Building a new bench and need some ideas

[SSC]

I have 100" to build my new bench on and trying to decide some things. I was thinking of just building it like a set of cabinets but beefier. I was going to make the upper wall using a french cleat system so I can put any thing I want any where I want and be able to move stuff around. My main questions are with the bottom. I also have 60" behind this that is floor to ceiling shelves. On of main concerns is the room is kind of small and I think chairs would clutter every thing up, where stools can be tucked away more easily.

1. Should I stand, use a stool, or sit.
2. Should part be stand/stool height and the rest sit to load
3. What kinda of counter top? laminate/wood

Here is what I have to work with.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Building a new bench and need some ideas

Make your bench top belt buckle high for easy work while standing, use the stool to put your nose at the same height while sitting. And then plan to block up your press(es) high enough so you can fully depress the handle without bending over.

Laminate 3/4" ply for the top, to make it at least 1 1/2" thick. Use glue, Elmers or Liquid Nails, etc, for the laminate and all stressed joints. Use bulk wood screws rather than nails. Legs need not be more than 2x4, they are plenty strong enough in compression.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Building a new bench and need some ideas

Check this thread out, will take an hour.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=228160&page=1
and this one.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1690442
Standing and sitting is relative to your comfort. I prefer to stand because it is more comfortable to me. To give a good stroke on a press you sometimes need to "get into it". Now if I am looking at single measuring powder I like to sit because it puts my head in a spot to more accurately see a beam scale and be comfortable.

Like i said you may want to vary the height of the bench in a few spots for standing and sitting. You may want to go with some quick change stuff that will bolt to the bench for each stage of loading.

This can also help in the safety area by making sure you ONLY load one caliber at a time so you don't have pistol powder in a rifle case.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Building a new bench and need some ideas

My set up is similar to what you show in your drawing.

My space is equally confined in my garage so I set up with a bank of salvaged base cabinets, the counter top that resided on them in their previous home, and a bank of wall cabinets set 24" above them with a sliding door compartment (with 5" Wide X 5" high X 4" deep cells) cabinet between the counter and the bottom of the wall cabinets where I keep my dies. My base cabinets and counter top are 72" long while the wall cabinets are 9' long.

I mounted my Dillon 550 on a 8" X 8" X 16" block of pine, bolted to the top, on the far left hand side of it, and my bench vise on the far right. I store brass and bullets in the cabinets with tools and other stuff in the drawers.

I built the cabinets back in the early 90s and salvaged them from the offices they were installed in around 1999!

 

[ronas]

Re: Building a new bench and need some ideas

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">3. What kinda of counter top? laminate/wood</div></div>

Consider a metal countertop. They clean easily, give bench some weight so it does not move to easily, and with metal you can tap holes to bolt your presses to it and with a lip of say 2" you can use c-clamps to attach other acessories mounted to metal plate.

 

[WDL]

Re: Building a new bench and need some ideas

My "bench" is real small.

 

[SScott]

Re: Building a new bench and need some ideas

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rb85cj7</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="color: #009900">1. Should I stand, use a stool, or sit.</span>2. Should part be stand/stool height and the rest sit to load
3. What kinda of counter top? laminate/wood

Here is what I have to work with.

</div></div>

Factor in a good high back office chair. I have two benches and a table set up behind me and I never have get up, I just roll around and go to the station that I need to be at.
Good luck,
SScott