I am home sick from work today, and it is driving me crazy! I hate being sick, and i feel like there is to much work to be done before the crop comes down in two weeks. Most of you have seen or followed my progress on my very own shoot room/range. Most of you also know i am ready to start building my benches. My first thought was to build one solid 2 gun bench across the front of my shoot room. I am now thinking it would be less labor intensive just to build 2 separate, standard type benches. I have an idea that i wanted to run by you fellas, and please let me know what you think. Here goes-
What i am thinking about doing is, to glue 2 courses of block, 4 block high, side by side across the front of the bench, for the front support. I am not going to offset these 8 blocks, that way i can pour the webbing full of concrete at the same time i pour the tops. I will use 4 half blocks for the back leg, or support and also fill the webbing with concrete.'' will there be any issues filling cinder blocks with concrete?" I will use liquid nails " heavy duty" to glue the blocks together before filling them. The bench top,and block legs will be monolithic. I will build the tops on a 4'x4' sheet of plywood in the shape i so desire, and then rest the top form on top of the glued in place cinder blocks. I will then cut the bottom of the plywood out were the block legs are and lower the top form down onto the blocks around 1 inch. I will then support the heck out of the top with 2x4 legs from below, to take the weight of the table while pouring. This will make a little key way sorta, for the top to sit down onto the block, thus allowing the top and the blocks to be filled with concrete. I can also nail a 2x4 nailer across the front wall to help support the weight of the top until it cures and then i can remove it. I will do whatever it takes to support the top while pouring them. Shouldn't be to bad? I will use a 1by for the front form, for the table top so i can have it as close to the window as possible without actually touching the wall itself. If i do this properly all the wood should strip off the sides and drop straight down. I will pull the sides of the bench tops half way through curing so i can rub a nice smooth finish by hand with a little worn out mag float i have. A couple things i question, is the mix i should use? I would normally use a 1" river gravel 6 bag mix but maybe i should use a pea gravel mix so that the concrete flows nicely through the webbing on the block?? Not sure what i will do there? I have a vibrator but it is made for concrete basement walls. That thing may shake the heck out of things?? I will juke the block best i can with a 1 by. Maybe that will be best! I forgot to add that i will also glue the cinder blocks to the concrete floor with liquid nails. I haven't ever used liquid nails, but what reading i can find on this product, it sounds like its a good adhesive. I sure hope so. The home depot has some other adhesive for outside decorative block, and i cant help but wonder if that is a better product? I hope to feel well enough tomorrow to start on these benches. If you fellas have anything to add please feel free to. I will post pics as i go. thanks lee
What i am thinking about doing is, to glue 2 courses of block, 4 block high, side by side across the front of the bench, for the front support. I am not going to offset these 8 blocks, that way i can pour the webbing full of concrete at the same time i pour the tops. I will use 4 half blocks for the back leg, or support and also fill the webbing with concrete.'' will there be any issues filling cinder blocks with concrete?" I will use liquid nails " heavy duty" to glue the blocks together before filling them. The bench top,and block legs will be monolithic. I will build the tops on a 4'x4' sheet of plywood in the shape i so desire, and then rest the top form on top of the glued in place cinder blocks. I will then cut the bottom of the plywood out were the block legs are and lower the top form down onto the blocks around 1 inch. I will then support the heck out of the top with 2x4 legs from below, to take the weight of the table while pouring. This will make a little key way sorta, for the top to sit down onto the block, thus allowing the top and the blocks to be filled with concrete. I can also nail a 2x4 nailer across the front wall to help support the weight of the top until it cures and then i can remove it. I will do whatever it takes to support the top while pouring them. Shouldn't be to bad? I will use a 1by for the front form, for the table top so i can have it as close to the window as possible without actually touching the wall itself. If i do this properly all the wood should strip off the sides and drop straight down. I will pull the sides of the bench tops half way through curing so i can rub a nice smooth finish by hand with a little worn out mag float i have. A couple things i question, is the mix i should use? I would normally use a 1" river gravel 6 bag mix but maybe i should use a pea gravel mix so that the concrete flows nicely through the webbing on the block?? Not sure what i will do there? I have a vibrator but it is made for concrete basement walls. That thing may shake the heck out of things?? I will juke the block best i can with a 1 by. Maybe that will be best! I forgot to add that i will also glue the cinder blocks to the concrete floor with liquid nails. I haven't ever used liquid nails, but what reading i can find on this product, it sounds like its a good adhesive. I sure hope so. The home depot has some other adhesive for outside decorative block, and i cant help but wonder if that is a better product? I hope to feel well enough tomorrow to start on these benches. If you fellas have anything to add please feel free to. I will post pics as i go. thanks lee
