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I designed mine with sketchup, if you're interested just search my username.



I designed mine to work standing and sitting, but it's most comfortable sitting. It has holes at fixed intervals that allow me to mount any press anywhere on the bench. It's very sturdy as well.

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Hey all.

As some of you know, I do CAD for a living. I was thinking about getting ideas from everyone here and coming up with an open source reloading bench for the community. I'd make all source CAD files available, and printing templates and drawings available for those without CAD programs.

I've been kicking around making a modular design and maybe this is too ambitious a project for reloading since everyone's setup is so personal.

Some basic questions:

Height, Length, Depth of standard workbench? Do you want to stand or sit at it?
Shelves below the main bench? If so, the full depth? Any dividers below?
How far should the mounting lip be on the front of the workbench?
Shelves or cabinets above it?
How do you like to organize the bench? I have two presses, a single stage and progressive. I prefer my single stage station to the left of the progressive, far enough that I have elbow room to work at either one.

I have been picking through the workbench pics thread and jotting down my likes and dislikes.

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We have several toggled threads on bench building, but lets see what you got.

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Height, Length, Depth of standard workbench? Do you want to stand or sit at it?
I currently load on a portable bench that is 32" high.  Perfect to sit at.  I plan on making a taller bench, probably 36", so that I can sit with a tall stool but still have the option to stand.  My old light duty bench was 2'x4'.  It was not quite deep enough to start collecting "stuff", but just deep enough to be useful.
Shelves below the main bench? If so, the full depth? Any dividers below?
I have found open shelves below the bench, specifically within arms reach, to be very useful.  Haven't ever wanted dividers because it limits the size of the can/bucket/box that I can put there.
How far should the mounting lip be on the front of the workbench?
I have been contemplating a way to recess the press into the bench a bit.  Bringing the lip of the bench out for easier access to tools or components.  Maybe a sliding drawer, like the kitchen cutting boards that are built into the cabinets, would be a good alternative.  Or maybe a hinged board that can be propped up for extra space.
Shelves or cabinets above it?
I wish I had this now....
How do you like to organize the bench?
My current setup is very small scale and portable.  I have the 550b mounted just right of center, a swager mounted on the back side behind that, a trimmer on the back right corner, and room for a scale on the back left.  This core arrangement has worked well.  When I build my "wrap-around-the-room" reloading bench my plan is to organize in order of case prep from right to left.  Start with shelves for all the sorted brass in various stages of prep.  Then the tumbler, with extra media on shelf underneath.  Case-media separator next, then trays for bullet cases, lube, rags, and the trimmer mounted in an accessible way (maybe horizontal mount on the bench leg).  Near the trimmer, I would find a place for the swager.  Next is the press.  If I had a single stage, it would go here for dedicated resize/deprime.  I only have the progressive, so that is what I am envisioning.  To the left of the press, a pull out shelf or swing up shelf on the front of the bench, and lots of cabinet space above and below for powder, primers, and bullets.  I really like the pics of setups that have the scale on its own little shelf behind the press, and also the people that have a place to hold their reloading manuals open nearby.
I have two presses, a single stage and progressive. I prefer my single stage station to the left of the progressive, far enough that I have elbow room to work at either one.

I have been picking through the workbench pics thread and jotting down my likes and dislikes.