Armory Sponsor
Posted: 7/19/2016 10:29:02 AM EDT
|
I am in the process of finishing the wall that will go behind my reloading bench. The wall was once a closet that I removed. I will be completing the framing and sheetrock this week. I am thinking about adding outlets and perhaps a switch that will turn on and off a ceiling mounted LED shop light. Need your opinions How many outlets? I'm thinking one of the right of the bench and one of the left. Should the outlets be above or below the bench? I'm thinking above. Should I install a switch that will go on the wall behind the bench? Should I just tie the shop light into an existing light so it is controlled by the light switch for the room? Anything else you wish you would have put in the wall behind your bench? This is my utility/laundry room. Concrete slab is for a gun safe I will be putting in this weekend. 8 foot reloading bench will be on the left of the safe.  |
|
Quoted:
I am in the process of finishing the wall that will go behind my reloading bench. The wall was once a closet that I removed. I will be completing the framing and sheetrock this week. I am thinking about adding outlets and perhaps a switch that will turn on and off a ceiling mounted LED shop light. Need your opinions How many outlets? I'm thinking one of the right of the bench and one of the left. Should the outlets be above or below the bench? I'm thinking above. Should I install a switch that will go on the wall behind the bench? Should I just tie the shop light into an existing light so it is controlled by the light switch for the room? Anything else you wish you would have put in the wall behind your bench? This is my utility/laundry room. Concrete slab is for a gun safe I will be putting in this weekend. 8 foot reloading bench will be on the left of the safe. <a href="http://s431.photobucket.com/user/radian2323/media/0719160908_zpsuqb1ett5.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq36/radian2323/0719160908_zpsuqb1ett5.jpg</a> I use my reloading bench for other stuff too.. I have a wall mount exhaust fan to help with fumes. No its not a replacement for true fume hood but it helps. I have two 6-8 ft reloading bench sections. 2 outlets on each above bench. Make sure you use surge protector and keep receipts!!!! Ask me how I know. My wish list that I will eventually get to: 1. Either exhaust port for shop vaccuum or in wall vaccuum. Why? Shop vac is your friend.. Especially if you ever use a dillon style trimmer. I will run mine for a few hours. The heat coming out of the exhaust really overpowers the AC after a while. Currently, I point exhaust into my exhaust fan and it helps. 2. Compressors are a huge help in reloading room. Blowing off spilt powder or dust from press, die, etc. Compressors are loud and bulky. In my case it sits next to the bench. I would love to have a pressure line behind bench running from the compressor which could be put somewhere hidden. In my case, I have a closet in carport. Other thing to think of... I have shelves over bench with ammo cans full of bullets and ammo. 2x12 wood shelves. Heavy as heck. If you plan something like that, dont skimp on studs in wall. Also, you want your bench mounted to it. Make sure the base plate is nailed into floor. I have an old house. Someone built a wall years ago that swayed. I went to mount cabinets and noticed it.. Sigh.. got the 22cal Ramset and fixed the problem. It doesnt get as much force as a wall behind work bench. Not sure Ramset is enough. If on concrete, I would glue and ramset. I am not a carpenter but play one for beer and pizza on occasion so might get other's opinions. |
|
Quoted: I would add more outlets. Both above and below. Vulcan94 Good idea. I would also mount a shop vac outside of my reloading room with a port for the vacuum and switch to turn it on and off next to my bench. Using a Dillon trimmer makes a lot of noise - primarily because of the vacuum. Make sure you have enough outlets for your trimmer, case feeder, bullet feeder, secondary trimmer, tumbler, vacuum, and any other accessories you want. |
|
Quoted:
I would add more outlets. Both above and below. Vulcan94 QFFT Putting outlets in is cheap, needing one later is a PITA. I ran mine every two feet, about 2 feet over the bench. I wish I put some in on the ends (its not like each outlet is going to run a full draw, might have 14 plugs and only use 2 or 3). Run a switch for the lights. In fact, lay extra romex going to nothing; JIK Put the ceiling lights in after the machines are in; shadows are a bitch, for that matter, dont forget about machine lights. Post pics when complete. |
|
as any many outlets as possible and wire one of those powerstrips with about six-ten plug ins on a one inch strip about waste level on the bench, just below the table top with a single cut out for all the lines to run to.
Then add an entire sheet of 3/4 inch plywood to the studs where you intend to bolt the press to the wall. Stronger is better and zero flex. Since you are in MN, go ahead and hard wire a dehumidifier with drain pipe. Hopefully you are in Northern MN. |
|
Quoted:
Good idea. I would also mount a shop vac outside of my reloading room with a port for the vacuum and switch to turn it on and off next to my bench. Using a Dillon trimmer makes a lot of noise - primarily because of the vacuum. Make sure you have enough outlets for your trimmer, case feeder, bullet feeder, secondary trimmer, tumbler, vacuum, and any other accessories you want. Quoted:
Quoted:
I would add more outlets. Both above and below. Vulcan94 I would also mount a shop vac outside of my reloading room with a port for the vacuum and switch to turn it on and off next to my bench. Using a Dillon trimmer makes a lot of noise - primarily because of the vacuum. Make sure you have enough outlets for your trimmer, case feeder, bullet feeder, secondary trimmer, tumbler, vacuum, and any other accessories you want. My previous house I had three outlets above and one on a separate circuit below the bench (circuit breaker was 6 feet away so made running the lines cheap). The outlet below was for the shopvac and air compressor, the ones above ran tumblers, trimmers, case feeders, additional lights etc. If I was adding another outlet today I would be looking at outlet with built in USB port for at least one of the outlets. Makes charging the phone or other USB charged devices easier. I am of the opinion that in a work area, there is no such thing as too much light (unless of course it's shining into your eyes). |
|
I use an outlet strip. They come in a variety of lengths. It allows several items to be plugged in all the time. I have one that is 4 foot long screwed into the reloading table.
