Jump to content

Garden Bench


Recommended Posts

I made this bench several years ago based on a The Woodwhisper’s online purchase projects.

IMG_4262.thumb.jpeg.6ab4ff17cdf0de3987d36cea316cfb4a.jpegIMG_4263.thumb.jpeg.1bd4490ab8785c7b473bbce1cb89bccb.jpeg
 

I donated it to my sister-in-laws church to be raffled off for a fundraiser. A family friend who has a better memory than me, remembered it and asked if I would build her one for her church’s fall bizarre. Not one to turn down a pretty lady, I agreed. The original was built from cypress and has held up well, according to the lady that purchased it. 
I had bought 16 bf of 4/4 cypress earlier this year for a bird house that I never got around to, and purchased an additional 31 bf of 8/4 today for the legs and thicker parts. After handing my hw dealer my credit card, I realized that I would probably be way ahead of the game had I just donated that amount to her church. Oh well, this will keep me off the streets and out of trouble! 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The feet were an afterthought. As I remember, Marc warned us that he was a little short and that we may need to make adjustments in the height. I didn’t pay heed and built according to his plans. Ended up adding an inch or so of walnut as a contrast and dowled the pieces with 1/4”s/s rods with epoxy. May do the same with this time with some teak.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

After a couple of medical setbacks (Mohs procedure on my scalp and Saturday discovering my wife and I both have Covid), I figured I couldn’t possibly feel worse in the shop as I did sitting in front of the tv. As I’m pretty sure the dermatologist said not to lift anything heavier than 30# (or was it 5#?) I was able to break down the 8/4 stock for the legs, arm rests and rails to approx width and lengths. The armrest and legs final dimension will be 1 3/4” and the rails and back rest will be 1 1/4” so I milled them down to about 1/4” over and will let them rest a day.

IMG_6707.thumb.jpeg.5ccb68d06df9d2715302222383e0b4a1.jpeg
I wasn’t planning on making templates but I think I will for the legs and arm rests. I think it will make final shaping a little easier. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It has been a pretty good weekend. Our two weeks of rain following a hurricane has finally come to an end. And on top of that, my wife and I tested negative twice and both of us are feeling half way human again. This allowed me to get some shop time in. All parts are milled to the required thickness with the exception of the back slats. I also got the legs cut to final and shaped. Using my mortiser, I cut the required 16 mortises. If they aren’t in the right spots, this will be one wonky looking bench!😁

IMG_6721.thumb.jpeg.ac638a35d478fc6d5c1c1a8b6ef98b5f.jpegIMG_6720.thumb.jpeg.e95b82268ada4279093a811f571f5f72.jpeg

Now to start cutting the tenons to fit these holes. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

If I were a real journalist, I would have lost my job by now! 
Each leg assy gets three pieces connecting the front leg to the back. An arm rest, seat support and a lower rail. To connect the front leg to the arm rest, I cut a tenon on the top of the leg on the ts. Since it will be centered it was easily done. I did have to use a spacer on two of the cuts to allow for the offset in the leg.

IMG_6731.thumb.jpeg.aea41de535c4a0369638aa4448ca112d.jpeg

Next, I cut the seat rest and lower rail to length and cut the tenons for these. I then cut the curve in the seat rest and cleaned them up.

IMG_6746.thumb.jpeg.0af52f454b5b5ec344d3a66797e5c99e.jpeg

A couple of these pieces intersect the legs at the same height, 90* from each other.

IMG_6745.thumb.jpeg.a694be5bee931a7b00d7804febe2d5ac.jpeg

To accommodate the adjoining tenons, I chose to miter these ends. 
IMG_6747.thumb.jpeg.3a363efe983aaeeb286074488e23e7ef.jpeg

Next, I addressed the arm rest. There was a paper template with the plans and I printed it and glued it to a piece of 1/4” mdf and rough cut it on the band saw. I then traced it onto the side of the arm rest blank. As there are curves on both the top and bottom of the arm rest, I chose not to use it with the router, going against the grain in several places. Instead, I cut them out on the band saw and finesse them to final shape using a rasp and cabinet scraper.

IMG_6748.thumb.jpeg.5c7b728bdc7139b2b9c639d448d421bb.jpeg

With that done, we have a final dry fit leg assembly.

IMG_6751.thumb.jpeg.22a3039e20dc7f5c37b7554c50eeb8ae.jpeg

Times two.

IMG_6752.thumb.jpeg.e937ae8ec45427824b936e69221b4dba.jpeg

Next up will be working on the back.

The next four pics got into here by mistake and not sure how to delete them.😳

 

 

 

 

IMG_6749.jpeg

IMG_6750.jpeg

IMG_6736.jpeg

IMG_6737.jpeg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Coop said:

If I were a real journalist, I would have lost my job by now! 

