Concrete Bench Top Alternative

[Jeff Fountain]

Where I live ( a golf course townhouse) I have no place to mess with making a concrete bench top. I can use wood so I am
wondering if anyone has tried using a top made with a 3 or 4 layers of 5/8 or 3/4 plywood? I am seeking a no flex top.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks
Jeff F

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I don't know what it's called, but I've shot off benches that were made from that that composite wood used for decking, and it was damn near as good as concrete; doesn't warp near as bad as wood either.

 

[JMayo]

Hey Jeff, 3/4 is plenty.
It's not the top, it's the legs & frame ..stability.
I buried 4x4 in the ground and my table would still push or pull.

Took blocks cemented/glued on a footing to stop the shake..

 

[JEFFPPC]

My loading bench top is 2 layers of 3/4 plywood glued and screwed. Cross supports every 12 inches underneath. Its very solid. I have 22 ft of bench, I have angle iron under the edges where my presses and barrel vise are. If you brace well underneath I think it will work. Cover it with outdoor carpet and cases won't roll of to easy.

 

[jpx2rk]

3/4 " is. thick enough for no wobble, etc., but it will be the base or support you need to prevent the "shakes"

 

[natdscott]

Why don’t you just use 1.5” butcher block?

It’s a top and a weight all in one!

 

[Bill Norris]

My shooting bench is doubled 3/4 inch plywood with 2 x 4 runners underneath. I purchased the angled metal brackets from a member here to install the galv. or black pipe legs into. Once built I bolted it to the rear wall of my shop with a brace. Solid as a rock.

 

[spike-55]

i used plywood sealed with floor coating after gluing (can use composition stuff, but seal really good to keep the glue bonded) cut into 2 1/2 strips and laminated to form the top. use lots of glue and clamp very close and tightly - let dry 24 hours. very stable top, for the runners i have buried 6x6 treated or if you can find bulkhead lumber even better. you can make some angle brackets from channel iron and screw to top. for portable you can get the angled metal brackets from @urbanrifleman and get pipe that will screw right in for the legs. you can also get some caps with flanges glued with JB weld or welded to give to give more stability. can also make the caps adjustable to help with leveling

 

[rwj]

I don't know what it's called, but I've shot off benches that were made from that that composite wood used for decking, and it was damn near as good as concrete; doesn't warp near as bad as wood either.

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[acloco]

Where I live ( a golf course townhouse) I have no place to mess with making a concrete bench top. I can use wood so I am
wondering if anyone has tried using a top made with a 3 or 4 layers of 5/8 or 3/4 plywood? I am seeking a no flex top.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks
Jeff F

Ok....let me get this straight. You are building a SHOOTING BENCH to use at your golf course townhouse???

I don't golf, but, if I could shoot off the patio, I might consider buying a putter and a box of dimple rounds.

 

[snert]

My Hart (Bobby) table is several layers of ply glued and screwed, with pipe fittings for legs. It is very stable. And the sharp points of my original BE rest dig right in to it, makes it solid. I sand that area yearly and repaint.

 

[vonb]

Why not just use plain 5/4" deck boards?

 

[Fuj]

If it's never to be moved......Get your chain saw out and
a few railroad ties. We used 1" marine ply for the top

 

[jdh47]

As stated above; it's not the top so much as it is the bottom. Do a search for Stukey Shooting Bench. The frame is welded angle and the top just 3/4" PW but the legs are 1 1/4" pipe. It's portable and pretty heavy but very stable.

 

[Bigdad123]

Since you considered a concrete bench I assume your bench will be permanently mounted. If so, a single layer of 3/4" plywood is plenty stable as long as you have good 2x4 structure under it and sturdy legs. Here's pics of mine. Later I glued some vinyl flooring planks to the top for a smoother surface my shooting rest feet won't dig into. I used treated wood for everything, if not, wasps will build nests under it.

I built a bench at another property I have and poured a concrete top in place. I pre-built the form and rebar at my house then placed 4x6 treated legs in the ground with concrete and set the form/rebar on top. Then shoveled in the concrete that I mixed on site in a wheel barrow with water from a 5 gallon bucket. It works great but is really not any more stable than the plywood one in the picture. The advantage of concrete is it will last forever and does not require maintenance. Also no wasps

 

[Jeff Fountain]

Hey everyone, many thanks for your ideas. I was planning on using glued together cinder blocks for the
legs and then glue the top to the blocks. The club I am a member at does not have very sturdy benches where
I have to shoot my RF BR rifle so that's why my search.
Thanks
Jeff F

 

[rayporter]

dig a hole about the size of a cinder block and fill it with dry sackrete. set your cinder blocks on top of the sackrete and fill the voids with more sackrete. after a rain this will be solid and you can glue to it and it will not shake.

 

[FNSafari]

Hey Jeff, 3/4 is plenty.
It's not the top, it's the legs & frame ..stability.
I buried 4x4 in the ground and my table would still push or pull.

Took blocks cemented/glued on a footing to stop the shake..

wood legs and cross members for a wood top will eventually loosen as the wood dries out regardless of what you use to fasten them together with. Best wood top benches I have shot off were some in Thurmont, MD made of welded steel tubing and a 3/4 or 1" top, can't remember. They had some concrete benches but needed these to drag out of the way for prone shooters. They were heavy, stable and movable.