| Project by Rj | posted 507 days ago | 3795 views | 37 times favorited | 77 comments | ![]() |
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I wanted to make two benchs that way I could use one for clamping the other for layout and fabrication
(Still need to add dog holes and another vise on the side )
Also the other reason for two benches is so that I can line them up in different angles =Long, square,L shape or T shaped.
Under the bench tops I allowed 6.5” space between the cabinet and the top for hand planes etc.
I did’nt want to add sides to the bench, that way I could slide bar type clamps under the bench top.
The bench top is approx 2.25” thick by 56” long the one with the end vise is 30” wide the other is 24” wide
Types of wood
Maple tops and frame ,Walnut with Birdseye Maple drawer fronts
This for All who ask What was I thinking!!! well to answer that question.
I wanted a Gift for myself Plus its my insperation point everytime I go out to my shop .
My desk you might say .
Everything in life comes and goes and hopefully for a good price.
I either sell most of my stuff or it goes as a gift .
-- Rj's Woodworks,San Jose & Weed Ca,


































77 comments so far
WayneC
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5854 posts in 975 days
posted 507 days ago
Wow. Too pretty to use…..
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
DAN
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6396 posts in 861 days
posted 507 days ago
welcome to lumberjocks
over-the-top bench … way cool
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Todd A. Clippinger
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5588 posts in 977 days
posted 507 days ago
SNAP! Those are gorgeous!
Great understanding of using the space under the top.
I can’t wait to see more of your projects.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Brad_Nailor
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1192 posts in 835 days
posted 507 days ago
Wow! That is furniture! I would be afraid of scratching it!
-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"
lightweightladyleftie
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407 posts in 590 days
posted 507 days ago
Those are the nicest looking workbenches I have ever seen. I’m with WayneC; they’re too pretty to use! I’d feel like crying if I got a nick in one or spilled glue. The workmanship looks absolutely outstanding, along with beautiful wood.
-- "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6
Max
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13957 posts in 1151 days
posted 507 days ago
I agree they are to nice to build and glue on. Look more like furniture for the house. Very nice.
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
Jason
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15 posts in 509 days
posted 507 days ago
Absolutely beautiful. I love the mix of dark and light woods, and the figured maple on the drawer fronts is fantastic. Again, like everyone says, they’re almost too nice to use. You almost have to intentionally put that first scratch in the top of one, just so you know that you can use them for more than just a showpiece!
-- Jason, Kansas City
Damian Penney
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1022 posts in 869 days
posted 507 days ago
Ooooooo :) Awesome.
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
tomd
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202 posts in 648 days
posted 507 days ago
I hate to tell you but those are not work benches. that’s fine furniture.
-- Tom D
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 507 days ago
Almost too pretty to work on. Almost!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Doug S.
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305 posts in 586 days
posted 507 days ago
Those look better than anything in my house. Beat them well:-)
-- Use the fence Luke
Scott Bryan
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20052 posts in 700 days
posted 507 days ago
These are absolutely beautiful benches. One of the time honored traditions with carpenters/woodworkers in past generations was advertising their skill with the tool totes that they constructed. The more elaborate and detailed totes reflected the craftmanship that went into the construction and the skill of the owner. I see this same principal in your benches. You could have easily thrown together a workbench made with construction grade material and plywood. It would have been serviceable but nowhere near as detailed and elaborate as these are. They indeed are a reflection of your craftmanship.
Well done. I really appreciated seeing this post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Dadoo
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1724 posts in 868 days
posted 507 days ago
“Wow” would be an understatement here…”Holy Cow!” would fit better! Beautiful project here RJ. Now you need some cabinets to match and you’ll have a shop to beat all shops!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
Grant Davis
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481 posts in 786 days
posted 507 days ago
Looks better than some of my house furniture.
-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"
Greg Wurst
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713 posts in 710 days
posted 507 days ago
Again, I’d put those in the center of any room in my house and admire them. Real works of art.
-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.
CharlieM1958
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7460 posts in 1096 days
posted 507 days ago
Okay, I’ve been around here a while, and this project definitely takes 1st prize for over-the-top shop furniture! Really beautiful!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
JohnR
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39 posts in 576 days
posted 507 days ago
RJ,
Unsolicited suggestion: Contact a couple of interior designers in your area and offer to sell the workbench combo as fine furniture for inclusion in an expensive “man-cave” or den. I am serious, I think that in your neck of the woods you would find immediate buyers for these pieces. Anyone looking for a unique twist or a bold statement in an expensive, manly area of a home would immediately be drawn to your work.
