I'm getting moved into my new place and now have plenty of room to spread my tools and equipment out finally. This means I get to build some new benches...yay!

I'm wanting to build at least 2 different work benches and a reloading bench. All to place up against the wall and work on my wintertime projects to keep me busy.

Work benches- any ideas, plans or pictures you have of a nice bench to work on things? I've got yard equipment, motorcycles, airplanes, and other stuff to be worked on. Also any ideas for a woodworking bench.

Reloading- I need something that can accommodate reloading shotgun, pistol, and rifle ammo and have enough storage for all the supplies. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

If you're going to do shotgun, rifle, and pistol on one bench, make sure you have some kind of interchange system for your presses. Another suggestion is to make sure that your press is tall enough. The last bench I made, was a little too short and my back still hasn't forgiven me.

There is an awesome thread on arfcom that is full of reloading bench pictures and ideas.

https://texags.com/forums/50/topics/2921101

Here is the arfcom reloading bench thread

Here is some inspiration:
https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/2608388/2#discussion

Every electric outlet on its own breaker

Here are some pictures of mine. I'm in need of a new bench as well. The one pictured is the back-breaker that I mentioned earlier in the thread.

Also fresh brass at the end for viewing pleasure.

Any chance you have a link to your mounting hardware?

AggieGunslinger said:

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Any chance you have a link to your mounting hardware?

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I used 3/8" all threaded rod and bought the black knobs from some place I found online that I couldn't tell you the name of for the life of me today. Grainger or Amazon has them though, a google search for "plastic star knob" or "knurled knob" brought them right up.

Knurled Knob Search

The underside recieving threads are a 3/8" female threaded coupler with a flange on one side, similar to this:



But mine are threaded all the way through. I honestly think i found them at Home Depot, saw them and thought they would be perfect for my application. I used some small wood screws on the flange side and they are solid.

I cut the all threaded rod and used some JB Weld to epoxy them into the knurled knobs. I think they are about 3" or so long. Drilled a hole through the bench, inserted the female flanged coupler on the bottom, screw it into place and done. Leaves me with small holes in the bench, but they are through holes so almost nothing gets caught up in them.

I looked at some other methods of having a lot of flexibility, but liked this one the best. I keep the presses, vices, etc. that I'm not using stored on a shelf above and install them when i need them. When I don't, i have an open bench to work on. Bonus points is that my wife uses the bench (its' in my master closet, didn't have anywhere else to really put it in my house) for some things as well so I only marginally got kicked in the stones when I built it.

I'd do a few things different were I to go back and start over, but they are relatively minor in nature.

Gracias, I had been looking at T-track but your method seems much easier.

LoudestWHOOP! said:

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Holding my breath for mfbarnes' reloading bench.

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you're 4 posts too late

normaleagle05 said:

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Here is some inspiration:
https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/2608388/2#discussion

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Here's a thread I started when I built my last bench 3 years ago.

Workbench tips

By all means, pay particular attention to the wood and the screws.

If you have the room, build it as big as you can get away with. But keep in mind that your idea of "having the room" may change over time.

AggieGunslinger said:

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Gracias, I had been looking at T-track but your method seems much easier.

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I looked at doing something like that, lots of flexibility. The reason why I didn't go with it is that I just know the tracks will end up being where every primer, spec of dirt, powder, etc. will eventually collect. I was probably over thinking it, but I kept thinking about how much of a PITA that system will be to keep clean.

91AggieLawyer said:

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Here's a thread I started when I built my last bench 3 years ago.

Workbench tips

By all means, pay particular attention to the wood and the screws.

If you have the room, build it as big as you can get away with. But keep in mind that your idea of "having the room" may change over time.

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I hope I have enough room. I've got 170 linear feet of wall space to work with. It would take one helluva Bench to use all that up.

Thanks for the info

normaleagle05 said:

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Here is some inspiration:
https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/2608388/2#discussion

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Thank you

schmellba99 said:

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Here is mine:







My progressive is hard mounted to the bench, it's big and heavy and isn't going to be moved.

