| Project by nathanjackman | posted 379 days ago | 1518 views | 7 times favorited | 13 comments |  |
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Fun project – I attend a school/open workshop that has been in Boston since the 1600s, The Eliot School. They have a ton of these old workbenches from the 1800s (with vises intact) that are now used as art tables.
A couple had broken apart and I was offered one as a recycling project. I determined to use only hand tools to finish this, including resquaring the wood. Use the Current Legs and stretchers after recutting and rejoining everything to new dimensions – little tricky as the wood was dry and chippy.
Top was amazing – I think it’s 100 year old Maple (just guessing), it was completely white after I had taken off a layer of wood. Thought I would leave the cracks and beating – all the love and time this bench has seen. Put in a butterfly to make sure the crack didn’t spread.
The wood sucked up Maloof oil like you wouldn’t believe – top went from white to the amazing color in the photos in one coat.
My favorite and simplest project to date…love thinking how many people this wood has seen come and go. How many people left their mark on this top.
Legs are morticed into the benchtop.
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13 comments so far
DocSavage45
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2879 posts in 1014 days
#1 posted 379 days ago
Looks like it appreciated your love and attention. :-)
-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher
DocSavage45
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2879 posts in 1014 days
#2 posted 379 days ago
Nice character from what I can see.
-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher
PurpLev
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7764 posts in 1820 days
#3 posted 379 days ago
that is an awesome project in so many ways-
Great on the recycling
Great on where the material came from and the stories it can tell
Great on the markings on the top
Great on the bench itself!
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
BTimmons
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1102 posts in 657 days
#4 posted 379 days ago
What a huge improvement on the original material! It’s got a new life, but still a lot of character.
-- Brian in Arlington, TX - Laziness is the foundation of efficiency.
Brandon
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3773 posts in 1123 days
#5 posted 379 days ago
Excellent work on reusing the workbench. Your farm bench is perfectly done!
-- "hold fast to that which is good"
Jamie Speirs
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3684 posts in 1028 days
#6 posted 379 days ago
That is one nice bench
Even better with the story
I’m sure it will be treasured by many generations to come
Thank you for saving and recording this piece of unique history
jamie
-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
grizzman
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5397 posts in 1475 days
#7 posted 379 days ago
now that is a really great save, nice work here, your joinery is perfect for this piece…
-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']
Martyroc
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2708 posts in 478 days
#8 posted 379 days ago
Awesome bench, a lot of history with that one.
-- Martin ....always count the number of fingers you have before, and after using the saw.
russde
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44 posts in 1011 days
#9 posted 378 days ago
Recently moved to Boston myself…and recently decided to upgrade meager ww skills. I was just on The Eliot Schools website the other day! How cool.
Do you enjoy their workshops? Any advice on attending sessions?
Bench turned out beautifully.
-- Upright and taking in nourishment--must be a good day
nathanjackman
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23 posts in 1032 days
#10 posted 378 days ago
Fantastic place can’t recommend enough – great teachers and the open workshop is a very collaborative environment. Give them acall, they’re happy to answer questions.
AspiringWoodworker
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49 posts in 477 days
#11 posted 378 days ago
Great job preserving the past for the future!
-- Jeff W., Boston, MA area, http://aspiringwoodworker.com
BarbS
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#12 posted 378 days ago
wonderful project! Good for you.
-- http://barbsid.blogspot.com/
Matt Vredenburg
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#13 posted 347 days ago
Great work and I agree, it would be interesting now all the different woodworkers that have worked that bench.
-- Matt, Arizona
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