Reloading room setups...looking for inspiration

[Green Chile]

I'm building a house that has a 3 car garage. The 3rd space will be for all of my reloading and gun projects. Currently I have a lot of ammo and reloading components on rolling wire shelves. I'm looking for ideas on how to setup this garage space, which is on the exterior wall. I don't need room for wood working or metal working equipment...just reloading work areas and some space to work on and clean guns. Any photos or suggestions on organizing that space? I'm also interested in ideas for countertops and work spaces for reloading, cleaning, etc.

One idea from a friend was having a filing cabinet for storing reloading dies upright so you can ID them quickly. Let's hear and see some of your setups, tips and tricks.

 

[John the Electrician]

I bought these metal drawers used. I need to improve my label system but it works. I keep dies, shell holders, trimmers/cutters and caliber specific items on the left and bullets on the right.

I don’t like this wire shelving, it is too deep, ammo, brass and bullets are fairly compact. I’m storing too much air above and behind the actual components.

The gun racks, serve in a pinch, but I need a better solution to this.

Another set of drawers, I currently house specialty shotgun ammo in these drawers. Different gauges for different purposes; I also keep my rimfire ammo here.

 

[Rare Breed]

I'm building a house that has a 3 car garage. The 3rd space will be for all of my reloading and gun projects. Currently I have a lot of ammo and reloading components on rolling wire shelves. I'm looking for ideas on how to setup this garage space, which is on the exterior wall. I don't need room for wood working or metal working equipment...just reloading work areas and some space to work on and clean guns. Any photos or suggestions on organizing that space? I'm also interested in ideas for countertops and work spaces for reloading, cleaning, etc.

One idea from a friend was having a filing cabinet for storing reloading dies upright so you can ID them quickly. Let's hear and see some of your setups, tips and tricks.

View attachment 747878

I have the simplest of set ups that reloads everything for me. I bought a rolling heavy butcher block table and installed my powder and handle press that works wonderful for me in my office/trophy room. Next to it is a simple 8 basket shelf with my reloading supplies, one per caliber

 

[SaintPanzer]

Just a couple of thoughts, as my "new room" isn't finished yet.

I have a separate bench for the press itself and the "other things".

The "other things" benchtop is made from a surplus piece of corian. It's hard, flat, easy to level and easy to keep clean. The piece I found is a very stark white, so it's easy to see things on it. The "flat" and "level" part really help for the scale.

Having said that, what I may end up doing is getting a piece of granite (perhaps a threshold?) and mounting that to the wall. The scale will go there. Wall mounting the granite will ensure no vibrations from walking/bumping.

When I was building my press bench, I noticed many vendors were selling a "support" piece that raised the press to a more ergonomic height. That made sense, except for the paying extra for their metal stamping. I made my bench higher, to match how high I wanted the handle and the ability to view what's going on inside. I had some hard maple left from another project, and that made the bench. Also, I can bolt it to the floor. It's not moving.

I'm still looking for a good way to organize the things I'm not directly using (i.e. other dies, bullets, powder, etc.). The best I've come up with so far is a barrister bookcase my wife didn't want for books anymore. It's not so deep that there's excess space behind items, and the ability to close the glass doors makes everything viewable, but minimizes dust.

I bought two inch foam insulation from the local big box store, and made, well, a big box out of it. This serves as a cover for the tumbler to quiet things down a bit. On the list of "wants" is a good size ultrasonic cleaner.


That's all I have right now. Will try and remember other things to add...

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I stuffed 10 pounds of stuff in a 2 pound reloading and gun maintenance room.
Definately not photo-ready...

Redding T-7 and Area 419 turret presses
Plastic ammo boxes of bullets indexed by caliber on shelf
Powder in large ammo cans on floor

Dillon 650's on movable wooden sleds

Dillons on right, 51 year old RCBS Rock Chucker on far left
Rifle maintenance area in center

RCBS Rock Chucker set up with .416 Rigby Factory Crimp Die

 

[DaddyFlip]

My setup is more @Rare Breed-like as I prefer to be able to stow away everything when I'm done. I'm in a windowless pantry room off the kitchen, which also serves as my office. I have a spindly, fold-up computer desk I repurposed as my bench; it does fine because the Co-Ax is such an efficient press. I only do press operations on this little bench. Trimming and powder work is on my main office desk which is opposite the press bench. My office chair is on wheels between them. There's a 125-gallon aquarium to the left of the bench.

Stored underneath is an old tacklebox that holds my small parts and tools and a Lee hand press. Behind that on a bench is a Plano Field Box that holds all my dies, which are vertical like your filing cabinet idea- recommended. The box with 25 die sets weighs just over 50 pounds, so that filing cab drawer better be stout with 35 sets in there!

Powders are stored in a padded aluminum box with my measuring devices. I have 20 pounds of mixed black and smokeless powder in there and it stays under my office desk with my reloading manuals on top. Components are stored in other rooms of the house in their own cabinets out of sight.

