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Posted: 7/4/2014 8:52:28 AM EDT
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Trying to decide between these 2 benches:
http://www.harborfreight.com/60-in-4-drawer-hardwood-workbench-69054.html http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-72-in-Fold-Out-Wood-Workbench-WKBNCH72X22/203083493 If any of you have experience with either or just general thoughts on their suitability for reloading, please provide your thoughts. |
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The home depot one doesn't look all that solid to me. The HF one is way too expensive. I won't say I have much in terms of woodworking skills.. but it sure didn't take much to build mine.
In terms of the top, you likely want at least 2 3/4" boards (huge forces in cam'ing for reloading)...Doubtful HD or HF benches have that. I wish I had gone even thicker or used something more solid. I used a 3/4" white laminated board for the top with 3/4" plywood under it. Just used a lot of 2x4" studs doubled up for posts and cross pieces. Eventually I may add a steel top layer.... Keep in mind that lowes and home depot cut the wood for free. I had them cut the top plywood to size for me. I also had them make some basic cuts to the studs too. Go on a lazy early Sunday morning when they are not busy anyway... Good luck! |
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The legs on the HF bench would need to be strengthened so be more stable and it is way over priced.
The HD bench it would seem the weak point would be where the legs pivot on the top. If you were to make it a permanent connection it may work. Either way, both would need a thicker top and if you were to do that, might as well make one from scratch as it would probably be less expensive and you can make it the way you wanted. |
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Even though this is possibly not the size you want I will be doing a review on it very soon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GGOTL36/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 |
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OP:
Go to the "official reloading bench picture thread" thread and scroll to page 65. There's one with pics posted. The ARFCOM username is "SDeadeye" and it shows a Sam's club bench with Hornady LNL AP press. Also the matching rolling tool box. Looks very sturdy. |
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Quoted: OP: Go to the "official reloading bench picture thread" thread and scroll to page 65. There's one with pics posted. The ARFCOM username is "SDeadeye" and it shows a Sam's club bench with Hornady LNL AP press. Also the matching rolling tool box. Looks very sturdy. Link to the thread mentioned above. The woodworking bench can be made to work, the other one is too flimsily.
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Quoted:
OP: Go to the "official reloading bench picture thread" thread and scroll to page 65. There's one with pics posted. The ARFCOM username is "SDeadeye" and it shows a Sam's club bench with Hornady LNL AP press. Also the matching rolling tool box. Looks very sturdy. Came here to suggest that same bench. I'm about to put two in my reloading room. |
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The HF bench is fine IMO, and as mentioned, goes on sale often, or you can get a HF discount code every other week for 25% off or so. I think I paid ~$90 for mine.
If you're doing massive brass forming for wildcats, you might want to beefed up the top, bot I see no issues with it loading pistol and .223.. The drawer bottoms and shelf are MDF, but not impossible to replace with plywood if you so choose. I just glued and screwed mine going together, and it's been quite solid. 
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I have the harbor freight bench and it has been great. I paid $100 out the door with a %25 coupon. I only put one side of the drawers in since my press would have been in the way of the others. The only thing I suggest is to wood glue all the joints along with the screws to make it extra sturdy, after I did that it doesn't budge a bit! 
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| I would go with the HF one; if you play your cards right, you can get it cheaper, but I would get rid of the cheap stuff and replace it with plywood components for added strength. But that's just me. I would go as far as building one myself, using the HF table as a template, then resell the table to make some of the money back. |
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Quoted:
The HF bench is fine IMO, and as mentioned, goes on sale often, or you can get a HF discount code every other week for 25% off or so. I think I paid ~$90 for mine. If you're doing massive brass forming for wildcats, you might want to beefed up the top, bot I see no issues with it loading pistol and .223.. The drawer bottoms and shelf are MDF, but not impossible to replace with plywood if you so choose. I just glued and screwed mine going together, and it's been quite solid. http://i.imgur.com/UsVpfPp.jpg I also have this bench, got mine for $100. It is very solid if glued together during assembly. It could be a little bigger but for the space I have mine set up in it is fine. I have a LnL AP set up on mine. 
