The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Reloading => Topic started by: wtr100 on February 22, 2011, 09:18:10 AM

Title: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: wtr100 on February 22, 2011, 09:18:10 AM

I've been using a cheap metal / chip board bench to reload on for years
and it's worked ok so far.  There's starting to get to be too much 'flex'
in the top.  I've got some 'shortie' 2 x 12 and 2 x 10 scraps around.
As a stop gap do you think a 12  to 16" piece of 2x12 (or maybe 2x10)
glued and screwed to the top would take out a lot of the flex?

It's just a single stage press and doing basic reloading - not swagging boolets
or forming cases

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: tombogan03884 on February 22, 2011, 09:46:24 AM

I would not mess with the chip board.
Just replace it with 1/2 or 3/4 inch plywood.
If you try to patch it with the plank pieces even with washers where you bolt down the press you are still going to have problems.

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: wtr100 on February 22, 2011, 10:15:51 AM

because of the way it's set up replacing  will be a pain - maybe just 'redeck' with 3/4"  plywood - glue and screws

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: tombogan03884 on February 22, 2011, 10:20:26 AM

Press board doesn't hold screws very well.
If you go that route you will need to pre drill your holes and figure on it just being a temporary fix till you get another table, or at least the time and patience to retop this one properly.

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: wtr100 on February 22, 2011, 10:36:12 AM

new table is the ultimate goal - know what you mean about press board and screws - but lots of construction adhesive I'm thinking will do the bonding and the screws will more or less be clamps

I can't complain I've had the bench for 15 years and it's held up better than expected

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: tombogan03884 on February 22, 2011, 10:41:08 AM

If possible bolt through the frame, that should take care of you.

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: MikeBjerum on February 22, 2011, 02:13:48 PM

Use standard wood glue spread evenly over the entire surface of the particle board and the rough side of a piece of 3/4" ACX plywood, put the plywood on top and pile the entire surface with weight, then drill for bolts to hold anything you attach.  Use large plates between the nuts and the particle board.

Try also to anchor your new plywood top all the way down to whatever the old particle board is anchored to.

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: ellis4538 on February 22, 2011, 05:47:28 PM

I've been using a hollow core door for a loading bench top  for years!  I started out with a single stage press and graduated to a Dillon 550.  I bolted the SS to a piece of 1 X 12 and then C clamped it to the bench.  When I got the 550 I bolted it to a piece of 3/4" (I believe) maybe 1" CDX...MDX whatever and it held up for years until I finally split it.  Now the 550 is bolted to 3/4" plywood and C clamped.

Richard

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: cookie62 on February 22, 2011, 08:19:44 PM

Use 3/4 inch plywood, glue it to the particle board. Then screw them together with wood screws from the bottom(through the particleboard), just make sure your screws don't go all the through. That should make it sturdy enough.

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: Majer on February 22, 2011, 08:55:56 PM

You could also bolt the new piece to the table top using T-nuts to secure it
http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=829&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=t%20nuts&utm_campaign=G_Part_Terms_Exact&utm_group=T_Nuts_Exact&9gtype=search&9gkw=t%20nuts&9gad=6868817353.1

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: wtr100 on February 23, 2011, 09:36:42 AM

a piece of 3/4 plywood on top of the bench and a piece of 1 x 4 used as a sorta huge washer
below each press has the old bench solid enough - should last me a while - unless I get into
boolit swaging!

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: billt on February 23, 2011, 01:42:43 PM

(http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/billt460/LoadingBench2-1.jpg)

(http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/billt460/LoadingBench1-1.jpg)

I've been reloading on both of these benches for over 30 years. OSB is stronger than plywood. It just doesn't look as good. I painted my second bench grey which hides the fact it's OSB. I've resized a ton of .338-378 Weatherby Magnum on this bench, and reloaded thousands of 12 Gauge shells without a single issue.   Bill T.

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: TAB on February 24, 2011, 02:55:15 AM

2 words....

torsion box


 ;D


its what do for all my work tops.  I also put a tempered hardboard top on them.( the ply that is)  that way when its messed up, I just throw it away,  I'm out all of 10 bucks.

Title: Re: how much wood to reinforce a chipboard reloading bench top
Post by: bfm1851 on May 03, 2011, 02:46:49 PM

If you watch the big box stores you can find the laminated kitchen counter tops when they are discountinued old style or sometimes chipped. Get one of those, a 4 X 8 3/4" plywood and again if lucky two kitchen base cabinets, maybe chipped also.  Glue the counter top to the plywood, trim to lenght and set on the base cabinets. Great setup, comes with storage and looks pretty nice too. Did my whole setup for less then $200, I left the plywood full width size and put it to the back then bought a couple garage cabinets for more storage Also found on sale. Only wish I would have bought the 45 degree cut tops so I could go around the corner  ;)