Walnut & Birdseye Maple Entry Bench

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)

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.

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!

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

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)

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

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

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

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I really like the combination of woods that you used.

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

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

-- John

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

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"

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

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)

nice – like the birdeye with the walnut..

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

-- Mike - Columbus, Ohio

Very nice work.

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

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

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

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

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

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..."

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

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

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.

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

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

Excellent! Thanks so much!

Did you guys see David’s blog on veneering?

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

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

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

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/

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

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

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

Very nice!

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

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

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

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

-- Bob

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-- Jason, AL

Nice! The dovetail joinery sets this one off.

-- Maplewood, MN

Nice woods.Great table

-- jeanmarc manosque france

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

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

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

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