Question, portable reloading bench

[HAL-9000]

I am short on space. I wish to start reloading but a permanent bench may be a problem. Any suggestions about fold up benches and quick detachable press fittings. Something that I can fold up and put away until I need it. I can't seem to find anything comerically made, any ideas please let me know. Please be aware that I am not a carpenter nor machinacally inclined. ( yea I know,...maybe rethink reloading.....but I gotta try this if I ever want to get real accurate with my 308). Thanks for any suggestions or help.
later

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"Heres to us and those like us."

[Packrat]

Midway has a pedistal-type reloading stand that supports the press and has places for about everything you need. And the price is reasonable, if I remember.

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Packrat

[HAL-9000]

Thanks Packrat!
later

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"Heres to us and those like us."

[JackFlash]

If you have a workbench or funky table available . . .

Get a 2 foot piece of 2 X 6 or 2 X 12 and a couple of about 6 inch deep C clamps. Mount the press, primer tool, powder measure bracket on the board and clamp the board to the table or bench.

I have two single stage presses and a RCBS Uniflow powder measure bracket mount on my board. The powder measure unscrews by hand from the bracket. I use two presses, bell cases on one and seat on the other. The powder measure is in-between and convenient.

Mounted the RCBS primer tool on a short piece of 2 X 4 and clamp that in a vise when I need it. The press board stands up in a corner when not in use. I stow the other gear in a couple large poly RubberMaid storage tubs --tumbler, components, powder, dies, the works. Tubs stack.

You need to know that the C-clamps will put dents in the bottom side of the table, but with large clamps you can "pad" the clamps with a block of wood.

You can do variations with a multi-stage press. Use a board the size of the press base and store the rig upright in a corner.

[celticjedi]

Think I would get in trouble for taking one of those to work with me? This is my 600th post http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif!!!

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Inmate #XXX-XX-XXXX
of the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia

[Crash N. Burn]

As long as you don't work for AOL which prohibits anything like that. They actually fired three employees for just transferring a couple firearms from one trunk to another to go shooting a few weeks ago.
I bring my reloader to work and have exactly this same setup. A heavy 3/4 board with all the stuff bolted to it in countersunk holes that I clamp to whatever solid surface I need. I can full length resize 30-06 cases no problem with it. That's the biggest I've done though. 7.62 or 5.56 should be no problem with that setup. Don't forget two stoutly anchored pegs in the closet to hang it on when you're not manufacturing ammo.

Crash

Originally posted by celticjedi:
Think I would get in trouble for taking one of those to work with me? This is my 600th post http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif!!!

[Ought Six]

One guy I used to know had a neat setup. He went to a surplus yard and found a thrashed solid wood door, which he got for $10. He got out the sabre saw and cut a retangular benchtop out of it about 4' x 2-1/2'. He screwed a hardwood 2" x 2" longwise down the center on the bottom of the tabletop and mounted threaded studs through the tabletop that matched the base of his press pointing up. When he wanted to reload, he pulled this out of the closet along with a Black & Decker Workmate portable workstand. He just set his homemade benchtop on the unfolded Workmate and clamped the split tabletop vise onto the 2 x 2 on the bottom of his benchtop. Then, he set the press on the threaded studs and tightened it down with wingnuts & washers. It was small, but worked great! He also pulled the living room coffee table along side his work stool for additonal workspace. One caution - mount the press so it's closer to the center of the benchtop, not off to one side, and mount the 2 x 2 on the bottom off-center so that the edge with the press is closer to the 2 x 2. You want to get the press as close as possible to the Workmate underneath to enhance the stability of the whole thing when you bear down on it. Also, butt the back edge of your homemade reloading bench against a wall when you're using it to make it even more stable. I hope this helps. ;^)

[HAL-9000]

Thanks Ought Six

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"Heres to us and those like us."