grab the whole tray out if needed. I need to put an air flow diverter on my AC outlet in the room. It really causes havoc with the AT. I also got a quote today to replace the carpet with the same VPF that is in the rest of our house. I didn't think about putting hardwood down in this room when we had the house built. All in all, it is coming together slowly.
If anyone has thoughts on placement or the use of the Inline Fab flush mount system I would love to hear your thoughts.
If anyone has thoughts on placement or the use of the Inline Fab flush mount system I would love to hear your thoughts.
I have a table such as yours. My press would deflect it slightly when working it. I attached a 1/2 thick oak piece about 6x6 on the underside where the press went. I used a light coating of wood glue, followed by half dozen screws short enough to not come out the top wood. Then after a couple days to make sure the glue was set I redrilled through the holes for the press. After attaching the press there was zero deflection and it remains strong to this day. I really like that table. From a center position my press in on my right, and my powder dispenser is on my left. I also have holes drilled in the center for my cartridge trimmer. For me, it is perfect as I am not in a big hurry, and being retired reloading is more like knitting for me lol
Sure is, as mentioned in an earlier comment I have some laminate flooring coming for that room in the next month or so.
Personally, I prefer specialization. I would go with multiple presses set up for single functions rather than a multi function turret press. It is likely just a subjective thing, but that’s me lol2-3 more presses . nothing expensive . one for measurements one for crimping one for expanding mandrels . or one turret press
The turret is the way man. Having 2 turret presses is so much better if you have a few calibers you load for. No swapping out dies, just turn it and go.2-3 more presses . nothing expensive . one for measurements one for crimping one for expanding mandrels . or one turret press
Yeah, am leaning that way. I may go with the Inline Fab flush mount plates for a small Partner style press for decapping and priming with the Derraco PCPS priming tool I use.
I have really enjoyed my flush mount plates and qd work stations from inline Fab. I went back and forth between tracks and the flush mount plates and I am glad I went with the flush mounts. The tracks are cool but with the messes that I make, they'd always have crap in em and the flush mount plates leaves me regular bench on each side which I like.
Also, @Bbracken667 , I really like my ugly reloading primer. A nice guy on here printed me some "buttons" to put on the end of the push rod piece so I had a little bigger area to push on (which allows me to push as I come up with the press handle and load a new primer with out having to even look at it). Really nice and the machining is great. I have swapped all my head space/comparator stuff to the ugly reloading ones too and am happy with it. I could buy 3 sets for less than one set of 419
It’s great, especially since it is press mounted, however one thing I discounted on the CPS is the superior short throw of the arm on the CPS. I am sure there is also more feel with the CPS. The Derraco is a great alternative for $220 you just have to live with the longer throw.
You should consider the spray foam insulation I put it in my whole house now I only run the heat on the first floor sufficient heat migrates up to the other two floors and the first floor is able to keep up. Before I renovated I couldnt keep the house above 68 degrees.
Regards
Regards
The rest of the shop will be spray foamed at some point in the future. I got this R19 insulation from a friend who had it left over from a previous job. I couldn't pass that up.
The quotes for spraying 30x40x12 for 1.5" of closed cell was just over $5k
That quote sounds outrageous I did a 7000 sq ft house and it only cost me a might over 10k I would look for more bids and that was 6"
Well there's a big difference in closed and open and it depends on when it was and what all I'd being done and what foam is used, ect.. also, 7000 sq.ft on 2 levels or 1 level? It's just not that simple to compare with that little of info from either
I agree this was a three level the third being an attic 55x44 with 14 ft ceiling the other two floors were 6 inch studs. My observation is limited to the size of each ob and cost. I suppose you don't have a lot of contractors to choose from also.
Good luck with your modification work
Good luck with your modification work
I have a non security just plain steel/ industrial building type door if you happen to be in Arizona.
The pending reloading area. As soon as the painters get done, I'll get to work on it.
Lucky dog. You already have 4x the shelf area I’m squeezed into.
Nice can placement for the upcoming bench.
I'm going from a 48"x 26" bench with the annealer and trimmer on a 24" sq. table in the "living room" at the current residence to about
550 sq. ft. in the new place.
Sheetrock should be floated today and Ill get it painted before the weekend.
Before I start building my bench, I have a question about T Tracks. People who have them, do you like them? Would you do it again? I use the inline fab quick mount system, I do think that the tracks would make it a little easier and of course more modular.
Before I start building my bench, I have a question about T Tracks. People who have them, do you like them? Would you do it again? I use the inline fab quick mount system, I do think that the tracks would make it a little easier and of course more modular.
