no room in house, so thinking about a "portable" reloading bench...

[dcnyli]

Well at least till I can find a way to build a room in the garage and kick out the wife's car…

I was searching around last night and found this video on youtube. I like it not only for the concept, but much like the individual in the video I am about 55miles away from the closest 100yd range for testing rounds(next closest is 50yd range, but I am not sure that testing .308win & 6.5-.284win rounds there is a good idea)

Have any of you built something along these lines? Here's my concept, I'm going to setup an RCBS rock chucker & powder measure on the platform, somewhat enclose the bottom for storage of other parts/dies/tools…..

I can clamp it down to the kitchen table inside, take it out in my truck to the range, etc. I can prep all my brass at home and for load development just take what I need out

Any advice or pointers fellas?

[video=youtube;W-_rdZc2pxQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-_rdZc2pxQ[/video]

 

[thrusty]

Only advice I can give is to make sure you what you decide to make is solid - to me it looks like the guy in the video has it located in a bad spot on the table --- I'd probably put it in the middle of the table edge to try to cut out some of the flex and movement that you will get when sizing.

If there's any play or rock to it you're going to have no fun sizing brass...especially the magnum calibers.
Give it a try.

 

[rdinak]

Having been on every end of the spectrum...loading off the kitchen table, in the garage that was heated, a reloading shed out back, etc. I would pass this small pearl on.

If you need to reload in small space you may want to consider the Forster Coax press. By design it will take up less space and not break the kitchen table or computer desk with the torque required to resize brass. the caputred primer feature is your friend indoors. You can purchase an inline fabrication mount. Mount the press to the raised mount, and then screw it onto a 2x3 sheet of 3/4 plywood. Use c clamps and attach the plywood with a base of a towel to the table or desk of your choice and you are ready to go.

 

[Bob 964]

The heat and humidity in Tallahassee drove my reloading activities indoors pretty quick. I built a portable stand for my press from the photo below. I was surprised how stable this set-up is. I can store my press in a closet when not in use. It's 3/4" walnut plywood and takes an hour or so to build. For a minimal $$$ investment this is hard to beat.

 

[flashhole]

I built mine out of steel. Dillion Strong Mounts are the uprights. 5/16" plate for the base and press mount. Works great, I haul it back and forth to the range along with a large tool box that contains all the other stuff.

 

[dcnyli]

Great info and advice fellas thank you! Exactly what I was hoping for

 

[royesses]

I started with a harbor freight grinder stand ($19.00 with 25% off coupon-much cheaper than I could weld one up for).

 

[[email protected]]

Mines not mobile, about 150 lbs. I'm just adding make sure it has no flex, I got really tired of loading on the POS desk next to it!

+1 on coax

 

[gunsnjeeps]

For prtable work the box above will sit on a table almost anywhere. A hand clamp $2 on sale at Harbor Freight will secure it to most hotel tables. The Harbor Freight version of the the Black and Decker work mate is sturdy. You can mount tools to 2 x 12' and clamp them down with the top. I've also mounted the box above to it.

Folding Clamping Workbench with Movable Pegs

 

[flashhole]

Show us a picture of your reloading bench - Page 131 - THR

Look at the Bench Topper on post 3264 page 131. That could be outfitted for any press.

 

[ddavis]

Black & Decker WM225 Workmate 225 450-Pound Capacity Portable Work Bench - Amazon.com

When I was in college and moving a lot, I had one of these. I took a 2x12, cut it to about 3 ft long, and put 2 or 3 of them together, depending on how deep you want the work top to be. You can stick a 2x4 in the middle on the bottom and clamp the "tabletop" between the vice on top. When you need to move it, un-clamp the tabletop, and fold up the work bench. It folds down very compact for what it is, and can be moved easily. It was sturdy enough for both a RockChucker and a Dillon 550. The only thing you couldn't do was seat a bullet while the Chargemaster was running, as the jarring would throw the charge off. My solution to that in my current home was to make a small shelf and mount the Chargemaster to the wall, so it is completely independent of the table. Best of luck to you.

