Storing Reloading "Stuff"

Herb Stoner

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  • Jan 13, 2019
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    I'm not a fan of bench clutter and not the type that wants all the components, small tools, and accessories out displayed on open shelves or otherwise congesting the bench area. I don't mind a few big items out at the ready suck as scale / trickler, AMP, trimmer, and a press or two but I'd like to get boxes with dies, funnels, Dillon toolheads, and even larger items on Inline quick-change plates like my CPS primer seater, barrel vise, swager, and such put away somewhere enclosed. I have a smaller rolling tool box with all but a few drawers dedicated to small tools, parts and such and it works. Powder and primers are in a room in the house with good temp control. On the bench, the dillon pretty much stays in place on one end and an Inline flush QC mount rotates between barrel vise, Zero, CPS and a couple of other things.

    How do you store all the little stuff?

    Does anyone use a larger rolling toolbox base that has larger drawers or spaces to hold thing like the CPS when not in use? Which one and how does it work for you.
    Any pre-made cabinets recommended? Most at Lowes Depot are deeper kitchen type cabinets and I'd rather have something shallower - no more than 10" deep.
     
    I'm not a fan of bench clutter and not the type that wants all the components, small tools, and accessories out displayed on open shelves or otherwise congesting the bench area. I don't mind a few big items out at the ready suck as scale / trickler, AMP, trimmer, and a press or two but I'd like to get boxes with dies, funnels, Dillon toolheads, and even larger items on Inline quick-change plates like my CPS primer seater, barrel vise, swager, and such put away somewhere enclosed. I have a smaller rolling tool box with all but a few drawers dedicated to small tools, parts and such and it works. Powder and primers are in a room in the house with good temp control. On the bench, the dillon pretty much stays in place on one end and an Inline flush QC mount rotates between barrel vise, Zero, CPS and a couple of other things.

    How do you store all the little stuff?

    Does anyone use a larger rolling toolbox base that has larger drawers or spaces to hold thing like the CPS when not in use? Which one and how does it work for you.
    Any pre-made cabinets recommended? Most at Lowes Depot are deeper kitchen type cabinets and I'd rather have something shallower - no more than 10" deep.
    Likewise, simply don't like clutter. So I keep just about everything inside a cabinet until I'm ready to use it. I only now have a small bench top to work on, so I need to keep it clear for any work I might need to use it for. Before retiring, I had a huge work area filled with mostly wood working tools (nothing quite as nice as what Norm Abram of The New Yankee Workshop has 😉) and downsized greatly upon retirement. I keep various hand tools organized in kitchen cabinet draws under the bench next to cabinet door that open up for more storage with convenient access. Small item are kept handy in small cubbies sitting on the bench along with a small plastic chest of small draws for the really small stuff. For convenience, I have a couple wall mount trays to hold my dies for quick easy access. When I'm done using a tool, it goes back to its designated place.
     
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    In an 11'x11' workshop I built a workbench for my presses and vice, bolted it to the walls to the corner. Then I bought a Kobalt workbench for my scales and storage - solid, heavy, pressed-wood (?) top. When my wife renovated our kitchen, they were going to toss the 'island.' I had them drag it to my workshop which I use the top for cleaning/maintenance on rifles, cabinet for powder and bullets, and double drawers for keeping rifle and pistol primers separate.

    BTW - Kitchen renovators will often give or sell for cheap the islands and cabinets. That's where I picked up the nicely stained wall cabinets for my garage and reloading room.
     
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    My take - and it's only my take...

    - Whatever you end up using as a bench base, make sure it has at least a toe kick (or other opening for your toes to go into)
    - Drawers are fine, but difficult to manage with all the little things that can go into them. The clutter just tends to move into the drawers
    - I use a lot of the gizmos from Inline Fabrication, and they help immensely in organizing your bench
    - I like systems where you can swap equipment in and out with a plate or rail system. I use the Hornady plate system for things like trimmers, neck turning lathes, etc. - the issue is that, as with many Hornady products, I'm not in love with this particular system. It works, but I wish there was something better out there.
     
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    Storage cabinet underneath is my solution.

    I’m a stickler for organization on my reloading bench

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