Project by Benji Reyes | posted 05-03-2019 06:49 AM | 3225 views | 6 times favorited | 13 comments | ![]() |
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Wanted to post this earlier after my Feb gallery exhibit marking my 38th year in design and woodworking plus the launching of my book. It has been a blessed year for my family with the marriage of my youngest daughter, Keesha. Eena, my eldest, also giving birth to our grandson, Brooklyn.
Each strip of laminates for the bench is comprised of 5 slats having balayong wood sandwiched between 4 molave strips. The spacers are of 2 piece laminated guijo. The wait for the curing and drying for the whole set took about 2 weeks. After all the components for the seat was complete and assembled, I gouged out the seats and sanded them. The whole thing was disassembled again so that the spacers could be trimmed to set it by half an inch lower.
The seat and legs are tenoned to a 4×4 balayong. Dungon (ironwood) was used to dowel the legs together at an angle and dowelled behind with palm wood to hold the leg slats permanently.
For the final touch, the leg’s sides are gouged out with circular patterns.
It’s a long process from concept, design to fruition. One of those pieces that makes you just do it and not wonder ‘what if… Overall, I’m pleased with it and have done a two seater and a single seater version which I will be posting soon. You can see the process on my Instagram account and my fb Like page.
Have a blessed week everyone!
-- Benji Reyes, Antipolo, Philippines, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Benji-Reyes/88321902103?ref=ts Instagram benji reyes
13 comments so far
Mark Wilson
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2917 posts in 2072 days
#1 posted 05-03-2019 07:18 AM
Benji. Benji. Benji. The amazing Benji. I want to be like you. Your name comes up frequently when I’m talking to someone I meet, and the conversation leans towards stupendous craftsmen. This is stupendous. When I think of the giants I rub elbows with, here on LJs, you’re right up there in the top of the list.
-- Mark
a1Jim
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118161 posts in 4586 days
#2 posted 05-03-2019 02:19 PM
Hi Benji
Congrats on your new grandson
Your work is always wonderfully surprising and unique and of course great workmanship. This piece is an amazing example of all of those principles.
Always a pleasure to see your post.
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
MillerWoodcraft
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32 posts in 672 days
#3 posted 05-03-2019 02:22 PM
Very nice bench Benji
-- Mike Miller, https://www.millerwoodcraft.net/
Ocelot
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2878 posts in 3647 days
#4 posted 05-03-2019 03:32 PM
Everything you do is always amazing! This bench is no exception.
Just the day before yesterday I was looking through all your old projects posted on LJ and wondering when we would see a new one. (I particularly was looking at the chests, since I need to build one. Of course, I will make the usual straight box, because that is challenge enough for me at this point. But it does no harm to look at yours anyway.)
One thing troubles me about this bench. Maybe I should not say … If three friends are sitting there, the reverse curve means that they are not all where they can comfortably see each other’s faces. It’s a bench for a waiting room where people are not all talking to each other.
-- I intended to be a woodworker, but turned into a tool and lumber collector.
hoss12992
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4178 posts in 2902 days
#5 posted 05-03-2019 03:34 PM
Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship
-- The Old Rednek Workshop https://www.facebook.com/theoldrednekworkshoptn
Peteybadboy
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3073 posts in 2958 days
#6 posted 05-03-2019 07:44 PM
Art and skill meet.. This is amazing!
-- Petey
therealSteveN
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7235 posts in 1583 days
#7 posted 05-03-2019 08:00 PM
Just tell people the trees grew that way, all you did was throw some finish on it.
WOW, amazing doesn’t quite cover it. Excellent work.
Thanks for posting.
-- Think safe, be safe
James E McIntyre
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1100 posts in 2301 days
#8 posted 05-03-2019 08:33 PM
Great Benji bench. A lot of Fine work! It’s definitely a work of art and looks like it should be desplayed in a private art collection.
-- James E McIntyre
Dale J Struhar Sr
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518 posts in 4139 days
#9 posted 05-03-2019 09:17 PM
Awesome
-- Dale, Ohio
shipwright
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8678 posts in 3807 days
#10 posted 05-04-2019 12:36 AM
Inspiring work as we always see from you Benji.
You know you’re good when you double post and they both make the top three! :-)
-- Paul M ..............the early bird may get the worm but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese! http://thecanadianschooloffrenchmarquetry.com/
awsum55
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883 posts in 1517 days
#11 posted 05-04-2019 05:31 PM
Beautiful bench, congrats on your DT3
-- John D, OP, KS
Joe Lyddon
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10961 posts in 5061 days
#12 posted 05-04-2019 09:25 PM
What a COOL custom bench! AWESOME…
Sure looks comfortable!!
Thank you for sharing!
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: https://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/index.php?media/albums/users/joe-lyddon.1389/
DocSavage45
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9043 posts in 3851 days
#13 posted 05-26-2019 07:23 PM
Benji,
Keep pushing the boundaries my friend!
-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher
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