Project by HalDougherty | posted 09-25-2010 02:13 AM | 5837 views | 4 times favorited | 14 comments | ![]() |
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I made this bench yesterday to put outside an upstairs window so I can sit in the morning and look over the hay meadow. There is a window alcove at each end of the house, so I guess I’ll have to make another bench for the other window soon. I’ve included a couple of photos that show the simple jig I made to cut each mortise using a pattern bit with my new router. (Craig’s List cheep tool gloat! $50 for a 2 1/2 hp Porter Cable router with two router table tops and router plates.) I also used a template to cut the legs for the bench. Speeds up construction quite a bit.
Here’s the project showing what this wood looked like the day I cut it.
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/19792
-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com
14 comments so far
Skylark53
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2837 posts in 4026 days
#1 posted 09-25-2010 02:33 AM
Great job. The perfect project to show the woodgrain at its best. I like the mortise and tenon. thanks for sharing.
-- Rick, Tennessee, John 3:16
cwdance1
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#2 posted 09-25-2010 02:41 AM
Wow, I like it allot, very nice.
TreeBones
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#3 posted 09-25-2010 03:11 AM
Beautiful wood and finish, real nice.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://www.portablesawmill.info
swirt
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#4 posted 09-25-2010 04:32 AM
That looks fantastic. I like what you did.
-- Galootish log blog, http://www.timberframe-tools.com
jockmike2
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#5 posted 09-25-2010 11:55 AM
Beautiful looking bench. Of course you can’t go wrong with maple.
-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -
Kathy
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#6 posted 09-25-2010 02:09 PM
That is some beautiful wood!!!
-- curious woodworker
rivergirl
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#7 posted 09-25-2010 02:15 PM
COOL BENCH my friend. Nice shark bite on the end. :) Now I see I will need to get a router and learn how to use it. :) Tell me about that gray stripe on the end of the board. Was that a color variation in the grain or did you just leave that portion of the board unsanded with the weathered gray color aka- sawmill gray- ?
-- Homer : "Oh, and how is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain."
HalDougherty
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1820 posts in 4203 days
#8 posted 09-25-2010 02:37 PM
The lighter colors are sapwood and the darker colors are mineral staining in the heartwood. This is an example of what you get in a log that would be rejected by sawmills that are cutting for grade. It’s either the cheepest wood on the lot or the most expensive! So far all that’s been done for a finish is sanding to 220 grit and a couple of coats of tung oil. Afte wet sanding to 600 grit, this bench is going to show off how pretty maple is.
-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com
Ken90712
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#9 posted 09-25-2010 06:53 PM
Beautiful looking bench, great use of the of this special wood. One to be proud of for sure.
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
Div
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1653 posts in 3906 days
#10 posted 09-25-2010 09:03 PM
N i i i i ce! Doesn’t look at all like the Maple I can buy here. A special piece of wood.
-- Div @ the bottom end of Africa. "A woodworker's sharpest tool should be his mind."
dustyal
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#11 posted 09-25-2010 11:14 PM
Mail your templates to me… I have a slab that is dying to be cut up for a bench like yours.
Seriously, beautiful bench. Great construction. I made a similar window bench... and the Mrs is asking for another. I’ve been a little nervous about attempting a mortice and tenon joint for it. I’ll have to try now.
-- Al H. - small shop, small projects...
cajunpen
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#12 posted 09-26-2010 11:56 PM
Nice looking bench. I really wish that we (in SE Louisiana) had something nice to look at when we peer out of a window. For most of us we see a neighbor’s yard.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
moondog69
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#13 posted 04-11-2011 09:49 PM
nice wood
-- al.chazy ny
exelectrician
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#14 posted 11-16-2011 01:07 AM
Pretty nice method of securing the legs with the long wedge tenon. What can I say about that beautiful wood you have to work with….. lucky guy!
-- Love thy neighbour as thyself
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