Not a professional at floating Sheetrock or texturing it by any means. But it’s done, should be painted tomorrow, then baseboards, and benches and shelves going in this weekend (hopefully). I should have masked off the floor, that crap got everywhere!
I don't have any 8 pounders of anything on hand. Can anyone give me dimensions of some 8 pound powder containers? I'm trying to design some shelves.
Accurate / Ramshot - 8lb - 5.5"x5.5" x 10.75" tall
Hodgedon/Winchester-8lb. - 7" x 4.5" x 10.5" tall
Hodgedon/Winchester-8lb. - 7" x 4.5" x 10.5" tall
I’ve been tinkering with the idea of getting back into reloading. I’m in desperate need of a hobby. Long story short, we have a special needs son who just turned 12. He has epilepsy caused by a mutated gene. Started at 4 months old. We are confined to our house and have been for 12 years.
The set ups you guys have are amazing. Those Dillon set ups are very intimidating. I sold off my RCBS single stage press and everything else when I sold my 338 Lapua 10+ years ago. I’d mainly be reloading 45 ACP, 9mm, and my hunting rifles. I’ll keep lurking this forum to further educate myself/get up to date on everything. I also need to start piecing together reloading components. I won’t piece together press stuff yet until I decide which one to go with. I don’t shoot near as much as you guys, so a multi stage I’d probably be okay with (skip on a progressive for now)
Sorry for the ramble, again, VERY nice setups you folks have.
The set ups you guys have are amazing. Those Dillon set ups are very intimidating. I sold off my RCBS single stage press and everything else when I sold my 338 Lapua 10+ years ago. I’d mainly be reloading 45 ACP, 9mm, and my hunting rifles. I’ll keep lurking this forum to further educate myself/get up to date on everything. I also need to start piecing together reloading components. I won’t piece together press stuff yet until I decide which one to go with. I don’t shoot near as much as you guys, so a multi stage I’d probably be okay with (skip on a progressive for now)
Sorry for the ramble, again, VERY nice setups you folks have.
Bro!!! You are a giant among us and talking about being intimidated by a press??? You are intimidating to me! I feel very sure you can do it and much more. I think a turret is the best press to start with, so you can leave dies set up. But don't be afraid to get a dillon 550. You can feed it when you're ready and crank out pistol ammo and do rifle on it but I really hate changing shell plates on it so I personally wouldn't switch back and forth. Unless it's a lot of rounds a turret will be great for rifle and dillon for pistol. A man that has done all that you have and do will have no trouble, and if you do, you have the best resource there is right here at the Hide. Go for it
Spent my entire life working with families with special needs children and adults. I understand.
Don’t be intimidated by Dillon 550’s. They look very intimidating but when you get it home, read the directions to set it up and go. it really is much simpler than it looks.
The biggest problem you will have is switching from large to small primers. So, depending on which you reload more, 9mm or 45 and hunting rounds, set up your first Dillion with that primer size and leave that part alone. Go with a single stage for the other. A good used single stage press will last you forever. Also, the biggest expense and the greatest ease/use of the 550 is to have separate tool head for each caliber. Really saves time.
Loading either 9mm and 45 ACP on a 550 is a real breeze compared to a single stage. Takes minutes rather than hours.
If you aren’t looking for automation and etc, you might consider the RCBS supreme. One of the best at seating concentrically in case you want to get back into rifle reloading. I do my 45 colt and 9 mm on mine with zero complaints.
Tis a fine hobby. I often refer to it as “knitting” for men, and I am not the least bit worried about production as I focus on accuracy and safety and just the basic process.
Hugs for you and your family. Your dedication is more than just commendable.Funny thing is, my wife got all the info to buy me a Dillon 650 when they made it almost a decade ago. I caught wind and told her not to spend the money on it, didn’t have the time. I kick myself for that. I’m a buy once, cry once type of guy. Maybe I should go with the 550 for my handgun and 5.56 loading and a RCBS for my hunting rounds.
Powder Valley is only 30 minutes from where I live.
What are some other reloading websites you all use? Also, who do people order their Dillon’s from?
You can save money buying one used on here. They come up regularly for sale. I traded for mine. You can also check our Double Alpha. They are pretty good.
https://www.doublealpha.biz/
Thanks. I’ll keep an eye on the classifieds. To reply or post on the classifieds, is there a wait/post count like on 1911 Addicts before I can reply or post?
Custom 1911’s are my addiction, but I love rifles just as much. Custom rifle build is definitely on the top of my list.. along with getting set up to reload.
Thanks for all the help
