Portable Benches and Rests, Testing the Waters

[Appleseed]

If ok, I would like to test the water with this post. If I can find there is any demand, we can produce both. Of course we need to make a few bucks too. I contacted Jim Baker to ask his permission to post.

Here are two we are working with: a portable shooting rest/seat, stainless steel, adjustable minimalist (used by area varmit hunters); and one that is a shooting table that is portable/packable. There are some of my post here in archive but that table is the prototype and is large top and using black square tube schedule 40 steel. The new/improved one would be similar but smaller top and use aluminum tubing for adjustable legs and angle aluminum top frame.

Because we have to buy metal in 20-24ft lengths, I can't afford to make 20 and then have them sitting in the barn. There are other sites, but this is my main one, and our members are polite and helpful.

There are plenty of diy'rs, but these will be truly portable and easy to setup and preform and adjustable. Metal prices are fluid, but the nearest similar bench is priced well above what we think we can manufacture for. Also I’m going to have to lawyer up to get product liability advise.

It's possible the frames and leg assemblies could be sold and end users cut their own table tops as a savings.

Floating an idea.

[Shooter0302]

It's possible the frames and leg assemblies could be sold and end users cut their own table tops as a savings.

A few picture of a finished product would be helpful, noting that the dimensions are "fixable" for the DIY , also pictures of the legs and the way you have set up
to attach the legs to the top.

[Appleseed]

Haven't found those pictures here. The bench is far superior to most all the stuff for sale at $200. The metal will cost more, but it will be a stable, and movable.

[Stumpkiller]

I'd say" probably". I have two portable benches. One is a the Caldwell Stable Table with seat and is a bit heavy (30 lbs but so awkward to set up it seems heavier) but nice to shoot from once set-up. The other is a no-longer-available Hyskore Portable that has three feet based on a German MG-42 heavy machine-gun tripod and is pretty sweet at 20 lbs. It uses framed steel mesh instead of a solid top. I tend to use that more than the Caldwell because it is simple (I carry my "stuff" in a 5 gallon pail and then flip it to be the seat while shooting). It also tolerates being left outdoors for extended periods (like a month). I believe it was $75 but $30 shipping.

If you can make a sturdy frame that uses 1/8th of a sheet (2 ft x 4 ft of a 4' x 8' x 3/4" plywood sheet - Lowes will cut and sell you that if you ask) it might be something folks would go for. I'd suggest using carriage bolts with wing nuts underneath to hold the top to the legs.

[Appleseed]

The Hyscore is/was the best portable available, the reason they don't offer it anymore is probably due to the metal cost more than they charged for a finished product, not counting fabrication. I shipped some machine parts last week by USPS, they have been better than the others. However, they too are now using overall dimensions to price shipping.

The bench I'm using now is as you describe, there is a better way to build it without the bolts, and more sturdy. Think we will fabricate one for testing and then consider a bulk order of aluminum tubing. We considered including a top pattern to be diy by end-users. That could be the end-user's choice, small/medium/large; saving shipping costs.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[yobuck]

I’m at our camp in PA as i type this. I will try to get pics of my bench used for hunting, as well as several different tripod systems we use.
The type of rest used is actually as important as the bench for hunting long range and arguably even more important.
Losing sight of an animal due to recoil can spell disaster, and can easily happen in wooded terrain where distance is involved.
Heavy wall aluminum electrical conduit bought from electrical supply houses in 10’ lengths is as good as it gets for bench legs.
My bench is about 40 years old at this point, but i have replaced the plywood top.
The whole thing weighs less than 25# and could be lighter with 3 legs instead of 4.
My original bench has 3 legs but was made with steel pipe, so that one just stays at the camp.
Legs need to be adjustable for hunting. I designed my most recent tripod so that the bench top rotates 360 deg.
For hunting, standing while shooting has a definite advantage for both bench and tripod.