When getting into reloading newbies tend to focus on loads and dies and powders. What doesn’t often get discussed is the importance of a good, sturdy, and well-organized work bench. I’ve seen presses chucked into boxes in the attic only to get hauled out once or twice a year to be assembled on the kitchen table or on a rickety filthy bench in the garage. Frankly, I may or may not have been guilty of some of those things in the past.
Organization is key to efficiently and accurately loading up rounds, and a clean well organized workbench then is not so much a luxury as a necessity. It doesn’t have to be big and elaborate, or even expensive.
I’ve been collecting photos and design details of other reloader’s setups, and will be profiling them with you periodically on these pages. To start things off we’ll look at Brian Cameron’s bench. Brian’s bench is everything a reloading station needs to be: sturdy, well organized, and inexpensive to build.
Build Sheet
2×4 Basics Workbench and Shelving System P/N 90164: $63
12 – 8′ 2×4, Select Grade: $42
1 – 23/32″ B-C plywood: $25
1 – 2’x4′ sheet 1/8″ Masonite: $6
1-1/4″ deck or sheetrock screws $7
LED desklamps with removable base: $30
Heavy-duty power strip: $30
Paper-towel holder: $5
Magnetic knife strip: $20 (perfect for holding trim gages, hand tools, etc)
4″ bench vise: $50-$100Total cost: about $300
Building the actual bench was pretty straightforward. The 2×4 Basics Workbench comes with a complete set of instructions, and you can scale your bench bigger or smaller, as desired. The list of materials provided will leave you with a bench 2-feet deep and 4-feet wide. By cutting the 2×4 pieces longer or shorter you can adjust the height of your bench.
Brian then went on to add the Masonite top in order to have a smooth worktop that makes cleanup much easier. He secured it with the sheetrock screws every 6 to 8-inches. He then drilled holes on either corner of the top shelf and mounted the desk lamps (sans bases) to provide adjustable lighting. The location of the power strip, paper-towel holder, and the magnetic strip can be customized to suit your individual needs.
Brian’s Lee Challenger press over-cams the lever when working and required him to notch the front 2×4: your press(s) may or may not require similar modifications. The beauty of this design is that it’s easily customizable to a height and width that suits your individual needs. The shelves provide valuable organizational space for bins and boxes, and the modified desk lamps keep your work area well lit.
Interested in having your own reloading bench featured? You can send your photos along with design and build details to DanielS@AmongTheLeaves.com.