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Walnut & Birdseye Maple Entry Bench

Project by Damian Penney posted 397 days ago 1513 views 11 times favorited 46 comments Add to Favorites
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Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


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Walnut & Birdseye Maple Entry Bench Walnut & Birdseye Maple Entry Bench Walnut & Birdseye Maple Entry Bench Click the pictures to enlarge them

The frame is walnut while the panel is veneered birdseye maple, and the legs are attached to the rails with sliding dovetails.

Learning quite a lot with this project, first time I’ve done sliding dovetails. These were made using a pretty standard shopbuilt mortising jig (that I built for this project) although it probably would have been easier just doing them on the router table.

It’s also the first time I’ve done any veneering. I built a vacuum pump system using the plans from joewoodworker.com. Dead easy. The substrate for the panel is MDF which is a great material for veneering as it’s very flat and extremely stable.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso


46 comments so far

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11043 posts in 567 days


posted 397 days ago

oh my that is B-U-T-FUL !!!!!!

Nicely done (and a whole lot of “firsts” ) Nice.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

2302 posts in 470 days


posted 397 days ago

I speak Deb… she means Bee-You-Tee-ful (as opposed to full of butt), and I agree. What’s the finish?

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4576 posts in 717 days


posted 397 days ago

Super bench! I really like how the sliding dovetail joinery shows. I think you need a bigger shop, even though your creativity doesn’t seem to be hampered by the tight quarters. LOL. ;^D

-- Jesus is Lord!

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

Thanks :) The finish is five coats of Sam Maloofs Poly/Oil topped with a couple coats of his Oil/Wax finish. Feels silky to the touch.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11043 posts in 567 days


posted 397 days ago

have you seen my butt?? It’s pretty FULL hahaa

:)
thanks for the translation. I’ll soon be bilingual .

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

The shop is a bit bigger than it looks :) about 14×18 I think, but it’s in a continual state of disarray. I usually do a big clean before starting a project and then let it tumble back into chaos…

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

There are some more pics here and here

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Karson's profile

Karson

12002 posts in 806 days


posted 397 days ago

Very nice Bench. I love Veneering. I made my vacuum table about 5 years ago.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View Max's profile

Max

5063 posts in 679 days


posted 397 days ago

I really like the combination of woods that you used.

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

View wwnovice's profile

wwnovice

62 posts in 592 days


posted 397 days ago

Nice woods, nice finish, and nice execution. I especially like the B/E maple.

-- John

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

With all this positive feedback I’m liking this place more and more, thanks guys :) I’d originally planned on gilding a small white gold border around the maple but as the project progressed it became clear that the birdseye maple more than stood out on it’s own and didn’t need any further embellishment. Glad you all like it. Next project is a matching console table.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3704 posts in 624 days


posted 397 days ago

Oh, around here they throw compliments at any old junk.

I’m just kidding. That is really one beautiful table! ;-)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

Errrr thanks Charlie.. I think… :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11043 posts in 567 days


posted 397 days ago

hahah junk wood / beautiful table. Interesting that they refer to the same thing!!!

Quite the compliment to the worker of the wood.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View mjpierson's profile

mjpierson

54 posts in 399 days


posted 397 days ago

nice – like the birdeye with the walnut..

thanks for the vacuum tip – I will need to check into that…

-- Mike - Columbus, Ohio

View rudedog552's profile

rudedog552

47 posts in 416 days


posted 397 days ago

Very nice work.

-- Randy - Live by the spirit...Galatians 5:16

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1711 posts in 403 days


posted 397 days ago

What a great, solid bench…

How did you join the top to the aprons and stretchers? Tongue and groove? Splines? Biscuits?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View Bob Babcock's profile

Bob Babcock

1809 posts in 492 days


posted 397 days ago

Wow…very nice…the dovetails look great and I love the top.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

The top is glued (epoxy) to pieces of walnut that have been glued to the inside of the rails and stiles, long grain to long grain. Using MDF as a substrate meant I could pretty much ignore expansion for this project.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Napaman's profile

Napaman

1400 posts in 483 days


posted 397 days ago

very nice…ditto on all the above…great stuff and great details on how you made it happen!

-- Matt, Napa, CA...SING WITH ME: "Sum...sum...sum...summ...summ...summ...summertime..."

View Bill's profile

Bill

2508 posts in 567 days


posted 397 days ago

Very nice looking bench Damian. The contrasting colors are great.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View hermanv's profile

hermanv

15 posts in 429 days


posted 397 days ago

Ok time for the devils advocate. I love the look of the table, However the dovetails look a bit weak as they almost touch each other. Perhaps offsetting the dovetails closer to the outer edge may have provided a bit more strength. Perhaps it could damage the look but…..