Since you are planning a dedicated space, the best advice I can give is to have a theme. Mine is obviously "Incognito". All I have to do to be completely invisible is to remove the C-clamp and stow the press. Good luck- looking forward to your setup.

 

[Green Chile]

Thanks for the photos and ideas so far. Keep them coming.

One thing about work space and table tops...if they are too deep, it's tempting to leave extra stuff and it fills up with clutter. I think less depth could be better.

 

[Green Chile]

I noticed in some photos the Inline Fabrications stands for reloading presses, etc. I'm a fan of that product. I'm interested in more practical ideas like that.

One good piece of advice given to me on having the garage floor epoxied...consider leaving the flakes out of the epoxy so small bits dropped on the floor won't get lost in the "clutter".

 

[Russ16]

I’m designing similar right now.

I plan to use the inline fabrication mount and have different plates to hold my press, gun vise, priming setup, etc. to me that maximizes the usable spec for whatever take you’re doing at the time.

 

[Green Chile]

Russ, I welcome any of your thoughts on design and layout. You are probably further ahead than me on these subjects.

 

[Green Chile]

My house won't be finished until July so I'm in research mode. Someone asked me about what it would look like with the garage door up. One idea there is to have the storage shelves on wheels be lined up at the garage door and you could put a tarp or piece of black plastic up to not show the neighborhood your gun area. That's one option for using the space near the garage door. I don't plan on needing to open that door very often.

I was also thinking of having one of those wire rack style garage storage systems installed in the ceiling for large totes of hunting clothes, boots, etc. They can go anywhere in the garage, including above the opened garage door.

 

[Rare Breed]

Thanks for the photos and ideas so far. Keep them coming.

One thing about work space and table tops...if they are too deep, it's tempting to leave extra stuff and it fills up with clutter. I think less depth could be better.

Which is exactly why I love my heavy butcher block table

 

[Rare Breed]

My house won't be finished until July so I'm in research mode. Someone asked me about what it would look like with the garage door up. One idea there is to have the storage shelves on wheels be lined up at the garage door and you could put a tarp or piece of black plastic up to not show the neighborhood your gun area. That's one option for using the space near the garage door. I don't plan on needing to open that door very often.

I was also thinking of having one of those wire rack style garage storage systems installed in the ceiling for large totes of hunting clothes, boots, etc. They can go anywhere in the garage, including above the opened garage door.

View attachment 747996
View attachment 747997

What will you do when your garage gets cold my friend?

 

[Green Chile]

Which is exactly why I love my heavy butcher block table

Did you buy or build that?

 

[Green Chile]

What will you do when your garage gets cold my friend?

My current garage isn’t heated and I reload there year around. Besides, TX doesn’t get very cold. If it does get cold, Texans have to name the storm and talk about it for the next 30 years.

 

[RR 314]

My house won't be finished until July so I'm in research mode. Someone asked me about what it would look like with the garage door up. One idea there is to have the storage shelves on wheels be lined up at the garage door and you could put a tarp or piece of black plastic up to not show the neighborhood your gun area. That's one option for using the space near the garage door. I don't plan on needing to open that door very often.

I was also thinking of having one of those wire rack style garage storage systems installed in the ceiling for large totes of hunting clothes, boots, etc. They can go anywhere in the garage, including above the opened garage door.

View attachment 747996
View attachment 747997

Absolutely add the racks. I welded my own on two sides and haven’t been in the attic in years!

 

[SaintPanzer]

I noticed in some photos the Inline Fabrications stands for reloading presses, etc. I'm a fan of that product. I'm interested in more practical ideas like that.

One good piece of advice given to me on having the garage floor epoxied...consider leaving the flakes out of the epoxy so small bits dropped on the floor won't get lost in the "clutter".

Yes, Skip the flakes, but don't forget the non-skid.

Brighter colors are better for finding lost things.

Consider lighting. "Machine Shop Level" lumens are good for reloading, but you might want to dial it down for day-to-day tasks.

 

[Green Chile]

Dimensions of the working space are 10x23.

 

[Russ16]

At SCI I was very impressed by the Badass Workbenches (well impressed by everything but the dumb name).

They were well made and their drawer system is rally nice and strong. But they are way too expensive.

The biggest thing I liked is they essentially mount a hitch receiver at the edge of the bench and then you can slide different tools in and out so your loading press, vice, etc. can be strongly mounted and then stowed away.

I'm trying to figure out how to do something similar without paying their prices.

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badassworkbench.com

 

[foxtrot1]

Excuse the mess, im still setting mine and unpacking.

New to this set up, are the cubbies. I like them for components. Let's me keep an inventory of what's on hand easily.

I've got another table and press to set up for a gunsmithing area that will be adjacent. Not sure where to put the 2nd press.