Spalted Poplar Bench

i’ve seen those “stitches” like the one you have on top of the bench. how are those done?
nice job by the way.

-- If you work you eat - If you don't work, you eat, drink, and sleep.

The way I made them was to create the butterfly, in this case out of walnut, and then trace its shape at the location I wanted it. Then I used a plunge router with a spiral bit and took out the majority of the hole. I finished cleaning it out with my chisels. I set the router depth just shy of the walnut butterfly so it would be proud of the bench top when glued in place. After that I cut if flush with a Japanese saw and sanded it down. I used these to span some cracks that were in the poplar.

Thanks for the interest.

Nice work, is it stable when people lean back?

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

SWEET DESIGN, CLEAVER USE OF REBAR

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

Looking really great! I can’t believe someone was trying to burn these great wood… Good job. Very nice design.

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Change for a nickel?

Another nice one Rob. You saved the wood and made a great project to boot. Did you take precautions to prevent the rebar from rusting and so on? And, while we’re on the subject of rebar, how do you bend it so accurately?

Best,

-- Jim

Topamax, it is pretty stable when you lean back. The back of the bench is pretty low though unless you sit at the curve.

McSquared, bwahaha. All I have it four pennies. Sorry bro.

Jim, I sprayed the rebar with clear rustoleum and so far I have seen no rust. Its been sitting outside for a month or so and should have shown some if it were untreated. Getting the rebar to bend is pretty easy if you have a rebar bender. I used a big floor model that allows you to set the angle. Then its just a matter of bending your pieces and cutting them to the same length. I had to figure out the correct angle but it wasn’t a problem after that.

VERY COOL I love it!

Another piece I should not like as I am not a fan of rustic but this is beautiful well done wish it were in my garden.I’m learning more about myself everyday.LOL Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

So far out cool

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Great job on the bench. I love to save wood from the fire as well. From reading the other comments, I see the bench has been completed for over a year now. How has it held up in the weather? Again, super design.
PP

-- Chuck.. aka Pickpapa`'`'`'`'`'` The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. Heb. 1:3

Was this resawed on a bandsaw?
What size of bandsaw do you need for something like this? And
how many people to control the wood?

-- One can dream, about a passion not yet fully fulfilled!

pickpapa,

The bench is holding up just fine. Its on my parents outside screened porch and does get some weather. No signs of loose joints or fading finishes.

SnowFrog,

I didn’t use a bandsaw once on this project. The three main pieces (the back and two seat sections) were roughly that same thickness when I saved them. The legs came from a couple shorter pieces that I cut apart. The challenge that I had for the project was to use the pieces in the best way possible for their shapes.