New Reloading Bench Project.... or what to do with slate table top and pile of wood!

[awpk03s]

Thought I would share with the group the project that was my reloading bench...

I have been acquiring equipment for some time, and I now have a Hornady Lock n Load AP Progressive Press, Lee dies for 45 Colt (w/Factory Crimp Die), Redding 45ACP Dies, Redding 30-06 dies, and Hornady PTX Expanders as well as Powder Cop. I also have a Hornady digital bench scale, and case tumbler.

None of this is very special though because lots of folks have and run these setups... what I think is special, is my bench to put it all on. I had an old slate pool table in my basement for several years. The felt was all worn, and the table hardly ever got played. I disassembled the table, and tossed out the wood components and felt for the trashman - but kept the 3 pieces of heavy slate. It was one of those pieces of slate that I decided to use for this project. The slates are very heavy, very thick, and very flat. I thought... what a good idea for a top for a workbench! I constructed a table frame using 4x4 boards. The table is held together on multiple points using 6" lag bolts, and 'L' brackets on inside corners with 2" bolts. The whole frame is secured to my concrete basement floor. The slate was secured to the main 4 posts using 3" lag bolts. I drilled extra holes through the slate and the 4x4 below that with my DeWalt hammer drill and used those holes to mount a small bench vise and my Hornady LnL press. The slate was then painted with Dutch Boy concrete paint in Battleship Gray. The wood was all stained with MinWax 'Special Walnut' stain.

This thing is ROCK solid... Needless to say I'm pretty impressed with myself and this whole project that came from a brain fart to a real workbench.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/mba656/guns/IMAG0275.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/mba656/guns/IMAG0276.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/mba656/guns/DSC03487.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/mba656/guns/DSC03488.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/mba656/guns/DSC03489.jpg

Brutus likes it!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/mba656/guns/DSC03484.jpg

St. Florian watches over to make sure I don't blow something up.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/mba656/guns/DSC03485.jpg

Enjoy![/QUOTE]

[dogboysdad]

Where are you in Ohio?

[jak]

Nice job !!!
I really like the workbench's side pockets.

[timshufflin]

I like it but I'm weary. I just don't believe that the thing could suffer much in the way of a shock.

[awpk03s]

To be honest, when this was still a pool table, and after I ceased to use it as a pool table, before I finished my basement - I used the pool table as a workbench of sorts for many things and this thing took some whacks and abuse. I know slate has a reputation for being brittle, but when it's this thick and heavy, it's pretty stout. I probably have about 5k rounds of reloads through it so far, and no issues yet. If I do ever have a crack or something, I still have two more pieces left :)

[tljames]

Looks really nice! Also like your progressive press! I had the auto case loader on mine, worked pretty well, but then one day a casing hung up in the dispenser. I didn't notice until it was too late. The lil motor bound up and burned up. So rather than replace or repair I removed it. Really hasn't slowed the process too much. Fun press to use sure can kick out the pistol ammo!

Good Shooting All! The Hoser