🖼️
The project:
My Bonsai collection had become too big for the old wire stand it was on. I was unable to find the right solution and none of the purpose-built stands I could find suited our needs, so I came up with this design. It took about a month to complete and is now a feature in our backyard and my wife nicknamed it ‘The Grandstand’.
- Materials:
- Structual treated pine 30mm x 70mm H3
- Treated pine decking 90mm H3
- 10 x 6m lengths (These lengths were cut into 2m lengths by the Bunnings team for ease of transport and installation)
- Treated pine screws 8-10 x 60mm
- Coolaroo shade cloth
- Timber fasteners for the shade cloth
- Taubman's All Weather exterior paint
- Cabot's Aquadeck Stain
- Tools:
Handsaw, hammer, drill, impact driver (borrowed), roofing square (borrowed), Quick-grip clamps, tape, pencil, small square, knife, paint brush, counter sink drill bit set and a scrap piece of wood for screw hole template.
- Step 1:
I drew up a rough plan to start. Once I had this, I could work out what size would fit in the space we had. The size of the shelves was important so consideration was given to them to maximize the area. I was able to obtain the materials in sizes that almost completely eliminated any waste.
The size of the stand is 2m long, 1.8m deep and 1.5m to the lowest part of the roof which grades up to 1.8m. The width of the steps is 550mm and the rise is 450mm.
The frame was kept at 1.8m wide and the decking boards were cut at 2m so they overhung the frame by 100mm each side. This made for a better finish of the shelves.
- Step 2:
I began construction of the frame in my garage as it was the flattest and most level surface on our property. I completed the base of the frame there then moved it to an undercover area adjacent to the stand's final position. As I was constructing the stand by myself the Quick-grip clamps came in very handy, they became my second set of hands. Having a drill and impact driver made putting the frame together easy ie. not having to change drill bits and screw driver bits. I also used a counter sink drill bit to make the screw head finish quite neat.
- Step 3:
Once the frame was 90% complete and still manageable by one person it was painted with Taubman's All Weather exterior paint. Being able at this stage to tip the frame over and paint underneath it as well as get to all the difficult spots.
- Step 4:
Pavers were placed in the levelled out garden bed of the frames final location. With most of the painting complete the frame was placed on the pavers. It was now time for the decking.
The first board was placed, ridges down, on the first step the clamps, counter sink drill, and scrap piece of timber for screw template were used at this point. The first board was screwed off completely then a decking board was used as a spacer between the next board. The boards were installed one after the other from the bottom to the top.
With all the decking boards in place, the frame for the shade cloth was installed and painted. The paint was given time to dry before the shade cloth was installed using Coolaroo Timber Fasteners.
Last but not least was staining the decking boards with Cabots Aquadeck Stain.
