AusBonsai

Hi Guys,

after moving houses i cant fit my existing metal benches so i thought id go Besser blocks with a wood top
I know there is a few threads on this already but what are people generally using i.e

how many high? 4 blocks? 5 blocks?
i know they are 390mm wide are people going 1 or 2 wide?

Any help would be great

Daniel

I dont use the blocks myself but on Instagram i always see a few good setups. If you do have an account search #bonsaibench. Good for inspiration. Anyway ive attached afew screenshots from things ive liked in the past. Hope it helps.

thanks ive been creeping on instagram at the moment haha.

i was actually liking some the black besser blocks that they seem to use at chojo feature
trees its just hard to tell what they use size wise by the photos

Height depends on the size of your dog haha

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I use them for my benches; one brick wide, two height levels one behind the other. One three bricks high and one two bricks high with a broken fence i found at bunnings for about 30 dollars cut in half and used for the bench top. I'll see if i can take a photo to show but it works well.

Edit: IT's in a raised garden bed that would on it's own be the equivalent of 2 bricks high, that's why i only needed to go 2 bricks high and 3 bricks high on the bench

Hi All,

@

Pearcy001 wrote:Height depends on the size of your dog haha

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That would mean 6ft high literally i had a 5ft fence and previously an i've had my dog climb / jump that, in my new house when we were looking on the short list was making sure all fences were 6ft tall and she's still escaped through a weak point.
That said she doesn't touch the tree's unless i use teabags with dynamic lifter etc so i only use synthetics.

Thanks i think i was going to go 4 high on the top shelf and 2 /3 high on the front shelf (5 high was getting a bit too high), a photo would be great as its hard to judge height / width, i think all my pots are smaller then 390mm across which would mean they fit 1 block depth

With regards to the top timber, I use Iron bark. I find it much better then red gum or t/pine. I use either 2 or 3" thick x 200mm wide either 2 or 3 across. Where I have 3, I've used a combination of the 390 full besser in addition to the 190 half besser blocks. Ironbark does not warp or split.. I've also got full railway sleepers on some benches but despite them looking great, they're damn heavy and has given me a hernia moving these around...!

I'm about to put another bench together myself. I have all the besser blocks ready to go. 3 high is too short imo... I'm going 5 high x 3 sleepers wide on the back and 4 high x 2 sleepers wide on the front. The bench will be 2.7m wide with 3 supports.

Hi,

Excellent info, are you also going 1 full sized wide? i.e 390 x 190 x 190 block wide?

Regards

Daniel

Hi b888,
When my bonsai collecting enthusiasm expanded my collection for the third time I built a simple but effective set of shelves using besser blocks and half thickness sleepers.
I built it 4 blocks high, stepped, and put shadecloth & irrigation overhead. The shelves are treated pine and the whole setup works well. The great advantage of this type of construction is that it can be taken apart and reconfigured easily.
A couple of pics of the setup are below.
Cheers,
Frank.

Excellent info, are you also going 1 full sized wide? i.e 390 x 190 x 190 block wide?

Yes, I have used the 390x90 wide but only for say 2 or maybe 3 maximum high. I wouldn't go any higher then that for stability.
Besser blocks are great - they can be painted black or whatever which also look smart. The Ironbark can also be stained or oiled with decking oil which looks really impressive. I haven't done this but my mate has and it looks so good, I think I will for this next bench.

Pearcy001 wrote:Height depends on the size of your dog haha

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Height [for me] depended on height of the lawn mower.

My stand has shelves at the 4, 5 and 6 block marks so all trees are at eye height for me. Stand are one block wide.

Fyi - if placed on a soft surface make sure the bottom block is on its side for the greatest possible surface area stability.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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HaHa Pearcy, I see you have the same problem I have,- never quite enough bench/shelf space for an ever increasing number of trees.

Thanks for all the info i've got the blocks and i've painted them black, best for me is 4 high on the back and 3 wide on the front 3 stacks 2.5 meters . Full sized 390x190 blocks.

What wood top are people using i was going to use treated sleepers but i wanted to stain the treated pine so doing this with sleepers doesn't look like it would get good results.

I can get 140mm x 22mm thick decking treated pine that can be stained is this too thin?, i looked for iron bark no where to be found other then pricey furniture grade in WA unless someone can suggest where i can get some?

Regards

Daniel