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How to - home made target stands

bravo
- 5 posts
March 19, 2011 10:31:44 PM PDT

Could someone share with me some ideas on how to build my own target stands. What's better wood or PVC pipe? Are there plans available?
jdub702
- 4 posts
March 30, 2011 7:10:48 PM PDT

YES---PVC PIPE---AND THERE ARE PLANS AVAILABLE

I found the HOMEMADE TARGET STANDS---VIA THE BOX O' TRUTH WEB SITE---AND GO TO EDUCATIONAL ZONE #24---HOMEMADE TARGET STANDS

I MADE 4 OF THESE----AND THE PLANS ARE VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND----BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME TIPS THAT I WAS ABLE TO LEARN IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING MY TARGET STANDS!!!

I WENT TO LOWES FOR THE PARTS----AND THEY WERE SO NOT BUSY THE DAY I WAS THERE----A YOUNG MAN WAS ABLE TO HELP WITH A FEW THINGS---

INSTEAD OF BUYING THE CUTTING TOOL TO CUT THE PVC PIPE----THE YOUNG MAN MADE EVERY CUT FOR ME----5, 16 INCH PIECES FOR EACH STAND---AND HE HELPED ME LOOK FOR WOOD UPRIGHTS THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO SAND/FILE DOWN----SINCE THE PLANS CALLED FOR 1X2s-----THEY WOULD HAVE NEEDED SOME SANDING TO FIT INTO THE PVC PIPE----BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID ALL THAT EXTRA WORK BY FINDING SOME PINE 8 FOOT PIECES THAT WERE PAINTED WHITE AND HE CUT THOSE FOR ME ALSO---INTO 4 FOOT PIECES TO USE FOR THE UPRIGHTS

ALL OF THESE EXTRA SERVICES WERE FREE OF CHARGE--WHICH WAS NICE---AND IT WAS THE LOWES ON EASTERN RIGHT OFF OF ST ROSE!!!

I DID BUY THE GLUE FOR GLUEING THE PVC PIPE TOGETHER---

WHEN I GOT HOME I STARTED TWISTING THE PIPE AND THE FITTINGS TOGETHER---AND THE FIT WAS PRETTY TIGHT ALREADY SO I DIDNT GLUE ANYTHING-----AT FIRST!!!

BUT A FEW DAYS LATER I DECIDED TO GLUE---SOME---OF THE PIECES TOGETHER SO THEY WOULD NOT START COMING APART WHEN I WAS USING THEM ETC----SO THIS PART IS UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL---BUT YOU CAN DECIDE WHICH PIECES YOU DECIDE TO GLUE----FOR INSTANCE YOU COULD GLUE THE FRONT U SHAPED PIECE TOGETHER AND THEN GLUE EACH SIDE PIECE FROM THE T SHAPED PIECE TO THE END CAP-----WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO ON THIS ISSUE----IT MAKES ASSEMBLY EASIER AND TRANSPORTING EASIER BUT STORAGE MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT IF YOU COMPLETELY GLUE THE WHOLE STAND TOGETHER????/

THE FINAL THING THAT I DID WAS BUY SOME EMPTY SANDBAGS AND 50 LBS OF SAND-----AND I LOOSELY FILLED 4 OF THESE BAGS WITH 1/4 OF THE SAND IN EACH BAG-----WHICH WAS ABOUT 10-12 LBS OF SAND IN EACH BAG---AND THESE ARE FOR WINDY DAYS----WHICH CAN BE A REAL DRAG IF THE STANDS KEEP BLOWING OVER!!!!!

ONE OF THE LOOSELY FILLED SANDBAGS CAN BE PLACED OVER ONE OF PVC BASE LEGS DEPENDING ON WHICH DIRECTION THE WIND IS BLOWING------

IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME----THE ENTIRE PROJECT INCLUDING THE SAND AND THE SAND BAGS AND ALL THE PARTS NEEDED------WAS ABOUT $15 PER STAND-----AND WHEN YOU SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT-----THEY LOOK WELL WORTH IT!!!!!

CANT WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO COOL SO I CAN GO TO DESERT SPORTSMANS AND USE THEM----AND BY THE WAY---THEY CONFORM TO THEIR RULES-----I EVEN MARKED THE WOOD UPRIGHTS AT THE 30 INCH MARK SO I WOULD BE SURE TO STAPLE MY TARGETS PROPERLY SO ALL OF MY SHOTS---HITS OR MISSES---WOULD CONTACT THE BERM BEHIND THE TARGET STAND AND THE TARGET

PLEASE COMMENT IF ANY OF THIS NEEDS FURTHER EXPLANATION OR IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS!!!