On the longer side of the bench, i mounted various pieces of equipment to blocks that attach to the bench with the black knurled screws you see. Each one can be put wherever I need it to be put. My only mistake was not making the holes for the recessed receiving threads equal distances so that the blocks could be mounted in more positions. Were I go back and do it again, i'd make that quick modification just to give me a bit more flexibility.

I also didn't make it super deep as you can see. The deeper the bench, the more apt it is to get cluttered. It's just deep enough to mount any equipment and have a little space behind it, all within easy reach while sitting. I used butcher block countertops bought at Ikea, they are cheap, look good and durable. Standard 2x4 frame with a storage shelf underneath. I thought about cabinets, but with me cabinets become places things get lost. I wanted everything out int he open where I can see it. Personal preference.

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That looks like a nice setup. How tall is your countertop?

Thanks

TwoMarksHand said:

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Here are some pictures of mine. I'm in need of a new bench as well. The one pictured is the back-breaker that I mentioned earlier in the thread.

Also fresh brass at the end for viewing pleasure.

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Other than it being too short, is there anything else you would change? Look s liked a nice setup

I will have to measure, but I think it is 24". Standard desktop height. I prefer sitting when i reload versus standing or doing small projects.

I saw the T-track system that some guys have installed and I really like the idea.

Other than that, I need more storage space and more shelves.

If you have several presses and want to keep a smaller footprint I HIGHLY recommend Inline Fabrication mounts. They truly are a gamechanger. The best mounting set up on the market right now. I have their quick change plate that I share with three presses. One mount, three different presses. Takes about 40 seconds to swap. I have a small bench so this approach is the one that works for me.

Eliminatus said:

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If you have several presses and want to keep a smaller footprint I HIGHLY recommend Inline Fabrication mounts. They truly are a gamechanger. The best mounting set up on the market right now. I have their quick change plate that I share with three presses. One mount, three different presses. Takes about 40 seconds to swap. I have a small bench so this approach is the one that works for me.

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Are they worth the price tag? Every time I get to researching them, I feel like I could quickly fab up something similar for much cheaper.

TwoMarksHand said:

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Eliminatus said:

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If you have several presses and want to keep a smaller footprint I HIGHLY recommend Inline Fabrication mounts. They truly are a gamechanger. The best mounting set up on the market right now. I have their quick change plate that I share with three presses. One mount, three different presses. Takes about 40 seconds to swap. I have a small bench so this approach is the one that works for me.

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Are they worth the price tag? Every time I get to researching them, I feel like I could quickly fab up something similar for much cheaper.

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Just depends I guess. A crafty fella who knows what he is doing with steel and a welder can always Fab out something workable and cheaper.

I have no such skills nor equipment so I have to buy.
As far as cost the initial mount is most of it. Then each individual plate for each press is $19 a piece. I can tell you that their stuff is extremely well made. This is not some cheap third party crap assembled in a garage. It really is professional grade stuff. So to me and my needs (not a whole lot of bench real estate) it was a no brainer. Hell, it was the only real option for what I wanted. It was worth every penny to me.

Ar said:

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That looks like a nice setup. How tall is your countertop?

Thanks

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I thought about this last night for some reason and measured - 30" from floor to top of work bench.

Every workbench should have two paper towel holders: one for shop towels and the other for cheap paper towels (the kind that are precipitated as half sheets, of course)

Also if you can swing it, rig up a craft paper roll dispenser, where you can pull the paper over a section of bench for glue/epoxy projects then rip it off and throw away when you're done. Hanging off one end of the bench wound be ideal, so you could cover as much or little of the bench with the paper as needed. Second best would be to hang the roll under the bench toward the wall with the paper feeding up over the benchtop, so you could pull it out toward you and cover just a 3ft section

Check this one out. I don't have the need for that extensive of a setup, but it's nice