New handloading bench

[dbowhunter]

Thought I'd share my weekend project, I looked around and made some other folks ideas my own so I'll share in case anyone wants to do the same with mine.

The Benchtop is doubled up 3/4" MDF with laminate flooring on top, trimmed with simple 1x. Measures about 25" x 7'

The base is a couple cabinets that were the right price (free) since they were warranty replaced by a builder friend due to some slight scratches. One is vanity height so I built a base of rabbeted 1x to match the counter height of the other and to be flush with the sides.

The flooring for the top was from the clearance aisle of discontinued/broken boxes at lowes for only $19. Not a bad bench for around $75-100 if I might day so myself.

I'll build some drawers for the drawer-less vanity cabinet sometime.

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[stucknok]

That looks very nice and the price would be hard to beat. Do you plan on staining the 1X trim pieces? Post some pics when you have it fully dressed out with reloading press, etc. Again, nice work sir.

 

[dbowhunter]

They were finished with poly on bare wood. I like the contrast. Outside edges were routed 1/8" round to soften them a bit.

 

[dbowhunter]

Yes, I glued the 2 mdf layers and clamped/weighed it down excessively to hold. The flooring is cut to fit and I just put a real light coat of regular wood glue underneath it. I figured it was small enough that expansion shouldn't be an issue.

It's plenty stiff, I've noticed no flex at al moving it around but we'll see once the press is put to work. Your generic laminate kitchen counter is only 3/4 thick. This is twice that plus the laminate floor and trim and I sure never noticed any flex over my dish washer. Ply would probably work just as good/better but I had the mdf already and it provided a good flat surface for the flooring.

I've been brainstorming a sleeve of some kind for the holes for the press to protect the mdf a bit from the pounding but haven't figured that out yet. But a smooth steel sleeve with id matched to the mounting bolt od and epoxied in the table is what I am picturing. Maybe make it last a bit longer. If not I am just glueing and screwing a leftover piece of scrap laminate floor to the bottom of the bench where the bolts come through to keep washers/etc from cutting into the mdf over time.

For <$40 in flooring and trim, you could make that plywood nice and pretty too!

 

[stucknok]

They were finished with poly on bare wood. I like the contrast. Outside edges were routed 1/8" round to soften them a bit.

You read my mind. That was going to be my suggestion. The light trim around the dark wood looks really good. You've got me thinking of a similar project in my shop that needs finishing up.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Building your own reloading bench has to be one of the most rewarding things to do. Great looking bench man!

 

[GunMax]

oh wow that table looks way too nice!

 

[dbowhunter]

Thanks gentlemen. Since I received 'permission' to have a bench indoors, I figured if I made it purty it might stay semi clean.

I'm thinking about getting one of those hard plastic floor covers they make for rolling office chairs to save the carpet from brass shavings and grime.

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[meathunter1]

Nice work! I made one out of some rough cut oak that I planed down. Used the kreg jig to fasten the boards together. It was almost too nice to drill holes an mount presses to!

 

[MikeEzell]

Just another option, but I use this box made by a friend who builds cabinets. It raises the press to a good working height and is very sturdy.
He sells them for about $45 plus shipping. I put the holes for the dies and loading tray in. I use the die holders constantly but seldom use the loading tray. If I had it to do over,
I'd just have the die holes.

 

[mrspradlin]

That turned out really nice.
Now maybe I can convince my lady to let me bring my bench in from the garage if I make it look as nice as yours.

 

[rleffel]

Amazing you do great work

 

[Apex360]

Very nice! I'd hate to drill into that table top to mount my press.

 

[dbowhunter]

Already done and it's been put to use!

 

[Apex360]

Nice! I remember when I first finished my reloading bench. I did not want to mount my press. Haha I has to trick myself into doing it.

 

[feeling_infringed]

Looks really nice! The flooring for the top is great.

I've also got 'permission' to have my bench indoors (office), so need to make it a little nicer than I'd make a garage bench.

Do you use the area between the two cabinets to sit when reloading? I'm torn between leaving a gap or having more storage.

 

[dbowhunter]

That was the idea with cabinets, for leg room. And although I don't end up tucked far under it like a desk, the extra room is nice. I plan on building some shelves that take up about half the depth to make better use of some of the room.

Congratulations on the indoor approval!

Looks really nice! The flooring for the top is great.

I've also got 'permission' to have my bench indoors (office), so need to make it a little nicer than I'd make a garage bench.

Do you use the area between the two cabinets to sit when reloading? I'm torn between leaving a gap or having more storage.