Show Us Your Bonsai Benches

[JeffS73]

I was inspired by benches I saw on one of Jonas Dupuich's trips - to Aichi-en Bonsai in Japan:

Bonsai Aichi-en benches

They looked simple enough, how wrong I was! Made harder because my garden slopes in two directions, the height difference is such that each leg is actually a different length. I didn't want a bench on a stack of blocks.

They feature knock-down joinery, so each of the leg joints are mortise and tenoned together, then the rails are held in place with wedges. The joint is a sideways "tusk tenon", and it isn't common in Western joinery, so far as I have been able to find. Once I got going the process became easier.



Soon stacked with pre-bonsai, mother plants etc!

 

[Pitoon]

I was inspired by benches I saw on one of Jonas Dupuich's trips - to Aichi-en Bonsai in Japan:

Bonsai Aichi-en benches

They looked simple enough, how wrong I was! Made harder because my garden slopes in two directions, the height difference is such that each leg is actually a different length. I didn't want a bench on a stack of blocks.

They feature knock-down joinery, so each of the leg joints are mortise and tenoned together, then the rails are held in place with wedges. The joint is a sideways "tusk tenon", and it isn't common in Western joinery, so far as I have been able to find. Once I got going the process became easier.

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Soon stacked with pre-bonsai, mother plants etc!

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They look great! Good thing is that it looks like you can break the table down to move it if you ever have to.

 

[cmeg1]

Nice job

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Inspired by the benches at Eisei-en...

 

[Arizona bonsai]

Nice bench & tree!

 

[CapeFear盆景]

I had a crappy table with concret blocks and 2x6s. I found these pilons from a marina and built the top with scrap wood I had laying around.

 

[Japonicus]

Inspired by the benches at Eisei-en...

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Yes a beautiful tree indeed! Expect the planks to react to the Sun and weather unevenly.
The ends and centre should be tied/supported together underneath front to back.
Rather than going underneath the ends, I capped the ends of mine with 2x4 on edge
so not as visible and better deeper support being on edge.
Don't know if cinder block caps, 4 each side single layer, would make the table too high or not
but would preserve the wood. Need to reduce ground contact if you can. Love the stands.

 

[leatherback]

Well, now I can never remove the

Any updates on these?

 

[CWTurner]

@Gdy2000
Nice benches and great tree too.
However, I would turn the legs 90 degrees. The benches aren't going to flip lengthwise, but may flop over if bumped or leaned against. Turning the legs will stabilize the bench greatly.
Plus, the leg bases won't be getting in the way of your feet after you turn them.
Jealous of that sunny yard!
CW

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Yes a beautiful tree indeed! Expect the planks to react to the Sun and weather unevenly.
The ends and centre should be tied/supported together underneath front to back.
Rather than going underneath the ends, I capped the ends of mine with 2x4 on edge
so not as visible and better deeper support being on edge.
Don't know if cinder block caps, 4 each side single layer, would make the table too high or not
but would preserve the wood. Need to reduce ground contact if you can. Love the stands.

Great suggestion. Added somecaps.


I plan to add crushed limestone in the spring, so that should help keep the bottoms safe.

Here’s a night shot. Happy Thanksgiving Nutters!

 

[CWTurner]

@Gdy2000
Nice benches and great tree too.
However, I would turn the legs 90 degrees. The benches aren't going to flip lengthwise, but may flop over if bumped or leaned against. Turning the legs will stabilize the bench greatly.
Plus, the leg bases won't be getting in the way of your feet after you turn them.
Jealous of that sunny yard!

@PeaceLoveBonsai
So the above post was referencing your bench. Don't know why I have Gdy2000 in there.
CW

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I was inspired by benches I saw on one of Jonas Dupuich's trips - to Aichi-en Bonsai in Japan:

Bonsai Aichi-en benches

They looked simple enough, how wrong I was! Made harder because my garden slopes in two directions, the height difference is such that each leg is actually a different length. I didn't want a bench on a stack of blocks.

They feature knock-down joinery, so each of the leg joints are mortise and tenoned together, then the rails are held in place with wedges. The joint is a sideways "tusk tenon", and it isn't common in Western joinery, so far as I have been able to find. Once I got going the process became easier.

Through-tenons everywhere you look What nice craftsmanship! Are those bottom shelves loose?

 

[JeffS73]

Through-tenons everywhere you look What nice craftsmanship! Are those bottom shelves loose?

Thanks! Quite a big job with 4" timber. Yes, bottom shelves are a loose fit. I thought I'd use them for overwintering deciduous trees, but it turns out I've created a very popular cat shelter

 

[AZbonsai]

Winter set up. I try to get them as much sun as possible during winter. South side of house.

 

[Arizona bonsai]

Do you cover any of them if frost is possible?

 

[leatherback]

Do you cover any of them if frost is possible?

is frost possible?

 

[AZbonsai]

Do you cover any of them if frost is possible?

Yes. I use what they call a planket. They come in different sizes at HD Lowes. They work well.

 

[AZbonsai]

is frost possible?

We get frost about 10 times in the winter...hard freeze maybe a couple of times a year. Really hard freeze once every 5 years. Most of the time I do not worry about it. Not really a killing frost but the prolonged freeze is where we lose some trees.

 

[Forsoothe!]

I can't see any pictures in post #334. I just see a line of numbered dot jpg files

 

[leatherback]

I can't see any pictures in post #334. I just see a line of numbered dot jpg files

Its not them its you.
See the pictures perfectly fine.