Bonsai bench construction question

[Shima]

.however, when I priced out everything and compared the price of cement blocks and planks the latter come in much cheaper.

Correct @ghues but for me anyway this old back paid dearly lifting all the cement blocks.
Here's a quick and dirty shot of the new rain shelter and benches using both wood and cement blocks with plastic pallet tops. . Far from finished. The J.maple needs to be moved and two more center benches built. It was tricky because of the sloping land. Wish I could have managed a nice smooth gravel surface. For perspective the shelter is 12 feet high and 20 feet wide. .

 

[evmibo]

Finally finished these a month or so back. Destroyed the grass, and laid some rock down too.

 

[sorce]

Finally finished these a month or so back. Destroyed the grass, and laid some rock down too.

Pimp Status!

They ALL like it!

Sorce

 

[ghues]

Finally finished these a month or so back. Destroyed the grass, and laid some rock down too.

Very nice looking Evan, don't forget to post a shot with your trees on it.
G

 

[parhamr]

I’m stopping by to drop a link to my bench thread: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/i-built-my-first-bench.25173/

 

[evmibo]

Here it is with most of my trees. I have some other stuff in the ground too. The majority of my trees are young and still need a lot more time!

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Very nice.

I'm adding a photo to my Bench page!

 

[cmeg1]

Great stuff,when I move I am going to work on display.

 

[evmibo]

Sounds good Jerry, thanks for the influence.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Sounds good Jerry, thanks for the influence.

You're on the last page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/norbury/albums/72157617697509234

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Your benches look great.

One thing that I noticed (because I am trying to figure out a solution myself) is that you have a shelf beneath your second level shelf. Don't you find that whatever you put there gets wet/dirty from the trees being watered overhead? Anything I put beneath a shelf with trees on it gets trashed. I've been trying to figure out a way to utilize some of the vacate space under my shelves, put short of putting a sheet of plexiglass down there, I haven't come up with a solution.

 

[evmibo]

Your benches look great.

One thing that I noticed (because I am trying to figure out a solution myself) is that you have a shelf beneath your second level shelf. Don't you find that whatever you put there gets wet/dirty from the trees being watered overhead? Anything I put beneath a shelf with trees on it gets trashed. I've been trying to figure out a way to utilize some of the vacate space under my shelves, put short of putting a sheet of plexiglass down there, I haven't come up with a solution.

Thanks
Yes everything will get wet down there but it's no problem for me I guess, since I just planned to have unused pots down there. Maybe after a couple months I'll give the pots a rinse with the hose, and bring out the blower to clean up under the bench.

My biggest problem right now is a blue jay who keeps search through the soil for ???. Driving me crazy.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Your benches look great.

One thing that I noticed (because I am trying to figure out a solution myself) is that you have a shelf beneath your second level shelf. Don't you find that whatever you put there gets wet/dirty from the trees being watered overhead? Anything I put beneath a shelf with trees on it gets trashed. I've been trying to figure out a way to utilize some of the vacate space under my shelves, put short of putting a sheet of plexiglass down there, I haven't come up with a solution.

Agreed. Stuff just gets covered in shit.

I only added them there in the design because I had planks over. I could fit a small gutter under and between the planks of the shelf above... but it's 8 years already and I can't be bothered.

 

[JBL]

This may be a silly question, but in your instructions you list (18) 5/16"x3" lag bolts are needed. I'm counting that you actually need 19. Can someone confirm? 3 for the back long 2x4 to the 4x4 legs, 4 for the 2x4 braces into the back 2x4, 8 total connecting the 2x4 braces to both the first and middles 4x4 legs, and 4 connecting the 2x4 braces to the front long 2x4.