 

[mb3]

I loaded off off a stool for many years(it was beefed up where it needed to be). It worked well. The only advice I could give is make sure what ever you load off of is stable, and strong.

 

[sinister]

I started with a harbor freight grinder stand ($19.00 with 25% off coupon-much cheaper than I could weld one up for).

BRILLIANT! Very cool design.

If all you have is 50 yards you can use a thermometer target to get rough zero data out to 1,000 yards. This one is calibrated for an M1 rifle shooting 30-06 Match, but if you know your come-ups you'll be close.

 

[Clark]

I reload in the vehicle.

I reload in the reloading room

O
I reload while watching TV on my computer

 

[eclipse57]

I reload in the vehicle.

I reload in the reloading room

O
I reload while watching TV on my computer

I came here to tell about the one you have in your vehicle. I saw it in a post you made last week. Very ingenious sir!!

 

[royesses]

Thanx for the kind words sinister.

BRILLIANT! Very cool design.

If all you have is 50 yards you can use a thermometer target to get rough zero data out to 1,000 yards. This one is calibrated for an M1 rifle shooting 30-06 Match, but if you know your come-ups you'll be close.

 

[Xcount]

Black & Decker WM225 Workmate 225 450-Pound Capacity Portable Work Bench - Amazon.com

When I was in college and moving a lot, I had one of these. I took a 2x12, cut it to about 3 ft long, and put 2 or 3 of them together, depending on how deep you want the work top to be. You can stick a 2x4 in the middle on the bottom and clamp the "tabletop" between the vice on top. When you need to move it, un-clamp the tabletop, and fold up the work bench. It folds down very compact for what it is, and can be moved easily. It was sturdy enough for both a RockChucker and a Dillon 550. The only thing you couldn't do was seat a bullet while the Chargemaster was running, as the jarring would throw the charge off. My solution to that in my current home was to make a small shelf and mount the Chargemaster to the wall, so it is completely independent of the table. Best of luck to you.

I have to second the Black and Decker bench. I have one with a piece of 2x12 hardwood in it with two presses installed. One end has a Dillon progressive, the other a Rockchucker. Very easy to break down and move. probably small enough to get into a car trunk and go to the range, I don't need to move mine. Would definitely recommend isolating the powder measure from all the vibration if you're looking for minimal powder variation.

 

[LR-WSM]

This is a portable set up I can take to the range for load development or load in the A/C in summer months. I use a Frankford Arsenal reloading stand and it has worked well since it breaks down with no tools. I run my chargemaster off of a little inverter at the range

Frankford Arsenal Portable Reloading Stand

 

[flashhole]

You're begging to have your Man Card pulled. Pink curtains in a reloading room!

 

[LR-WSM]

You're begging to have your Man Card pulled. Pink curtains in a reloading room!

Thats the dining room table and I have zero input on interior decor. They are really burgundy (crappy pic) so my man card should be safe. LOL

 

[xdeano]

Here is what I use. Rock chucker supreme. I have done load development while at the range with this unit. I put a cant to the top so i'd have more clearance with for the handle. It also gives more leverage from what i've found also. I don't need to clamp this thing down to anything either, even resizing 338 NM cases without any issue.



I have a wilson case trimmer on the back that I also use as a concentricity gauge. works well.



Hope this helps.

Deano

 

[LRJammer]

Black & Decker WM225 Workmate 225 450-Pound Capacity Portable Work Bench - Amazon.com

When I was in college and moving a lot, I had one of these. I took a 2x12, cut it to about 3 ft long, and put 2 or 3 of them together, depending on how deep you want the work top to be. You can stick a 2x4 in the middle on the bottom and clamp the "tabletop" between the vice on top. When you need to move it, un-clamp the tabletop, and fold up the work bench. It folds down very compact for what it is, and can be moved easily. It was sturdy enough for both a RockChucker and a Dillon 550. The only thing you couldn't do was seat a bullet while the Chargemaster was running, as the jarring would throw the charge off. My solution to that in my current home was to make a small shelf and mount the Chargemaster to the wall, so it is completely independent of the table. Best of luck to you.

