New Reloading Bench Surfaces

[NYDAN]

One nice thing about retirement is that you have time for OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) projects. My reloading/gun cleaning benches are 45 - 50 years old. The surfaces have been exposed to numerous moves, repurposing as work benches, various oils and chemicals, and peeling due to tape removal. All-in-all they were looking pretty shabby.

I have used a plastic-coated freezer paper on the surfaces for a couple of years, but the paper isn't very durable, and the plastic coating is too thin for good protection from cleaning fluids. Periodically, I have to replace the paper. The time to replace the paper has been past due for months now and I hate having to do the same job twice. So, I started thinking about refinishing the surfaces. I decided to sand them down and put a thick, clear, gloss polyurethane finish on them. But, before I did that, I put some polyurethane finish on a piece of scrap board to test how well the polyurethane would stand up to gun cleaning chemicals. I was surprised that nearly everything I tested (including rubbing alcohol) softened the polyurethane. So that idea was busted.

This is what I came up with. Sheets of "Plexi-glass" or more correctly clear acrylic sheet over the white plastic-coated freezer paper. I tested all of my cleaning chemical on it and only carburetor cleaner seemed to cloud it, but I don't use carb cleaner in the house - only outside or in the barn.



Now I can go back to my load development projects.

 

[FOTIS]

Congratulations Dan. Project looks great.

 

[Guy Miner]

Nice!

 

[salmonchaser]

Oh, I like that. I used good 3/4 inch plywood when I rebuilt mine four or five years ago and then sealed it with old varnish of some kind. It has not held up, lots of staining, I like the look of what you’ve done. I may have to copy your work.

 

[JD338]

Very nice Dan, I like it.
You have seen my set up. Formica counter top that is gray wood grain. I wish I would have gone white. It's 6 years old and holding up nicely.


JD338

 

[NYDAN]

Very nice Dan, I like it.
You have seen my set up. Formica counter top that is gray wood grain. I wish I would have gone white. It's 6 years old and holding up nicely.


JD338

Yes, Jim, you have a great set up. The Formica top is a good way to go.

The white surface really helps when working with little parts and pieces. The minute hand of Tina's bedroom alarm clock had come loose, and she asked me to repair it. I just had the clock all apart on the bench with little, tiny screws and clock hands, etc. all spread out. It was really easy to find the parts and reassemble it. Well, easy to find the parts. Reassembling it was a bit of a challenge. It must have originally been assembled by a person with very little and nimble hands and with watch making tools. But, I got it together and it works.

 

[Charlie-NY]

One nice thing about retirement is that you have time for OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) projects. My reloading/gun cleaning benches are 45 - 50 years old. The surfaces have been exposed to numerous moves, repurposing as work benches, various oils and chemicals, and peeling due to tape removal. All-in-all they were looking pretty shabby.

I have used a plastic-coated freezer paper on the surfaces for a couple of years, but the paper isn't very durable, and the plastic coating is too thin for good protection from cleaning fluids. Periodically, I have to replace the paper. The time to replace the paper has been past due for months now and I hate having to do the same job twice. So, I started thinking about refinishing the surfaces. I decided to sand them down and put a thick, clear, gloss polyurethane finish on them. But, before I did that, I put some polyurethane finish on a piece of scrap board to test how well the polyurethane would stand up to gun cleaning chemicals. I was surprised that nearly everything I tested (including rubbing alcohol) softened the polyurethane. So that idea was busted.

This is what I came up with. Sheets of "Plexi-glass" or more correctly clear acrylic sheet over the white plastic-coated freezer paper. I tested all of my cleaning chemical on it and only carburetor cleaner seemed to cloud it, but I don't use carb cleaner in the house - only outside or in the barn.

View attachment 28322

Now I can go back to my load development projects.

Very antiseptic! May many accurate rounds roll out of your new set-up.

 

[Slimfinn]

Great looking benches, I don't think mine has ever had that lack of clutter hahaha

 

[Charlie-NY]

Very nice Dan, I like it.
You have seen my set up. Formica counter top that is gray wood grain. I wish I would have gone white. It's 6 years old and holding up nicely.


JD338

JD
Your reloading area reminds me of an Italian kitchen. Everything is museum quality and stays that way because all the real cooking is done downstairs where the commercial kitchen is that no one sees.

 

[JD338]

JD
Your reloading area reminds me of an Italian kitchen. Everything is museum quality and stays that way because all the real cooking is done downstairs where the commercial kitchen is that no one sees.

Charlie
Truth be told, that's an older picture. I'd be embarrassed to show you a live look now.

JD338

 

[wvbuckbuster]

That looks nice. As you stated the white allows tiny things to be seen and found. My bench was a light tan but had gotten discolored.

 

[Ralt71]

Great looking bench, so much room for activities! My current work bench is a piece of solid wood top. My previous one was a section of the granite counter tops out of our old house. I highly don't recommend that. It was dark and multicolored, it was always cold to touch, hard to drill... AND, it cracks haha

 

[RL338]

Some really nice reloading benches out there.