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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: kdsberman on April 16, 2020, 12:25:46 PM

Title: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: kdsberman on April 16, 2020, 12:25:46 PM
Hey guys, wondering if anyone would mind posting a picture of a homemade pattern board/stand they built that works for them.  The one I've been using, which is store bought, has started to become more of a pain than anything and am thinking of just building something.

I appreciate it, thanks guys.


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Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Timmer on April 16, 2020, 04:00:21 PM
I have some experience playing around with stands that would hold a 36" role of plotter paper at the top.  I really love that I can tear the used portion and pull down to unroll a fresh section.  After having made 2 conceptual stands out of PVC I turned to wood for the final product.  I haven't taken it out this year but will this weekend and will try to take some pictures. 

Off the top of my head, it's probably 40" wide (fits 36" plotter paper) by 60" high (to get it off the ground).  I used treated decking material as it was relatively cheap and I didn't have to worry about sanding it.  About a foot up I have a piece of wood horizontally for stability, and it's also where I fasten the bottom of the paper using spring clamps. I built short arms off the back with a dowel across and pins to hold the paper roll.  You pull the paper up over the front and use spring clamps to hold it in place at the top.  With it clamped at the top and bottom it's all nice and taut.  Then I made perpendicular legs that are also held with pins.  When not in use I move the legs  up vertically on each side and attache them with the pins so they are out of the way.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Bowguy on April 16, 2020, 04:19:59 PM
Never even heard of a pattern board. Don't complicate things. Get an old piece of ply. Staple paper to that n each time you shoot replace the paper. A large box works well too.
Yes it'll get beat up but they're both available free. Go to a construction site and get the ply. It won't fall apart they quickly btw. Even if you blow relatively quickly in the center the edge stays hard.
The box the same thing and they're free standing. The ply I rest against a tree, log or simply screw 2- 1x2s into it to use for ground spikes.
It was harder to write these ideas than do either of the above
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: captpete on April 16, 2020, 04:34:02 PM
I take 2 electric fence posts and tap them into the ground 3'-4' apart. I then zip-tie a 4'X4' piece of cardboard to the fence posts. I use thumbtacks to hold a piece of red painters to the cardboard. Then I draw on a dot for a aiming point. Change the paper after each shot or what ever suits your needs. One piece of cardboard will last for MANY shots.

You can get the fence posts at the local Farm & Fleet store(maybe even Menards). The cardboard you can get from most any appliance store. I get it from the local grocery store. It comes on shipping pallets to protect certain products from getting torn open/damaged by the wood pallet. Th red painter paper can be bought at most any lumber yard. A roll will last a long time.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Timmer on April 16, 2020, 04:43:57 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on April 16, 2020, 04:19:59 PM
Never even heard of a pattern board. Don't complicate things. Get an old piece of ply. Staple paper to that n each time you shoot replace the paper. A large box works well too.

But that wouldn't have given me another project and excuse to be out in the shed!  Actually, I had a dedicated piece of plywood for a couple of years but it got so beat up you couldn't staple small targets to it.  That gave me the idea to build something.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Bowguy on April 17, 2020, 02:21:11 AM
Whatever you build will only be temporary. Why complicate your life just to complicate it?
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Tom007 on April 17, 2020, 06:04:28 AM
I use a realtor sign metal fame. The ones that are steel, two legs that stick in ground. I cut cardboard that slides in frame grove, works anywhere, and is stable. Best set up I found. Will post pick later after daylight.....
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: lunghit on April 17, 2020, 07:58:26 AM
I use a wood pallet and staple the paper to it. Just toss it when done and grab another next year to pattern again if needed.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Turkeyman on April 17, 2020, 08:11:15 AM
Agree with all above...don't overcomplicate it. My wife has a lifetime supply of Christmas wrapping paper she gets for almost nothing post-Christmas. Guess where my patterning paper comes from!
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Dtrkyman on April 18, 2020, 09:36:01 AM
x2 on the Realtor metal frame, last one I got was a politicians sign, that was fun to shoot up!!! 
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Tom007 on April 18, 2020, 09:54:44 AM
Pic as promised, this real estate frame is simple, works great.....thx.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: strum on April 18, 2020, 10:04:18 AM
Not to hijack this thread but is it possible to catch shot and reuse it?
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: longbeards on April 18, 2020, 10:36:16 AM
 :popcorn:
I use a 25 inch or so roll of brown paper I got years ago,,,from a farmer friend. I have a 10 inch Plexiglas circle I trace on the rough center of the paper and put a orange sticker in the center. Takes about 20 seconds to make a target, then staple it to the back stop at 40 yards from my bench,,,shoot off a lead sled!
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: sswv on April 18, 2020, 10:43:17 AM
I'm with Tom007.  those frames work great and easy to come by.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: idgobble on April 18, 2020, 11:22:46 AM
I use a cardboard box I get at the liquor store. Crown Royal boxes work best.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Tom007 on April 18, 2020, 12:12:54 PM
Great thread, great info....
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: longbeards on May 23, 2020, 10:09:52 AM
I have a permanent one I use. Two 4x4 about 5 ft long set in the ground about 18 inches and half a bag of concrete in each hole. Spanning them about 20 inches apart I have two 1x6 decking boards top and and down about 20 inches. I use a large roll of brown paper to make my target, I just rough cut it at about 25 inches and use a plexie glass circle I bought several years ago on this forum as my target, I circle it with a SHARPIE and it has exact center hole to mark center of circle, I then put a Florescent Sticker on that mark,,,outstanding aiming point...then it can be stapled to decking boards...
Takes about 30 seconds to make and it is pretty much a free target.
I believe that when judging chokes/gun combination this gives me a consistent comparison..
Only maintaince is replacing the decking boards about every 5 years...I shoot a lot and so do my friends who use it.
One last hot tip it is sure nice to leave my Lead Sled on it year ground and not have to lug it around!!