I did something very similar in colleget. I picked up a workmate from a pawn shop for cheap and then bolted two 3'x3' pieces of MDF doubled up for a top. A quart of polyeurethane (MDF absorbs moisture like a SPONGE if it isnt well sealed) and it made a great reloading bench that could be folded up to 3'x3x6" and put away when not needed. Thread inserts allow the press to be installed/removed in seconds.

 

[rimfire]

I have to second the Black and Decker bench. I have one with a piece of 2x12 hardwood in it with two presses installed. One end has a Dillon progressive, the other a Rockchucker. Very easy to break down and move. probably small enough to get into a car trunk and go to the range, I don't need to move mine. Would definitely recommend isolating the powder measure from all the vibration if you're looking for minimal powder variation.

Would you mind posting a pic of your setup? I'm looking to get a Dillon 550 and thinking about mounting it to a Workmate since I don't have a lot of space to work with and would like a setup I can breakdown and store away when not reloading.

 

[dcnyli]

About 1.5hrs and voila…

from one 4'x8' sheet, I have enough wood left for 2 or 3 more, going to build a modular system so I can have everything else ready to roll and on the same height… Thank you to everyone who chimed in on the thread, you were all tremendously helpful and I appreciate your time.

 

[Clark]

Since this thread began, I have switched from clamping the press board on top of my desk, to the under side of the desk.
It gets my arm lower, and easier to reach over to type on the keyboard.

 

[JGorski]

Built this when we lived in a Vegas apt, finally got around to staining it, works good when I reload at the range.

 

[damoncali]

If you need to lighten it up, don't be afraid of the partner press. I used one for a few years when I lived in an apartment. Does the job just fine and doesn't weigh a ton.

 

[downrange67]

Do you have room outside for a Tuff Shed ? I have seen a few used for reloading rooms, just put in a window ac/heat combo unit and your good to go.

 

[sgunn911]

This is what I came up with, I like to load while in the air conditioning and on the couch. Cut the height of the cart down to the right level when sitting and wired it for power. Loaded well over 50k rounds with this set-up.

 

[dauntedfuture]

For what its worth: When I moved into my first apartment I converted the closet in the spare bedroom into my reloading room. I built a table with a back and a solid piece on the bottom with sides and a back. I made it just wide enough to go across the back of the closet and be able to get it in and out of the closet. I placed bullets on the bottom piece of wood to keep it steady and could close the door when finished. I found that with a Dillon 550, I needed a steady weighted table.

 

[Edsel]

If you need to reload in small space you may want to consider the Forster Coax press. By design it will take up less space and not break the kitchen table or computer desk with the torque required to resize brass. the caputred primer feature is your friend indoors. You can purchase an inline fabrication mount. Mount the press to the raised mount, and then screw it onto a 2x3 sheet of 3/4 plywood. Use c clamps and attach the plywood with a base of a towel to the table or desk of your choice and you are ready to go.

Indeed!

 

[dcnyli]

I got a forster recently to run(I've since moved and have dedicated space), and it's a stellar press. Worth every dollar

 

[rdinak]

good to hear

 

[Sniper260]

Portable aint a option once you have a big set up for hard core reloading.

 

[Thump_rrr]

Mine isn't exactly small but it occupies a wasted space that is 24" deep and closes to be inconspicuous.
It is made from 2 IKEA cabinets and even the butcherblock top is from IKEA.
I used some draw through anchors from Home Depot to secure the top to the sides
You can easily put 1,000lbs on the top and it wont budge.
I have pics of how its put together if anyone is interested.