I build custom live-edge furniture: dining tables, coffee tables, bar tops, etc. Been thinking recently about the ideal loading table: size in length, depth, height, any specific design aspects unique to loading equipment, etc. Obviously different folks have varying spaces available. So share your thoughts and ideas. Thank you.

This is like asking how long is a piece of string!

Basic needs are a strong bench to support the press.

And enough bench space for other activities which are to meet your needs.

My bench is an L shaped unit sits in the middle of the room.


About 10 feet in each side.
One side of the L has two presses.

One for everything and one for larger calibers like the 600 and 700.

The other side on the L is a Wilson case trimmer, and enough space for loading trays etc.

These on the outside of the L.

On the inside are rifle slots. The rifles sit in the ground and barrel are in these slots.

Middle part has storage.

Around the outside, on to- of the bench, are small shelves which are used to store small tools and primers.

Another bench against the wall has a rifle cleaning station, and further on powder measures and powder scales.

Another bench against the wall has an auto priming tool, and enough space for other work.

Cupboards underneath fir storage.

thanks Saeed !! That's quite a bench. Any pictures?

Yes

It is the one on top of this forum.

Looking down the shooting tunnel.

I have a pretty decent sized reloading room with 70 ish linear feet of bench space. So quite a bit of room for different presses and equipment. And I still wish I would have inserted T-track in the top for tools to be more modular. Still might do it one day.

You seen overqualified to build a reloading bench; they ain't furniture. Mine is made in a L like Saeed said, has 6 presses on it, and shelves on the back edge. Legs are 6x6 square posts. Table top is 2x8 Douglas fir planks. X reinforced sides and back. And straight cross members on the bottom for foot rests. I sit; some like to stand.
All bolted together; no nails. Each leg is 8 feet long and I am too lazy to go down and measure the width. 3 feet or so.
Part of it is covered in a layer of plywood, just for looks.
Not painted. Who needs paint? Solid is the key.

More room then you think you well need.

Width I like to be able reach the back while sitting on my stool. Mine is 24 inches wide 36 inches high to top bench.

I have 16 foot of running top in a square U 6 foot between the sides.

2x4 posts 2x4 stringers 2x8 top with 3/4 plywood over that.

dcpd said stout is the word. I even put a 12"x12 steel plate a 1/4 thick under my main rifle press.

I should have put steel over the whole bench.

Room size decide the 16 foot. But then I have 5 shotgun press's, 2 turret presses for rifle and handguns and 3 progressive's for handgun calibers.

Shelving as much as I could fit above and below the bench.

I made the shelves above the bench only 8 inches wide so I wouldn't loose bullet and die boxes in the back of them. Their separation is 4 bullet boxes high. With room to grab them.

Mine is only a 60"x30" bench top built from an old kitchen dining table from my bachelor days that I repurposed when I got married.
It stands 42" to the top of the bench...I bought a rolling tool chest from Home Depot that just fits under the open bottom portion...it helps to store tools, brass, gun parts, etc, etc. Drawer storage cut out on a ton of clutter on the bench top. I like to stand most of the time as it helps my back but have a stool next to it when needed.

I got two riser mounts from Inline Fabrication with quick change plates for presses and trimmer. It helps to cut down on the needed real estate dedicated to specific presses. One of my presses is the Area 419 turret press so I would buy another turret head before buying another dedicated press.

I also built some open faced shelving on top to store dies and bullets and an open section in the middle for my chargemaster and A&D scales.

Seems to work fairly well for my needs but wont win too many beauty contests.

I'm a stander. The tinkering (I'm not a smith) bench is about 8X3, and also is for the Lee turrent press, with the filled replaceable holders to the right. With the bench bellybutton high, I look right into that press. I got gorilla arms, with shelves behind the bench. Formica on top, a neighbor was throwing out an 8X3 countertop, it fit the hole mounted on 4X4 and interior 16" center framing, steel under the press.

I also have a desk sized bench, about mid thigh height for a Dillon press. So, I look down into the cases as I drop powder. Replacement heads are on the back left. Tools in drawers and pegboard. Books are everywhere.

My left handed son thinks it is all backwards, and likes to sit.

thanks much guys !!

my reloading got easier when i put a 1.5" pipe, with flanges on both ends, under my press

I got a work bench in clearance at Harbor Freight, prefect for the job.

My bench is a double section of kitchen cabinet where the dishwasher was. That gives me leg room. It’s about 5 feet wide and is placed against the back wall which is 1x12 shelving. The top is a double piece of laminated beam that my contractor had left over after remodeling my kitchen. The top is covered with a sheet of 1/8 inch thick solid inlaid vinyl that came out of a school bus floor.
I would show a picture, but it would embarrass me as it’s so cluttered!

I love posting this picture, Offutt AFB. Dorms.
Pull out drawer and replace with bench.



but really. I like barstools with a back so the bench is kitchen counter height.

- room for press how many?
- scales /powder measure area.
- case prep, trimmer etc...
- open work area

Maybe case cleaning area (wet or dry)

optional

also maybe rifle rest area to clean and mount scopes

check your presses. do they mount on top of the bench or do they hang over an need room under/behind the lip of the bench top

That is the coolest nightstand I have ever seen!

One thing I did with mine is to add a corner rail around the top to keep things from rolling off.
Also drilled holes in the side of the edge to keep the little Allen wrenches (hex keys to you yunggins).
Keeps those from going AWOL

However big you make it won't be big enough. I built mine many years ago like a piece of furniture to fit in where I was living at the time. Unless you plan on storing all your components in another cabinet (not handy) you need lots of shelves above the top surface. These should be fairly stout as bullets, dies, etc. get heavy and they keep accumulating. Mine is a constant 'organized' mess. I doubt there is 1 in^2 of surface that doesn't have something sitting upon it. In the basement I have a workbench that runs the full length of one wall for shot shell reloading, bullet casting, etc.
C.G.B.

You can even buy 6' or 8' benches at Lowes as I recall?? My shop has 4 two in a L shape and two back to back..4x4inch legs and storage underneath the top work area..cost is reasonable, they are very strong and thick built..just fit them up as they are made ready to put together takes about 30 minutes/ Not Rocket science...

Personal opinion:
Keep it as small as practical. Build lots of shelves and cupboards around it.

This forces one to de-clutter regularly, and put all the other tools back where they belong.

Make it nice and sturdy. Mine has supports from the front edge of the bench sloping down and back to the corner between the floor and the wall, giving me lots of foot-room.

When loading, at a bare minimum put all the powder away except the tin you are loading from. But if you load for close-to-identical calibers, also all the bullets, cases and dies.

This probably doesn't need saying, but the scale should be on a different bench/table/shelf. If you still use a beam scale, place it at eye level.

Aww hell Pete.

Where's the fun in that?

George

I got plans from the NRA website for a reloading bench '' HEAVY DUTY ''