Show Us Your Bonsai Benches

butlern

Shohin
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any examples of curved, "flowing" benches? I would like to complement the curved planting beds in the backyard of my new house, and I have some ideas about how to construct a "snaking" bench from wood. Casting concrete tops above upright supports would make several aspects of execution simpler, but short of making molds and casting the bench top out of concrete, I wonder if anyone here checking on the thread has designed their own (or at least seen some good pictures of) curving benches. Thanks. Noah
 

Japonicus

Masterpiece
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I really have a poor display area, but it's all I have in full Sun.
Our decking is in bad need of replacing, but will have to wait a bit longer.

This is just a start I need a couple more smaller ones, and maybe a couple stands in front of the house somewhere.

I took @Adair M 's idea of the three 4x4's and ordered some 14" X 1/2" galvanized carriage bolts and added 4x4 legs with lag bolts.
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It's a start. Main thing is getting them up off the blistering deck for now.
 

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Brian Van Fleet

Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
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any examples of curved, "flowing" benches? I would like to complement the curved planting beds in the backyard of my new house, and I have some ideas about how to construct a "snaking" bench from wood. Casting concrete tops above upright supports would make several aspects of execution simpler, but short of making molds and casting the bench top out of concrete, I wonder if anyone here checking on the thread has designed their own (or at least seen some good pictures of) curving benches. Thanks. Noah
Curved area, but individual stands. I have considered replacing the upper individual stands into a few longer benches to make them a bit more versatile.
DBD70AEC-10BB-44D1-93C4-6EF7A6734016.jpeg
 

Jzack605

Chumono
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any examples of curved, "flowing" benches? I would like to complement the curved planting beds in the backyard of my new house, and I have some ideas about how to construct a "snaking" bench from wood. Casting concrete tops above upright supports would make several aspects of execution simpler, but short of making molds and casting the bench top out of concrete, I wonder if anyone here checking on the thread has designed their own (or at least seen some good pictures of) curving benches. Thanks. Noah
You could potentially use a live edge slab for this. Contact suppliers or find an arborist with a mill.

If you are in NY, particularly LI, I can potentially be of service for the latter
 

atlarsenal

Omono
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any examples of curved, "flowing" benches? I would like to complement the curved planting beds in the backyard of my new house, and I have some ideas about how to construct a "snaking" bench from wood. Casting concrete tops above upright supports would make several aspects of execution simpler, but short of making molds and casting the bench top out of concrete, I wonder if anyone here checking on the thread has designed their own (or at least seen some good pictures of) curving benches. Thanks. Noah
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Just google curving bench
 

butlern

Shohin
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googling images doesn't reveal the substructure. Googling for plans was not fruitful, either. Thanks, though.
 
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Curved area, but individual stands. I have considered replacing the upper individual stands into a few longer benches to make them a bit more versatile.
View attachment 247560

I REALLY love this setup. I'm planning to do monkey poles for the larger trees in my collection, complete with built in swiveling mechanisms so I don't have to lift those heavy bastards until it's time for over wintering, then again in the Spring...
 

BigBen

Shohin
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Had some time during Father’s Day yesterday, so I went ahead and completed my bench-build, with the exception of the border.
I decided to go all the way to the back with the bottom tier, so I can place less Sun tolerant trees there OR simply use it for a little extra storage space.
Letting the trees grow-out, to hopefully thicken their trunks.
I’m now contemplating adding a removable Sun-shade to the bench.

Also continuing my greenhouse build. Hope to be completed by the Fall, if not sooner.
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D

Deleted member 21616

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I’m now contemplating adding a removable Sun-shade to the bench

any ideas for this yet? I'm thinking about either a permanent pergola-style roof over my future bench, or maybe a shade-cloth that will be either 'retractable' like an awning or projector screen, or maybe 'collapsible' like a convertible roof on a car. still just in the research stages myself
 

Japonicus

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any ideas for this yet? I'm thinking about either a permanent pergola-style roof over my future bench, or maybe a shade-cloth that will be either 'retractable' like an awning or projector screen, or maybe 'collapsible' like a convertible roof on a car. still just in the research stages myself
There's got to be a way to do a retractable shade cloth using the grommets and a handle to pull it
much like vertical blinds.
Not sure what % and area you're wanting to block but this may be a place to start getting some ideas on that
and it doesn't have to a full on pergola to make this work...
EDIT: odd, the Amazon link to a low cost grommeted shade cloth appears to be an add, is not.

 

Hartinez

Masterpiece
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There's got to be a way to do a retractable shade cloth using the grommets and a handle to pull it
much like vertical blinds.
Not sure what % and area you're wanting to block but this may be a place to start getting some ideas on that
and it doesn't have to a full on pergola to make this work...
EDIT: odd, the Amazon link to a low cost grommeted shade cloth appears to be an add, is not.

Very cool! That’s my plan for above my setup. Finally finished putting in the structural 2x6s that span between benches. I ended up cantilevering the final 2x6 set to make that corner below more open.

I’ll run shade cloth on tension steel cable that can be pulled back and forth as needed. That will run along the inside of each 2x6 set on top.

Next step will be to build a handful of monkey poles around my yard. Some in full sun, some in part and some in shade. 248214248215
 

SantaFeBonsai

Shohin
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How deep is the winter storage pit?

Is this question aimed @me? If so, I do not have a cold storage. They simply go under my arbor when it’s 28 or below. Less than 25 I throw a sheet over them, they never get colder than 35 under the arbor but they show no I’ll effects on the bench to 29 deg.

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