Now! After that glorious reveiw I would like to know where the birds eye maple veneer was found. I don’t have a good source around here.

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

With regards the dovetails they are actually rock solid as the inner piece has nowhere to go because it is held in place by the panel itself and the adjacent dovetail. So during assembly it’s very weak (and I did crack one during a dry fit), but once all together it’s very strong. I was concerned myself until I saw another example where the two dovetails actually overlap one another leaving this little tower of wood standing up on the unassembled piece.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 397 days ago

Oh and I got the veneer, and the plans for the vacuum press at www.joewoodworker.com

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View hermanv's profile

hermanv

15 posts in 429 days


posted 397 days ago

Excellent! Thanks so much!

View WayneC's profile

WayneC

5690 posts in 503 days


posted 397 days ago

Did you guys see David’s blog on veneering?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

3890 posts in 652 days


posted 395 days ago

Great looking table. Love the wood combos. Dovetail corners are just frosting on the cake. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

View Don's profile

Don

2586 posts in 583 days


posted 394 days ago

Can’t let this one go by without complimenting you on a great project. Simple, clean and beautiful. I Australia we would say, U-beaut!

However, looking at your other pictures, I must say that little cherub of an apprentice is your finest projects.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 394 days ago

Cheers Don :) Yeah Fin (and his little sister Daisy) are definitely my best projects to date; I’ve already spent a bunch of hours on them though and they are nowhere near done yet!

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

2486 posts in 505 days


posted 394 days ago

Yep, you’re on your way to being immortalized in the pages of FineWoodworking.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

8274 posts in 394 days


posted 394 days ago

Very nice!

I am going to have to steal the dovetailed corners idea!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 394 days ago

Glad you like them Gary, steal away and post the results :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View BobR's profile

BobR

132 posts in 391 days


posted 386 days ago

Great table, great choice of wood. That birdseye maple is just something else. Well done!

-- Bob

View DAN's profile

DAN

2644 posts in 389 days


posted 382 days ago

Thanks for showing all the extra info on veneering. I’ve often thought about getting a veneer press and I think your posting sold me. Nice job !

-- ..... smalll army of cast iron wingnuts !! cool photo in FORUM

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 379 days ago

Thanks Dan, you should definitely get a veneer press, real easy to use and opens up the door to a whole host of woods that you ordinarily wouldn’t get to use.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Mark DeCou's profile

Mark DeCou

1246 posts in 811 days


posted 332 days ago

Damian: I have been wanting a vacuum bag system. Thanks for the link you showed, I will check that out. I would use that tool in my shop, if I had it.

Very Nice table, good contrast of woods. What is your next project to tackle?

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flinthill's Artisan

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 324 days ago

Hey Mark, thanks for the comments (been on vacation hence the late reply) the vacuum system is great and I can’t wait to use it in my next project. Next project is a desk (have a peek at my blog) which will take design cues from this table. Couple of housey type projects to complete before I can get started though…sigh.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View bfd's profile

bfd

171 posts in 213 days


posted 178 days ago

This is just a phenomenal piece all around! The sliding dovetial joinery, the contrast between the walnut and birdseye maple, the scale everything.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 175 days ago

Thanks so much bfd. I’m hoping to build a desk along similar lines when I get some time.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View coolbreeze's profile

coolbreeze

105 posts in 141 days


posted 138 days ago

I like the dovetails, too. Something about being able to SEE the joinery is very appealing, no?

-- Jason, AL

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

6700 posts in 280 days


posted 138 days ago

Nice! The dovetail joinery sets this one off.

-- Maplewood, MN

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

580 posts in 122 days


posted 107 days ago

Nice woods.Great table

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View acanthuscarver's profile

acanthuscarver

103 posts in 118 days


posted 106 days ago

I love the table. The light dark contrast is something that has always appealed to me and you’ve mastered it. Being able to see the dovetails in the legs also has tremendous appeal. Great job!

-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 106 days ago

Thanks Chuck, much appreciated.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View matt garcia's profile

matt garcia

169 posts in 78 days


posted 51 days ago

Yes this is a great table!! I especially like the sliding dovetails also. I think birdeye maple is my favorite species of maple, and I must indulge myself in it soon!! Damian, where did you get the bag for your vacuum press?

-- Matt, Houston Texas

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

593 posts in 397 days


posted 50 days ago

Hey Matt, glad you like it, the bag came from joewoodworker.com along with all the other bits and bobs for the vacuum press.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

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