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| For very little money you can build an eight foot long by 2 foot wide bench. Two sheets of 3/4" plywood and dozen 2x4's will get it done. Lowe's will cut the plywood into 24" wide strips. This will get you 2 screwed and glued together for a solid top. The other two are your middle and lower shelves. The rest of the lumber is your legs and stringers for the plywood. I suggest 3" deck screws to hold it together and Elmer's glue ifl never want to take it apart. |
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Thanks for all of the replies.
Especially after making this headboard with my wife this weekend, I think I'm going to actually build my own bench. It will save money, be very solid, and give me a sense of pride every time I use it (and hopefully be something I pass down to my kids and grandkids). I'm gonna go with the NRMA reloading bench plans. 
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| I'm not sure where you live but, if there is a Menards nearby, I picked up a nice bench similar to one from Home Depot. It is all 2x4 and I beefed it up a little then bolted it to the wall. I topped it with solid maple. I have about $160.00 into the bench and it is SOLID! |
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A home built bench is the best bench. I suggest lots of drawers and shelf's. Finish like the headboard and it will be a fine looking bench.  I'm a beam scale guy, notice it's at eye level next to PM. I believe the bench you mentioned has this feature.  Don't know what I would do without the drawers. |
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Quoted:
A home built bench is the best bench. I suggest lots of drawers and shelf's. Finish like the headboard and it will be a fine looking bench. <a href="http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dryflash3/media/Bench/IMG_0314.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Bench/IMG_0314.jpg</a> I'm a beam scale guy, notice it's at eye level next to PM. I believe the bench you mentioned has this feature. <a href="http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dryflash3/media/Bench/P8150517.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Bench/P8150517.jpg</a> Don't know what I would do without the drawers. Man, that's good stuff, dryflash. What an awesome setup. |
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Quoted: Man, that's good stuff, dryflash. What an awesome setup. Quoted: Quoted: A home built bench is the best bench. I suggest lots of drawers and shelf's. Finish like the headboard and it will be a fine looking bench. <a href="http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dryflash3/media/Bench/IMG_0314.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Bench/IMG_0314.jpg</a> I'm a beam scale guy, notice it's at eye level next to PM. I believe the bench you mentioned has this feature. <a href="http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dryflash3/media/Bench/P8150517.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Bench/P8150517.jpg</a> Don't know what I would do without the drawers. Man, that's good stuff, dryflash. What an awesome setup. |
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I have a few of the Gladiator Benches. You can find them at Home Depot or Sear, but Sear generally charges half of what Home Depot wants for them. Gladiator Bench It wasn't cheap, but they are rock solid. I have multiple motorized presses along with a bunch of other related items. Doesn't faze the bench one bit.  |
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Quoted:
I have the harbor freight bench and it has been great. I paid $100 out the door with a %25 coupon. I only put one side of the drawers in since my press would have been in the way of the others. The only thing I suggest is to wood glue all the joints along with the screws to make it extra sturdy, after I did that it doesn't budge a bit! I also got the HF bench, but I added a 72" 3/4" plywood with 10 coats of polyurethane. I did not like the holes in the top and it gives me another 12" of table top space. It is very sturdy I have 2 presses on it, no flex, no movement. Also bought one of the small Lee single stage press' and mounted it on a 4x4. I clamp with the wood clamp. I slide it forward when I need it and back when I dont......I only use 2 of the doors on the right side. 
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The bench is not important. Securely anchoring it to the wall and floor is important.
You're actually better off looking at used furniture and bolting (not nails, not screws) it down and to the wall. I use an chest of drawers for my 650 and it works out great. It is securely bolted to the frame and floor of the house. Level it, bolt it up, shim the feet. |
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