Bush Hog Vs. Range Bench

[BrokenolMarine]

Several years ago, while picking up bags of feed at tractor supply we saw a pretty little bench sitting out side of Tractor Supply marked "Clearance" but no sale price marked. Retail was over $300. Tina went in and asked the manager what was the least they could take for the bench. She came out and looked at it, scanned the tag into her little computer, and said if we bought it with the load of feed, she'd let us take it home for her cost. We loaded it on the truck. We had it in the side yard for a while, watching the calves play and romp around the paddock, but it didn't get much use. Eventually I moved it to the Range and it gave me a place to sit.

When Tina bush hogs the fence lines, she always runs down the range and then down the right side of the range so I can pick up the brass easier. She misjudged the location of the bench on one of her turns and gave it a slap with the bush hog. If you have ever used one, you know they SWING behind the tractor they don't track behind it. That slap wasn't kind to my bench.

She told me about the "Injury" and I drove down with the UTV and picked up the bench and hauled it back up so I could see about a repair. Miss T was pretty sure the leg would snap when I tried to straighten it.

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Not only was the leg bent pretty badly, but the metal was cracked and buckled.

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[BrokenolMarine]

I took the leg off the end of the bench. This was going to be interesting. If I broke the leg, my plan was to insert a couple lengths of rebar coated in JB Weld into the leg, with about 4" extending up into the other section and letting that set, then JB Welding the seam. But, slow and steady I might bend 'er back without breaking.

First, I put it on the flat spot on the anvil and with a 3 pound mallet, lightly (whacking the crap out of it) tapping it, I drove the bulges out of the rectangular tubing. I squared it back up as best I could.

Next, I clamped it into the end vise on my woodworking bench. I grabbed the leg and started to pull. That is one tough leg. It didn't move a millimeter. I put some weight (245 pounds) behind it. Ah... nope. There is hope here. I looked in my Miscellaneous tools drawer. Oh yeah, there it is. A huge pipe wrench Tina picked up at a yard sale for $2. Two feet long. Adjusted that to fit the bottom of the leg for maximum leverage and pulled. My eyes bugged out and .... Nope.

Geez. I walked back to the toolboxes. Where is it? Oh yeah, there it is. I three foot piece of 1-1/2 inch hollow square tubing. Slid that over the handle of the pipe wrench, locked the pipe wrench over the end of the leg and slowly applied pressure. THERE she is... slowly but surely, easy does it. Moved that leg back into lateral alignment. Check it... Tweek a bit. Check it, Tweek a bit.

Okay, change the position of the pipe wrench and pull into position in the other direction, the leg had been pulled and twisted out of position in three planes. I got er done. Now for the last step. Mixed up JB Weld and forced it inside the Cracks, More, More, then built up on the outside a bit, forming a bead. I can't weld in the true sense, but I can JB Weld.

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I came out the next morning and put the leg back on the bench. It still needed slight adjustments. With the bench sitting on the floor, I could adjust the damaged leg until all four legs sat flat.

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I took the bench outside in the sun and sat it in the grass. She looks good again. I'll take it back down to the range when I go down to shoot again.

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[Mags]

Several years ago, while picking up bags of feed at tractor supply we saw a pretty little bench sitting out side of Tractor Supply marked "Clearance" but no sale price marked. Retail was over $300. Tina went in and asked the manager what was the least they could take for the bench. She came out and looked at it, scanned the tag into her little computer, and said if we bought it with the load of feed, she'd let us take it home for her cost. We loaded it on the truck. We had it in the side yard for a while, watching the calves play and romp around the paddock, but it didn't get much use. Eventually I moved it to the Range and it gave me a place to sit.

When Tina bush hogs the fence lines, she always runs down the range and then down the right side of the range so I can pick up the brass easier. She misjudged the location of the bench on one of her turns and gave it a slap with the bush hog. If you have ever used one, you know they SWING behind the tractor they don't track behind it. That slap wasn't kind to my bench.

She told me about the "Injury" and I drove down with the UTV and picked up the bench and hauled it back up so I could see about a repair. Miss T was pretty sure the leg would snap when I tried to straighten it.

Not only was the leg bent pretty badly, but the metal was cracked and buckled.

You might be able to carefully straighten it enough to weld or bolt a t-bracket across the joint and a side plate on the outside of the leg.

[BrokenolMarine]

That could work, and Tina suggested an L bracket on the inside if we need it. I could shape it on the horn of the anvil. So far though, it looks like it is going to hold. It feels very solid. I looked for a maker's mark, a logo, whatever so I could see about ordering a new leg if need be, I really like the bench. Couldn't find a mark anywhere on the thing, which I find odd.

The other option was to remake both legs from OAK, using the one good leg as a template. I would stain them, and then re-use the bench seat and back. I need the bench, or A bench on the range for breaks between strings. I like THIS one.

[Mags]

... I looked for a maker's mark, a logo, whatever so I could see about ordering a new leg if need be, I really like the bench. Couldn't find a mark anywhere on the thing, which I find odd. ...

Hopefully it'll hold. You might try Google Image search from your phone to see if it comes up with maker information.

[BrokenolMarine]

Thanks, will give er a try.

[Sir Henry]

Bummer. It’s a nice looking bench.

[Hatchdog]

Nice job on the repair Mr. Fixit. Uh I mean BOM.

[fortyshooter]

Looks like a good repair BOM! My neighbor up the street has these rocker chairs that rock by flexing the frame and they often crack and break so he brings them to me to be welded up.