Just My2 Cents
Longbeards   
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: mikejd on May 23, 2020, 10:23:37 AM
Quote from: Tom007 on April 17, 2020, 06:04:28 AM
I use a realtor sign metal fame. The ones that are steel, two legs that stick in ground. I cut cardboard that slides in frame grove, works anywhere, and is stable. Best set up I found. Will post pick later after daylight.....

This works great for me as well.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Greg Massey on May 23, 2020, 10:34:37 AM
I just nail some 2 x 4's together making a frame and then staple a big piece of cardboard to the frame for my targets to staple. I just keep it simple and lite-weight for moving it didn't distances ...I have also used the metal wire realtor signs.. 
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Old Timer on May 23, 2020, 03:23:09 PM
2 small buckets filled with concrete and conduit about 6-12 inchs high. Works great with yard signs or cardboard. Easy peasy! I would post a pic but can`t seem to do it off my phone. Funny thing is other forums I don`t seem to have the same problem. But i`ll get it figured out sometime. Send me a pm with cell# and I will send you pic. Stay safe
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: Parrot Head on May 25, 2020, 01:00:02 PM
Old election sign for me.   You can get them for free when elections are done.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: ShortMagFan on May 25, 2020, 10:06:30 PM
Quote from: Tom007 on April 17, 2020, 06:04:28 AM
I use a realtor sign metal fame. The ones that are steel, two legs that stick in ground. I cut cardboard that slides in frame grove, works anywhere, and is stable. Best set up I found. Will post pick later after daylight.....

I do this as well for distances other than 30 and 40.

At 30 and 40 I've got plywood mounted on thin metal fence posts. I staple a big piece of cardboard, use a paper plate to draw a 10" circle, put a dot in the middle and fire away. Whenever my wife or kids buy something big I cut up the box into large pieces to use as targets and store them in my garage. Have plenty and have never run low.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: zeke632 on May 25, 2020, 10:54:38 PM
I use an old real estate frame and screw scrap plywood to it. Then staple packing paper to it for the target.  I live on a hillside of rocks so I have PVC pipe in the ground with concrete that the legs of the sign slide into. PVC pipes are at 30, 40, & 50 yards from the bench.
The plywood gets replaced when it gets to flimsy to staple paper to. 
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: zeke632 on May 25, 2020, 11:05:30 PM
I use an old real estate frame and screw scrap plywood to it. Then staple packing paper to it for the target.  I live on a hillside of rocks so I have PVC pipe in the ground with concrete that the legs of the sign slide into. PVC pipes are at 30, 40, & 50 yards from the bench.
The plywood gets replaced when it gets to flimsy to staple paper to. 
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: g8rvet on May 26, 2020, 01:07:28 PM
I just slap some 2x4 together with a base (longer in the back to take the shock of the pattern).  Use whatever scrap thin 1x or thin plywood strips to put the paper on.  Good for 2-3 seasons and everyone in my family comes over and shoots them at my house.  So it sees quite a few rounds before falling apart.

No metal allowed of any kind at my house for shotgun patterning.  I don't think that is safe.  My local range will not even allow staples - tape only.  They use the same 2x frames.
Title: Re: Homemade pattern board ideas?
Post by: rgref522 on June 07, 2020, 04:04:54 PM
i agree don't complicate it. a 3x3 sheet of cheap plywood with anything to hold it up is all you need.  use thee extra money to buy some nice shells or a good choke

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