| Project by Rxmpo | posted 229 days ago | 291 views | 0 times favorited | 15 comments | ![]() |
I started woodworking 2 years ago when my wife registered me for a woodworking class at our local BOCES (vocational school) as a Christmas gift. Well, my teacher who was a carpenter/furniture maker was teaching this class for 1st time and told his 6 students “build whatever you want!” I’m sure he will not make that mistake again!! Anyway, I went home and designed this bench on some graph paper and after 10 three hour classes I came home with my first piece of furniture!
Because I didn’t own a single tool and I took right up to the last second of my last class to cut all of the mortises, the first picture was taken the night I got home from my last class and dry fit the bench for the very first time! I started this class 5 weeks earlier never having cut a piece of wood with a power tool in my life…Seeing this bench together for the first time was one of the proudest moments of my life.
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15 comments so far
WoodJack49
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189 posts in 247 days
posted 229 days ago
Great first project. The instructor must have given you excellent guidance.
BTW – I don’t think those shoes inside of the seat will fit the foot on the outside. LOL
Good job!
-- Jack - Mission Viejo, Calif
Thuan
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152 posts in 302 days
posted 229 days ago
Now, that’s a great first project, this is what you get when you learn woodworking the right way – a memorable piece for display. I forgot what my first project was, but it did have exposed sheet rock screws.
-- Thuan
GaryK
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8483 posts in 473 days
posted 229 days ago
That’s one good looking first project!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Lakey
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100 posts in 257 days
posted 229 days ago
Very nicely done – clearly, there is a lifetime of great projects ahead of you. Congratulations!
-- "No Board Left Behind"
Scott Bryan
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9077 posts in 306 days
posted 229 days ago
I agree that this is great first project as well. In fact I will go on to say that this would be a great second, or third project too. Great job. Now that you are flush with success what is next on your wife’s list (that usually determines what gets to be done- at least at my home anyway)?
By way of sharing my first- no make that second- project was a cherry corner cabinet that I eventually re-purposed to the deck as a plant stand. (My first was a 12” walnut display shelf, which actually came out ok).
Thanks for sharing.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
MsDebbieP
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11920 posts in 645 days
posted 228 days ago
well, well, well.. look at you!!!
Well done. The design is great.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
clieb91
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350 posts in 419 days
posted 228 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks. A vey nice lookin first project.
Glad to hear you enjoyed and got something out of that class.
hope we’ll be seeing additional projects.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
Paul D
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2129 posts in 233 days
posted 228 days ago
Very nice first project and welcome to LumberJocks!
-- Paul D, Atlanta GA
Rxmpo
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61 posts in 230 days
posted 228 days ago
Thanks for the encouragement! Thankfully, since this project a few friends and family have commissioned some more projects which have been awesome to build. Like to most of you, woodworking to me is not a hobby, but a passion. I’m looking forward to learning and to contributing to this community. Thanks again.
Mike
cajunpen
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5348 posts in 550 days
posted 228 days ago
Good first project – you are off and running. Should be a bright woodworking future ahead.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Muzhik
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106 posts in 622 days
posted 225 days ago
Well done! I can see why you have commissions already. Welcome to the wonderful world of woodworking (and Lumberjocks)! It’s a slippery slope, my friend. Enjoy the ride!
willabbyproject
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3 posts in 223 days
posted 223 days ago
What great gifts! A great gift of woodworking that you have AND a great gift that was given to you by your wife. I bet you never thought it would come out this good! Beautiful! Don’t stop now!!!
Scott Wigginton
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32 posts in 230 days
posted 223 days ago
Very impressive work and a nice hall bench!
I am 4 weeks into a similar course and considered an almost identical bench design (i am opting for an outdoor swing for our playground).
I’m curious how quickly your tool collection has grown since that course?
-- Scott
Rxmpo
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61 posts in 230 days
posted 223 days ago
Scott,
Thanks for the compliments. Good luck with the project. I have found designing the piece to be just as much fun as building it!
Funny story about my tool collection, while I was building this desk at a woodworking class 10 friends and I had a $200/man “biggest loser” weight loss bet. Well, it was winner takes all prize money and I won the bet which funded my basement woodshop. I have added a few items since then, but the bulk of the tools came from that bet. Amazing what you can accomplish when you set a goal!
rikkor
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7632 posts in 359 days
posted 222 days ago
That would be a pretty good fifth project. Congratulations on doing so well on your first.
-- Maplewood, MN