On a recent visit to a club member's home (Stan Serbousek) I noticed his nice bonsai benches. If you have been dissatisfied with your benches to-date (too ugly; too low; etc.) I hope you find this description of the benches of some use. I recently built 5 of them and I think they are just great. Each measures 8' long, 19" wide and 32" tall. If you want yours wider, taller or longer, adjust the materials below to accommodate your desires.

I have been getting by with 1,, x 6" x 8' cedar planks on decorative concrete blocks for the last 10 years. Not only are they too low to really bring the trees closer to eye level, they are also rather pathetic in appearance. (My wife, an artist, with an aesthetic eye reminded me of this with some diplomatic regularity.)

Here are the materials you will need for each 8' bench. I have chosen these materials because I felt they would not only look good, but also hold up well.

7 - tight-knot untreated cedar 2 x 4's (eye-ball them to make sure they are straight)
1 - 2 x 2 x 8' untreated cedar (cut in 16" lengths)
1 - 4 x 4 x 12' treated cedar or fir (cut in 30" lengths)
3" or 3 1/2" Deckmate screws
Power drill
Saw

(I have chosen untreated wood for all parts except the legs (4 x 4's) as they are the only part of the bench that will touch the ground.)

Cost: approximately $67 (including tax) for materials at Home Depot.

Procedure:
Pick your 4 best looking 2 x 4's and place them best side down on a work bench. Measure each carefully to make sure they are exactly the same length. (This will be important when it comes time to put the caps on the ends). If they are not exactly the same length, then cut them so.

Cut your 2 x 2's into 4 - 16" lengths

Cut your 4 x 4's to make legs the height you desire your benches to be. I cut mine 30" long.

Lay 4 - 2 x 4's with their best side down on a waist high work surface. Arrange them so that when you lay the 16" 2 x 2 across them, they are equidistant and the 2 x 2 is flush with each side. Measure in 12" from the end of each 2 x 4, make a mark, and screw the 2 x 2 to the 2 x 4's with 4 screws (one for each 2 x 4).

Do the same on the other end of the 4-2 x 4's

Place two 30" 4 x 4's on-end, flush with the sides of the 2 x 4's and on the inside of the 2 x 2's
you just attached to the 2 x 4's. (see photo) Do the same on the other end. Place a second 2 x
2 on the inside of the 4 x 4's so that the 2 x 2's are like book-ends on either side of each 4 x 4
leg. Holding the 2 x 2 secure attach each with 4 screws, just as you did with the first 2 x 2.

With the 4 x 4's sitting in-place, put two screws through the 2 x 2's horizontally into each leg. You should have 4 screws (two on each side) holding the legs in place.

Next, take a 2 x 4 and lay it along-side both sides of the bench so that the 3 12" side of the 2 x 4 is next to the structure you just built. Make sure it is exactly the same length as the bench you are going to attach it to. Cut off any excess if it is not.

Make sure it is flush with what will be the top of the bench and attach it to the bench as follows. First put one screw into each end of the 2 x 4. Next, put in 3 screws through the 2 x 4 into each leg. Add 3 additional screws equidistant in the 6' between the legs on each side. When done you will have 7 screws total into each leg.

Turn the bench around and do the same on the other side.

Now measure the ends of the bench and cut a 2 x 4 to cap each end. This is why it was critical to make sure all the 2 x 4's were exactly the same length. Attach your caps with 3 or 4 screws.

Measure 12" down from the bottom of each leg on the outside, and make a mark. Measure across the two legs and cut a 2 x 4 to fit exactly. Attach these braces on each set of legs with a few screws, and you are done.