JDUB

This post was edited by jdub702 at March 30, 2011 7:11:23 PM PDT
jdub702
- 4 posts
March 31, 2011 7:17:28 PM PDT

jdub here
just a few comments about the target stands----

went out to desert sportsmans with ed pierce and two other future members to shoot and it was the maiden voyage for the target stands that i wrote about in a previous forum etc

first of all---they look professional---and they worked great----and since it was a windy day---as usual---the sand bag thing was vital!!!

one thing i wanted to mention---the wood uprights that i found when buying the parts at lowes---were exactly the right size to fit into the pvc tubing----WITHOUT SANDING OR PLANING---were usable but not really the correct choice-----because they were chip core and very dense which made stapling the cardboard(or even paper) targets to them---less than desirable----the staples didnt go far enough in etc

so yesterday---at home depot---i found 8 foot wood uprights---that i will cut in half---and luckily they were the right width so they will slide into the pvc tubing---no problem---and be soft enough to accept the staples and hold the target more securely!!!!

i hope this helps the process!!!!

jdub
JimBianchi
- 15 posts
September 6, 2011 11:10:22 AM PDT

I am not a fan of PVC stands. One stray hit and the pole shatters.

Wood 2in x 2in x 8ft poles are $2 each and will
take dozens of strays hits and not break, unless it is intentional. (After a time, anywhere it looks like multiple hits are going to break the pole, fill the hole with epoxy)

Here is a long, but thorough, description of a popular type of target stand seen at ranges to day, they usually rent them for $5 a day.

I have all the power and air tools to make assembly fast and cheap.

Hand tools work fine, just slow. Home improvement stores will usually make these cuts for you, including the pipe at the end.

Parts list:
1 sheet 4ft x 4ft x 1/4in plywood (No particleboard board, it can split from the hits to easily and will swell badly if it gets rained on)

4 2in x 2in x 8ft posts

Base:
4 2in x 2in x 2in "T" joints, copper or steel

1 2in x 2in x 8ft copper or steel pipe

2 1/2 in screws, 1in nails, hammer, screw driver, pencil, measuring tape, large, safe, well lit work area.

1/4in plywood gets cut in half, now it is 2ft x 4ft. (Before the cut, mark the top center and bottom center should be 23.5 or 24 inch to center, then use the tape measure to draw a straight line between the marks and cut using the line as your guide. Measure twice, cut once!!)

Cut the bottom 12inches off, making it 2ftx3ft. That's your backer. Measure twice, cut once.

Cut all four of the 8ft posts down to 6ft.

Cut those four 24in long scraps to 21 inches, discard the small 3in scraps.

Lay two 6ft pieces out side-by-side. Take two 21in pieces and lay them horizontal at the top and three feet down toward the middle. Lay them end to side, flat and flush. Long pole should be the top, cross poles on the inside.

Use your 2ftx3ft backer to see that the 2x2s are a good frame for the backer. Mark the long poles with the correct position of the middle 2x2 If everything is close to straight, you will have a frame that can be screwed together.

Remove the backer for a minute, use one 2 1/2 inch screw on each corner and screw the four pieces together, top corners first. Repeat this three feet down with the other 2x2x21, using your previous mark as your reference. You can also lay the backer back on top to make sure it all lines up before you screw it together.

Put the backer on the frame and use small one inch nails to secure it evenly all around the edge, about nail every three inches.

Flip it over. Using your scrap 1/4in plywood, cut some 12inch squares. Cut those squares into equal triangles. Nail those triangles to the corners of the flipped over target stand as joint reinforcements. A nail every inch.

You now have a target stand that will take thousands of hits, is mostly weatherproof and could be customized for easy transport to fit any truck or car backseat, while making it.

The "feet":

Cut the 8ft pipe into four two foot pieces. Put the "T" between two pipes and force fit with a hammer. If it is loose, wrap one end with tape and force it on. Repeat.

The top of the "T" will slide onto the bottom of the wooden stand. Sometimes you may have to round the end off with a knife, just whittle it down until it is a tight fit.

Adjust the feet and target stand should be free standing. I use rocks found in the desert on top of the feet to keep it up in the wind.

I can make four backers with one 4x4x8 sheet of plywood for about $35 and in less than an hours time.

Feet cost about $10 per set, unless you use 2" PVC. Not durable, but cheap.

These stands may not need feet if you go to a local outdoor range. Most have concrete groves in the ground made for the 2x2 pole.
EdPierce
- 19 posts
September 6, 2011 12:41:00 PM PDT

Jim, very well written and detailed description of what appears to be very good quality target stands. Thanks.