[76Highboy]

This weekend I put a new top on my reloading bench. Originally I had two layers of 3/8" particle board for the top and it worked great. However I went ahead and replaced it with 3/4" smooth surface plywood. I left the bottom layer of 5/8" particle board on and then put the new plywood on over that and it turned out solid. After I screwed everything together I took some Golden Walnut Minwax and gave each bench three good coatings. It turned out nice. Once I bolted everything back on the bench there was a noticeable difference in how solid the plywood made the bench. Altogether it turned out better then I had imagined. Here's some pics.

 

[76Highboy]

More pics.

 

[76Highboy]

More pics.

 

[BlackEagle]

Looks very nice. Good work HB.

Lots of room; good for expansion later on.

 

[76Highboy]

Looks very nice. Good work HB.

Lots of room; good for expansion later on.

I had a drill press on the left bench that I moved to it's own table. Moving the drill press sure freed up a lot of space.

Thanks BlackEagle.

 

[aa1911]

so the pink tissues moved, where'd the nail polish go?

looks good!

if you're like me, that's the cleanest the top will ever be. Mine's about 6 layers of clutter.

 

[aa1911]

hey, I noticed the medical tub there, I stole (aquired) a whole case from work years ago, those things make fantastic brass organizers!

 

[76Highboy]

hey, I noticed the medical tub there, I stole (aquired) a whole case from work years ago, those things make fantastic brass organizers!

Now wait a stinkin minute, it ain't mine. Just cause the medical tub pink does not mean it is mine. I don't even know what is in it but the wife does I am sure. As far as the pink tissues, they are there. I hate not having Kleenex around.

My bench is the one on the left. Lets see, 460 c.i. heads, lead stockpile, locking hubs, primers, and loaded ammo. As you can see the ammo and the primers are well hidden. Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[aa1911]

I have the pink ones too, they come in pink or tan usually. They are great tubs though!

can't knock 'em, I use them quite a bit. one is sitting full of .223 brass, one full of .40 waiting to be squished through my GRx die, and probably a dozen others for parts or other brass.

a good addition to the bench top would be some hardboard, I think it's around $18 for a 4x8' sheet at home depot. just cut to fit and use finishing nails to attach, the stuff is nice and smooth and won't dent as easy as plywood.

 

[ryan42]

looks nice highboy,dont worry im probably got fifty of them pink tubs,i get them at the hospital.Hell I even take the toilet paper rolls home with us.Our insurance pays for it.

 

[76Highboy]

I have the pink ones too, they come in pink or tan usually. They are great tubs though!

can't knock 'em, I use them quite a bit. one is sitting full of .223 brass, one full of .40 waiting to be squished through my GRx die, and probably a dozen others for parts or other brass.

a good addition to the bench top would be some hardboard, I think it's around $18 for a 4x8' sheet at home depot. just cut to fit and use finishing nails to attach, the stuff is nice and smooth and won't dent as easy as plywood.

I think that is what this is. It is hard and smooth, but it costs $49.00 at Lowes. It's spendy but worth it.

 

[joncutt87]

Looks great highboy

 

[crystalphoto]

Looks good, Jim!

 

[gdmoody]

The bench look good. I started to get onto you about the non-reloading stuff under the bench then I read that the left side is yours. You are forgiven!! But still, that orange bottle jack and the stuff to its left is pushing things a little.

 

[1LoneWolf75]

Looks good Highboy!!

Suprised you didn't paint it pink though.

Of course you will take all yer space up with ford parts to try and keep yer truck goin - a never endin battle I'm sure


Good lookin sturdy bench though.

 

[howlnmad]

It looks really nice, sturdy too. The only problem for me is that it's to dang neat. I'd never find anything like that .

 

[76Highboy]

The bench look good. I started to get onto you about the non-reloading stuff under the bench then I read that the left side is yours. You are forgiven!! But still, that orange bottle jack and the stuff to its left is pushing things a little.

Ha, ha, ha.

 

[howlnmad]

If the left side of the bench is yours, who uses the right side?

 

[LDBennett]

76Highboy:

Nice bench but......

Almost any bench, a bit flimsy or not, is tremendously helped by lagging it to the wall behind it. First lag a 2 x 4 horizontal to the wall studs at the height close to that of the bench top height. Then lag the bench to the horizontal 2 x 4. Instant rigid bench.

LDBennett

 

[erikk]

Bench looks good, now get some edge molding and put on it to prevent getting a sliver from the plywood