Reloading room setups...looking for inspiration

[Green Chile]

At SCI I was very impressed by the Badass Workbenches (well impressed by everything but the dumb name).

They were well made and their drawer system is rally nice and strong. But they are way too expensive.

The biggest thing I liked is they essentially mount a hitch receiver at the edge of the bench and then you can slide different tools in and out so your loading press, vice, etc. can be strongly mounted and then stowed away.

I'm trying to figure out how to do something similar without paying their prices.

https://badassworkbench.com/collections/workbenches-1

That's interesting and I agree...dumb name. I also agree that their prices are really high. I'm sure they will sell some but it's priced like Snap-on.

 

[Green Chile]

Excuse the mess, im still setting mine and unpacking.

New to this set up, are the cubbies. I like them for components. Let's me keep an inventory of what's on hand easily.

I've got another table and press to set up for a gunsmithing area that will be adjacent. Not sure where to put the 2nd press. View attachment 748106View attachment 748107View attachment 748108View attachment 748109

You say excuse the mess but that's pretty clean if you ask me! Well done.

 

[coreydb]

What a bunch of great set-ups! I reload but I'm very basic compared to all of you. I got an education here-I love this site and the information gained from all its members.

 

[Russ16]

That's interesting and I agree...dumb name. I also agree that their prices are really high. I'm sure they will sell some but it's priced like Snap-on.

Their drawer system is really nice and strong. The guy literally opened a drawer and stood on it and it would still swing freely. Looked nearly impossible to bind or break.

 

[coreydb]

I found a machinist cabinet on marketplace that I've used for my gunsmithing tools. I'm going to mimic some of the set-ups from everyone and step up my game. Thanks to everyone!!!!!

 

[DaddyFlip]

At SCI I was very impressed by the Badass Workbenches (well impressed by everything but the dumb name).

They were well made and their drawer system is rally nice and strong. But they are way too expensive.

The biggest thing I liked is they essentially mount a hitch receiver at the edge of the bench and then you can slide different tools in and out so your loading press, vice, etc. can be strongly mounted and then stowed away.

I'm trying to figure out how to do something similar without paying their prices.

https://badassworkbench.com/collections/workbenches-1

Just get a Husky rolling tool chest from Home Depot. $400 for the basic one. If you want the long one with the pegboard on the back, it's $1300. I might do this one day, but for now; I'm happy with my lightweight setup. They have several sizes and duty ratings to choose from.

Basic
Pegboard

 

[Russ16]

I have the Husky above and it is my gun cleaning station. I like to be able to slide my legs under my reloading bench so don't like a solid bottom.

I also don't want to do anything with solvents on my reloading bench. I may be paranoid but I worry about contamination of powder and primers even if I've cleaned up the surface after cleaning guns. So I always try to have two spaces so one can be reserved for wet work.

 

[Green Chile]

I like the rolling tool chest idea. I have one for tools but would look at another for reloading or casting tools.

Interesting point about contaminated surfaces and primers. I've only had 1 primer fail to fire in my reloading and I wondered if that's what happened. Thankfully it was at the range not in the field. I did have a factory turkey load fail to fire one time on a guided hunt! Thankfully the bird was dumb enough to let me rack the gun and take his head. I think he was stunned that someone would get a misfire on a guided hunt! Crazy birds.

 

[Rimbaud]

I have a dedicated gun room/work room in the house. I have two Craftman tool chests with drawers, my gun cabinet, a SecureIt cabinet for ammo, that has room for six rifles. My workbench is a thick piece of wood on saw horses and I have my single-stage press on a special mount. I got very lucky and found two file-card cabinets that some plant scientists were getting rid of, and that has helped me immensely with organizing gear. We've only been in the new house for about six months and I'm still getting squared away.

 

[Green Chile]

I have a dedicated gun room/work room in the house. I have two Craftman tool chests with drawers, my gun cabinet, a SecureIt cabinet for ammo, that has room for six rifles. My workbench is a thick piece of wood on saw horses and I have my single-stage press on a special mount. I got very lucky and found two file-card cabinets that some plant scientists were getting rid of, and that has helped me immensely with organizing gear. We've only been in the new house for about six months and I'm still getting squared away.

Those file cabinets are nice. I will have to keep an eye out for that on marketplace, etc.

 

[Rimbaud]

Those file cabinets are nice. I will have to keep an eye out for that on marketplace, etc.

We got v lucky. They were listed in a FB group for the neighborhood. I cannot believe we got them. I have one in the garage, too, that is really helpful for sorting range gear and keeping stuff close to the cars. Hope you find the card cabinets - they've been v helpful for me.

 

[CJW]

At SCI I was very impressed by the Badass Workbenches (well impressed by everything but the dumb name).

They were well made and their drawer system is rally nice and strong. But they are way too expensive.

The biggest thing I liked is they essentially mount a hitch receiver at the edge of the bench and then you can slide different tools in and out so your loading press, vice, etc. can be strongly mounted and then stowed away.

I'm trying to figure out how to do something similar without paying their prices.

https://badassworkbench.com/collections/workbenches-1

For a fraction of the price you could build an awesome heavy duty mobile bench out of quality plywood, hard maple or oak for a top, HD casters and drawer slides.

 

[Green Chile]

For a fraction of the price you could build an awesome heavy duty mobile bench out of quality plywood, hard maple or oak for a top, HD casters and drawer slides.

I should look up plans for something like that.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Mine is made of 3/4 plywood bolted to 2x4s and lag bolted to the wall studs. As far as the garage setup, studs, wallboard and insulation plus climate controlled, i.e. heat and AC.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

insulate the garage door - huge difference

what are you doing for moisture control? if no HVAC, dehumidifiers are not expensive and you can run the drain into a sink or thru the wall

Put HVAC into the garage if not too late

use a label maker and label everything so you can find it

I agree on the overhead storage - adds a lot of space

I use see-thru plastic bins (home depot) on heavy wire racked shelves from Home depot and I label on the bin what's in it. A label maker is your friend.

I use ammo boxes or larger MTM boxes and put dies, brass, shellholders, bullets in them together so that I don't have to look multiple places

In my home shop (the camp reloading room is pictured) I have 4 500w LED lights. Never too much light and the LED's are easy to deal with.

No matter what you do, you wont have enough storage or work space. Needs expand to exceed the space available. It is an immutable law of Man caves.

 

[CJW]

I should look up plans for something like that.

I didn't find plans for it but something like this. Build it as long and as deep as you want it. Configure the drawers, doors or overhang as you like and make it as fancy as you like. It doesn't need to be this fancy of course. Use 4-6 big polyurethane locking casters and it will be heavy but mobile if you want to move it. Nothing like working on a heavy, solid wood bench with a thick top.

 

[Russ16]

There are lots of YouTube videos with plans and step by step of how to build a workbench like that one and how to customize it.

 

[M70375!]

My favorite room

 

[VAHunter]

I used two Harbor Freight tables to create a “reloading island” in an unused room. Working from four sides has benefits when compared to a bench along a wall.

 

[Atticus]

I’m still pretty new to reloading—a cheap table and organizer from a consignment shop works well. Powder and components are in bins by caliber in a locked cabinet with ammunition next to the safe.