The older I get the more light I need. I would set it up so all lights are on when I turn the switch on. |
|
Like others have said, you can't have too many outlets. Put in several or mount a power strip on the wall/backsplash.
You have a really nice space there and seem to be handy with tools and such. Don't cheap out and put up bare shelves above the bench. All that stuff crammed on them in disorder...nothing says tacky more than that. It's also an eyesore and makes you look unorganized. Buy some unfinished kitchen cabinets, stain and seal them yourself then secure them to the wall above the bench. Like I did:  " />
My bench is 8' long and I only needed 3 cabinets to do this. It really hides the clutter so much and makes the room look nicer. Use them for storing lighter items that you use often. Put the heavy stuff underneath. You can also mount a light under the smaller cabinets or led lights all along the entire underside. |
|
Either put several sets of outlets above the bench or a power strip along the wall near the bench top. I would put 4x4 boxes and double up on the outlets. Put 2 or even 3 sets of outlets along the back of the bench. If possible run 2 different circuits for your outlets.
I would also put a 4x4 box below the bench for plugging in things like shop vac, compressor, etc. If possible run at least one 20 amp circuit to your bench. I would put plywood under the drywall. Makes hanging stuff real easy and allows you to hang things where you want rather than where the studs are. Cheap or recycled kitchen cabinets are the way to go. I made my own cabinets because of a low ceiling height in my cellar and work area length. ReStore also is a good source for decent used stuff. Put up lots of lights. You can't have too many lights. Put the reloading area lights on a separate switch from the room lights. Heck you could even switch some of the outlets too. Lastly make the bench the correct height for you. in my case a 36" bench would give me a back ache in no time. I am 6'3" tall. Take your press and figure out how how it needs to be so that when the handle is all the way down and you are standing your hand can still hold the handle without having to bend down. This is the height I made my bench. I can sit or stand when reloading and usually sit on a bar stool when I do. I can work at my bench for hours with no issues. You may find the stock press handle requires you to mount the press really high to achieve the no hunching over height. If so, but yourself an Inline fabrication ergo handle. It is worth every penny. One question I have is why do you need a raised pad for your safe? |
|
Quoted:. . .
How many outlets? I'm thinking one of the right of the bench and one of the left. Should the outlets be above or below the bench? I'm thinking above. Should I install a switch that will go on the wall behind the bench? Should I just tie the shop light into an existing light so it is controlled by the light switch for the room? Anything else you wish you would have put in the wall behind your bench? . . . How many outlets? You'd be amazed how many outlets you can eventually use lol. And how many items you can lose in a power surge. I decided on two outlets (room for four plugs) plus two outlet strips. The strips have surge protection and 6 of the outlets on each strip have individual on/off switches; the 7th is always on. The switches are valuable because most reloading equipment comes with wall-wart transformers which otherwise would always be on if left plugged in, generating heat and wearing out. The other problem with wall-wart transformers is that one transformer can often block as many as 3 outlets in a strip. That problem is solved with a set of 1' extension cords sold for the purpose of getting those transformers off the strip itself and out of the way. Should the outlets be above or below the bench? Given my bench's construction and the use of outlet strips, the best positioning for the outlets was below the benchtop, behind the bench, one each near either end of the bench. While both outlets remain reachable under the bench, that is "never" necessary due to the outlet strips. The outlet strips are attached to each side just below benchtop level where on/off switches are reachable. Cords from frequently used items are "permanently" run off the back of the bench then down and around to the closest side's outlet strip. Occasionally used items are just plugged into the closest outlet and stored when not in use. Should I install a switch that will go on the wall behind the bench? Should I just tie the shop light into an existing light so it is controlled by the light switch for the room? Depends lol. If you are installing LED lighting to avoid heat and electrical interference from fluorescents, then you will have times when you do not want your other lights on. There may well be other times when you want all the light you can get. That seems to indicate a separate switch for your "bench light". Anything else you wish you would have put in the wall behind your bench? In the wall, probably not. But here are some things I learned AB (After Bench): - I wound up mounting a speaker bar over the bench . . . the TV I use at times is a bit far away and my hearing ain't what it used to be :) - A PC is set up on an adjacent desk that I use for reloading records and instructions on (eg) how to re-assemble a Ruger Mark III . . . and I prefer wires to WiFi when possible. - While a compressor is extremely useful blowing (eg) powder off your press, that powder is still in the room and will EVENTUALLY be vacuumed up, so why not vacuum it up in the first place? A small hand vac works just fine and with the right attachment tools can suck out whatever a compressor can blow out. - Hanging out in reloading forums reminded me that a fire extinguisher was an inexpensive and worthwhile precaution. - When the wife insists on interrupting me, I'd rather hear her voice on the phone than see her, hands on hips, in *my* room :) JMO, YMMV. |
Armory Sponsor