| Project by Lenny | posted 220 days ago | 426 views | 1 time favorited | 12 comments |  |
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My oldest daughter attended and, in 2003, graduated from Williams College, an excellent school here in the northeast. While at the school, she established a close relationship with Felicia, the Director of the school bookstore. Felicia, in essence, became a surrogate mom to my daughter. She was someone she could turn to when things got stressful or if she just needed a receptive ear. On a number of occasions she was a savior to my wife and me as we otherwise might have made a three hour drive to the school.
Perhaps as much as a year before my daughter’s graduation date, I decided I wanted to make and present this kind and caring lady with a token of appreciation for all she did for our daughter. We learned over the years that she is an avid gardener. One day while looking through an outdoor projects book from the Handyman’s Club series, I saw what they called a “park bench”. I loved the look of it, particularly the scalloped edges, top and bottom, of the back slats. The rest of the bench looked to be comfortable yet sturdy. Theirs was made from pine and they showed it painted. I thought, this would make a perfect garden bench for Felicia but I prefer to make it from cedar and leave it natural. I purchased the necessary quantity of western red cedar and pretty much followed the plans provided and enjoyed almost all of the construction. Why almost? Because I chose to counter bore all screw holes and fill them with bungs. The back slats alone have four screws per slat, so as you can see there were many of them. Besides the many screws, the joints were reinforced with waterproof glue and I applied several coats of polyurethane as my finish.
On the day my daughter graduated, we presented the bench to Felicia and she was both surprised and elated. Over the years, I would check with Felicia now and then to ask how the bench was holding up. I had never made anything from cedar before and I found it to be a brittle wood. It may be that the supplier had let it dry out too much? Upon seeing the announcement for the Summer 2009 Garden Bench contest, I contacted Felicia again and asked if she might supply a photo of the bench in its home. And what a beautiful photo she provided. She is a far better gardener than I am a woodworker; that’s for sure. I have to say, she was right when she told me the day I presented it to her, she had a wonderful location for the garden bench.
-- And on the eighth day God was back in His woodworking shop!
12 comments so far
3fingerpat
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1016 posts in 639 days
posted 220 days ago
Lenny, a very nice bench and story, well done, a class act.
-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"
PurpLev
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3440 posts in 620 days
posted 220 days ago
Lenny – maybe you should pick up gardening? you could make an account on Gardentenders.com :)
I really like this bench, looks more elegant and delicate then the “normal” bench look. more of craftmanship look to it.
I can only imagine the joy you must have experience counterboring all those holes… nothing more fun then repeating the same small automated action a hundred times huh?
in what way did you find cedar to be brittle? does it chip easily? I know it’s fairly light material.
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Napaman
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3619 posts in 1048 days
posted 220 days ago
nice bench…is this entered in the contest???
Great story…its so nice to know there are good people for our friends and family far away…great gift…she has a beautiful garden…and the bench fits great…
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
davidroberts
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293 posts in 457 days
posted 220 days ago
the scallops on the back are a nice detail and makes the project pop. also i like the armrest / leg arrangment.
-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."
Lenny
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182 posts in 498 days
posted 220 days ago
Thanks everyone. Purplev, I AM the gardener as my wife is not the outdoorsy type. However, I have trouble getting a rhododendron or an azalea to bloom and they are about as easy as it gets in gardening. As for the cedar, the best way I can describe it is: Have you ever tightened a nut and bolt in wood? You know how when/if you overtighten you can sort of hear the wood fibers crush? Instead of crushing, this wood would split or crack. Again, it seemed overly dry to me. I didn’t have much trouble with it. I just observed that it was, as you said, light material and also brittle so I had to proceed cautiously. Napaman, yes, I posted this project specifically for entering the contest.
-- And on the eighth day God was back in His woodworking shop!
a1Jim
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23650 posts in 548 days
posted 220 days ago
Looks great cool design well done
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, http://www.heirloomwoodshop.com/
Beginningwoodworker
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5353 posts in 644 days
posted 220 days ago
Nice bench!
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
griff
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1044 posts in 733 days
posted 220 days ago
Great looking bench Lenny, It has the look of elegance sitting out there in that garden.
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
John Gray
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1998 posts in 857 days
posted 220 days ago
GREAT JOB LENNY!!!!!! THANKS!!
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
Rxmpo
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122 posts in 716 days
posted 220 days ago
Lenny,
Great looking bench and an even better story. Well done.
Happy 4th
Mike
jockmike2
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7903 posts in 1218 days
posted 219 days ago
Nice looking bench Lenny. Nice color and design.
-- Mike from Michigan - mwurm13@yahoo.com
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7210 posts in 1271 days
posted 216 days ago
Very nice Lenny!
I’m sure she will cherish this great gift many years.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1