Gary that is outstanding! I really like the execution of this one. The cloud pattern on the back really makes this bench jump out as say "sit on me". Where did you find the plans for it?
"Woodworking - patience = firewood"
That is GREAT Charlie. if you notice the first pic…on top of the lathe in the bachground you can see the beginings of a couple more benches….minus the patience…they are currently on the firewood pile..oops
I love the details and the curves. It will make a nice additon anywhere you put it. Where did you get the plans? This would make a nice gift for our yard as well. Nice post. Thanks!
Thank you for all the comments. The finish is simply Watcos danish oil and minwax poly. I would not however recommend this for your project if it will live outside. I have another little table on my back deck that I used the same finish and it is just not holding up in this NC rainy weather. My FIL put the bench on a covered patio so it should be fine there. The wood is cypress obtained from Charlotte Hardwoods. Since this was my first attempt at one of these I went with the cheapest I could get. Later after reading a few articles i found the cypress is well recommended for exterior furniture. The grain pattern too was a great surprise.
If you want to build this even cheaper it can all be cut out of (6) 2×10's. In the next couple days I will post the cutting layout.
Gary, in the future, try spar varnish for outdoor projects. Look for one with UV inhibitors. Most will also be compatible with Watco if you want to mix the two. The key difference is the elasticity of the film finish along with the UV protection. It will hold up much longer in the NC weather and is fairly easy to renew when it's time.
INDEED! Truly fantastic work of art there, buddy!
-prior I had never even heard of it. This was one of the first that I'd looked at…and probably one of the deciding factors for joining LJ's. The design, asthetics, the shear presence of it speaks volumes, certainly a conversation piece. It invites the eyes to take it in bit by bit, piece by piece…I was actually sitting in class learning some payroll stuff and had gotten bored, since it was stuff I already knew, and hadn't realized that I'd been gawking at the pic lopng enough for the Instructress to make her way around the class to behind me and wait for me to notice her… she was impressed by the piece as well and brought it up on her ceiling mounted projector that puts her computer screen on the wall in front of the class, for everyone else to see…
I guess if I pay as much attention to what she's trying to teach me as I did that, I might have a good chance of passing the final on Excel… was the jist of what she had to say…14 other people (fellow classmates) thought it is pretty cool, too.
I love wood porn! (... that's what my wifey calls all these sites I go to.)
I agree with the Spar mention, stands up well in the PNW.
I was actually doing a search on the net for benches and this site came up;