Fortunately, the standards aren't too high 😂

Really looking good Coop!  You may have mentioned it earlier but, I probably missed it.  What's the finish of choice going to be?  Also, will be using epoxy or glue for this one?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was going to throw the finish question out there for ideas as I haven’t decided yet. Due to the complexity of the bench back, I will use epoxy for a little extra drying time. For the others, probably Titebond III. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

About the finish. I’ve used Cabot Australian Timber Oil on several cypress Adirondack chairs and a cedar gate and it gives an orangish finish. The chairs and gate have been exposed to the elements for about 8 years and have held up well with a second application to both after about 4 years. I don’t remember what I used on the first bench. Any recommendations for a finish without the discoloration? Also, due to limited space, I’d rather not prefinish the parts. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Coop said:

About the finish. I’ve used Cabot Australian Timber Oil on several cypress Adirondack chairs and a cedar gate and it gives an orangish finish. The chairs and gate have been exposed to the elements for about 8 years and have held up well with a second application to both after about 4 years. I don’t remember what I used on the first bench. Any recommendations for a finish without the discoloration? Also, due to limited space, I’d rather not prefinish the parts. 

It's a bit of a dual edged sword..  Regardless of color, things that are easy to repair and refinish require more frequent applications.  Things that have to be refinished or maintained less frequently, require more work.

I like Epiphanes marine varnish for outdoor stuff.  It's thick and will require a lot of work at refinish time but, holds up well.  As for color, it does tend to darken things a bit but, doesn't tend to yellow the wood.  I also think the Woodwhisperer had good success with CPES so, might be worth a look.

Whatever you choose, test on some scrap first and see if you like the look of the finish.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not counting the seat slats, there are 4 pieces that connect the two end sections. The upper backrest, lower back rest and front and back rails. The lower back rest and the back rail are joined at a 9* cut to make one piece. The angle will allow both to align to the slope of the back. Angle shown by the pencil mark.

IMG_6764.thumb.jpeg.97d85f0d6e7ba0dcf7a943be667ef6c5.jpeg
 

Using a draw bow, I shaped the upper back rest, cut the tenon and fine tuned it.

IMG_6767.thumb.jpeg.05253f520a73b9f1f2904da541984e9a.jpeg

The original plans call for the bottom of the upper back rest to match the curvature of the top but since I will be using the Domino, I selected to make it horizontal. 
IMG_6767.thumb.jpeg.05253f520a73b9f1f2904da541984e9a.jpeg

Next, to layout the locations of the back slats.

IMG_6769.thumb.jpeg.c3eecc631db2d3319156034eec4ac532.jpeg

The 14 back slats were milled to size and mortises cut in the ends to receive the tenons. The mortises are close to center but not exact so I marked the show side of each to assure correct orientation.

IMG_6772.thumb.jpeg.53975f3167691c3592998ca37355f92b.jpeg

I then cut the mortises in the upper and lower back rest.

IMG_6773.thumb.jpeg.a06236c4288f88a802eb2bc0d22aa844.jpeg

And we have a dry fit of the back assy. 
IMG_6774.thumb.jpeg.849fde80267c213f80090370608b9a89.jpeg

 

 

IMG_6765.jpeg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Several of the pieces required 8/4 lumber. I found a good straight clear 14’ x 9” board and had the lumber yard cut it half for me. After laying the parts out, I cut them into manageable pieces and started the milling. After planing the back rest and arms, I noticed a hairline crack in these. They are very shallow and definately don't go all the way thru. As a precaution, I cleaned them out and made them wider with my marking knife and filled them with epoxy.

IMG_6788.thumb.jpeg.1c20bfc0d3fc5542eb912ba95bb57df0.jpeg
 

As an added precaution, I se cured them with screws from the bottom and will add plugs to the holes. Probably an overkill but couldn’t hurt. I’ll do the same to the upper backrest.

IMG_6787.thumb.jpeg.2840a011a717b167b3c257c14a9855c9.jpeg

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There’s probably a few steps that failed to document but: headboard with slats are glued up with the rest dry fitted. Prior to gluing the leg assemblies, I need to mark the location of the seat slats on the supports. These will be screwed from below, thru the supports into the slats. I’ll be darned if I didn’t cut these legs the same as my first so I guess 2” walnut extensions will be added to this bench as well.

IMG_6792.thumb.jpeg.11d0c5ab751ef2eecb21d38814a5a654.jpeg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kev and all. As this will be donated to a church and raffled off, I have no idea who the recipient will be, much less where it will live. Even less likely that a woodworker with finishing knowledge will own it. Given that, what finish would you apply? Not sure what CPES is or how to apply it but have watched Marc’s video where he touched upon it and I bet there are videos on the tube that elaborate on it. 
Having said this, I know what my material cost is and I will put a bid in for this amount so, it may end up back on my two sided enclosed patio and that won’t bother me a bit! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...