reloading bench

[oucme69]

new to reloading and starting to build a bench and was wondering if I could use a steel plate for the bench top dident know if it was a hazard even thought about grounding it but thought I would get advice before doing soothing I shouldn't thanks for your time

 

[remauto1187]

I guess maybe if you were getting it for free. But if you had to pay for it I would instead goto a auction and find a desk with a formica top and put it on top of a 1/2 plywood and bolt it together for your workbench top.

I use a Credenza with a formica top that was originally used in the old Terre Haute F.A.A. Flight Service Station. I was told to get rid of all of the furniture leftover. The Credenza is now my reloading bench with storage to my right and left.
Your Federal Tax Dollars still at work!

 

[redneckmedic]

I used a solid core door, seems that a steel plate is over kill, but I don't see why its a bad thing.

 

[oucme69]

I just have a few steel plates laying around get them for free there about. 3 x5 foot and 1/4 thick

 

[remauto1187]

I just have a few steel plates laying around get them for free there about. 3 x5 foot and 1/4 thick

That is going to be one heavy reloading bench. Better make sure the lower side is beefed up and I would definitely ground it. We dont want to see ER pics of you missing your eyebrows and some hair gone with red ears.... Ok thats a lie....Can you make sure the ER uses a HD camera?

 

[BE Mike]

No issues with a steel top, except maybe rust. The more stable you can make the bench, the better off you'll be. Progressive presses like the Dillon 650 need a real solid bench. Mine is wood, but screwed to the back wall. You also don't want your bench to be really deep. 3 feet or so is optimum.

 

[giovani]

With smokless powder you will probably be ok , but blackpowder would scare me on a steel bench, as it only takes one spark to set it off.

 

[oucme69]

we'll thanks for the advice I guess i will use it as a top then and no black powder

 

[remauto1187]

Would someone please tell me when on earth someone would need to take blackpowder out any time OTHER THAN when you are loading a musket/muzzleloader. Why one earth would someone need blackpowder at a RELOADING bench?

 

[mike8170]

Would someone please tell me when on earth someone would need to take blackpowder out any time OTHER THAN when you are loading a musket/muzzleloader. Why one earth would someone need blackpowder at a RELOADING bench?

50/70 or 45/70 black powder loads. I will do black powder loads for my 1873 saddle carbine.

 

[remauto1187]

50/70 or 45/70 black powder loads. I will do black powder loads for my 1873 saddle carbine.

Oh yeah, forgot about those. Ive never gotten into blackpowder so my knowledge of using the stuff is very limited. I know its not even remotely stable as smokeless. Cant static from our bodies set it off?

 

[Cerberus]

Oh yeah, forgot about those. Ive never gotten into blackpowder so my knowledge of using the stuff is very limited. I know its not even remotely stable as smokeless. Cant static from our bodies set it off?

That is the old wive's tale. There is lots of debate about that subject. I would say that BP is just as stable as any other powder.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

If you're going to use a steel top and ground it, there's a doodad you can get with a wrist strap that connects to the grounded surface and discharges your static charge, so no sparks, or just connect yourself to the plate via about 1MΩ resistor. It's used in the electronics industry where a lot of the components are static sensitive. If you happened to have any of those plates that needed a good home, I might be able to help you out

 

[giovani]

Would someone please tell me when on earth someone would need to take blackpowder out any time OTHER THAN when you are loading a musket/muzzleloader. Why one earth would someone need blackpowder at a RELOADING bench?

Black powder cartridge reloading is far more popular now than in the last 50 years, due to cowboy action shooting and long range sharps rifle competitions among others.

 

[davidc912]

Can't beat a good wooden bench top. It dampens vibration - electrically, chemically, and thermally neutral. And it's softer and quieter when you drop stuff on it, like say a box of large pistol primers.

 

[Broom_jm]

Can't beat a good wooden bench top. It dampens vibration - electrically, chemically, and thermally neutral. And it's softer and quieter when you drop stuff on it, like say a box of large pistol primers.

A heavy metal bench top would need a very solid and durable substrate to which it would be mounted. What material would one use for that substrate?

The NRA once published detailed plans for a high-quality reloading bench. The only steel used in it was found in the nuts, bolts, washers and screws used to secure the wooden framework and top. I can't begin to think of a reason to use anything else. Also -

 

[Classic]

That is the old wive's tale. There is lots of debate about that subject. I would say that BP is just as stable as any other powder.

Black powder is very different than smokeless. Smokeless left in a pile and ignited will fizzle and spark and burn vigorously but black powder left in a pile and ignited will explode. Any place that sells it will tell you the storage requirements are very different for black and smokeless. Black powder requires a special storage "magazine" and stores are limited as to how much they can store for good reason while smokeless can be shelf stored with no real limit on quantity.

 

[giovani]

Black powder is very different than smokeless. Smokeless left in a pile and ignited will fizzle and spark and burn vigorously but black powder left in a pile and ignited will explode. Any place that sells it will tell you the storage requirements are very different for black and smokeless. Black powder requires a special storage "magazine" and stores are limited as to how much they can store for good reason while smokeless can be shelf stored with no real limit on quantity.

Exactly!
I would stand next to a camp fire and throw in a hand full of smokeless powder, but I wouldn't dream of doing so with black powder.
I lost my eyebrows a couple of times with black powder when I was a kid , so I know what i'm talking about.
Gasoline poured ontop of a puddle also got my eyebrows once too.

 

[pjt]

But, did you get the field dried out for the game?

 

[famous187]

i built a reloading work bench out of floor cabinets with a formica top from menards. it looks really good so the wife is ok with it being in the house!