Congratulations on stunning craftsmanship.
-- Sola Gratia, John
ND2ELK
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6065 posts in 652 days
posted 507 days ago
They are almost too pretty to use in a shop. I would be covering them up before I used Them! Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
mot
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4901 posts in 914 days
posted 507 days ago
Yowza! I just pulled a plane off my shelf and dropped a low angle block on my maple workbench. Had it been on one this nice, I might have cut my own throat. Very nice!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Mark Shymanski
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1547 posts in 591 days
posted 506 days ago
Wow, those are incrredible benches. I can’t imagine what your projects look like if this is the kind of work you do on ‘just’ a bench. Welcome to LJs; I really look forward to seeing more of your work.
-- ...it's rennovation time!!!
jm82435
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502 posts in 620 days
posted 506 days ago
Dangl. I just got slobber all over my keyboard…
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
James Early
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48 posts in 526 days
posted 506 days ago
Like many here, I seriously would be afraid to use these—just gorgeous! Great design and construction!
-- -- Jim E., Oswego, NY. Create, have fun, and work safely!
dalec
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581 posts in 766 days
posted 506 days ago
This is fine furniture!
Beautiful wood grain, finish and craftsmanship. I agree with many your work bench is fine furniture.
Dalec
Texasgaloot
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467 posts in 578 days
posted 506 days ago
I’ll pay the shipping to Central Texas…
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
Hutch
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91 posts in 775 days
posted 506 days ago
WOW
-- Hutch ...Montana ___ Life is a mystery to live, not a problem to solve! ___
Harold
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313 posts in 725 days
posted 506 days ago
function first, the two piece idea is excellent and being able to reconfigure the benches for multiple purposes is wonderful. in regards to the appearance, I totally agree with Scott Bryan’s comments above…..perhaps I would go a little further, so forgive me if I get a little philosophical here, but I think our tools set the atmosphere for our craft, becoming our mentor or apprentice when we need a second set of hands. You go out to the shop in the morning, turn the light on and your tools and benches are covered in a fine layer of dust and you can almost here them, “sit down and finish your coffee, we’ll wait for ya” As a matter of fact I think my bench can even hear your benches and it’s complaining,” I can’t believe you left that epoxy, you know how hard that is to get off…...and when are you gonna oil the rods on my vise…you don’t love me do you?” ....you know that bench can go on for ever but I would never question it’s passion…or place a value on the inspiration it’s given… I think I’ll get another cup of coffee and try and patch things up.
Great work Rj
-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.
GaryB
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27 posts in 557 days
posted 506 days ago
Very nice, very nice. I like the modular concept, could serve many functions.
Good work,
Gary
PurpLev
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2675 posts in 526 days
posted 506 days ago
Beautiful work…. thanx for sharing, definitely gives plenty of ideas, and reminds you that a good looking workshop makes working in it just so much more fun… or it could just be me ;)
-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
wpreman
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1486 posts in 590 days
posted 506 days ago
Good grief, they’re drop dead gorgeous! Fine furniture for sure. Outstanding work!
-- Bill, Florida
Kevin
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294 posts in 836 days
posted 506 days ago
Rj,
That is an amazing set of benches. I like the idea of two smaller benches you can arrange however you want.
Great idea, just made them to beautiful to work on is all.
-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas
davidtheboxmaker
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372 posts in 683 days
posted 506 days ago
They are beautiful benches. bet they inspire you to do some really top class work – look forward to seeing your future posts.
teenagewoodworker
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2470 posts in 646 days
posted 506 days ago
wow those are some nice benches. very, very impressive! thanks for the post!
Sparky977
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56 posts in 598 days
posted 506 days ago
Wow! Stunning workbenches. I would be too timid to actually do any work on them, I would just want them in my living room. :)
-- I get payed to play with power tools! What could be better than that?
Woodhacker
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1145 posts in 601 days
posted 506 days ago
100%, Completely, Totally, Awesome!!
I love these.
Thanks for showing them.
-- Martin, Kansas
BobR
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137 posts in 863 days
posted 506 days ago
These would have to be at the top end of some great work benches I have seen. Beautiful.
-- Bob
dennis mitchell
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3785 posts in 1192 days
posted 506 days ago
They would just paralyse me. I could no more do wood working on those that I could use a matisse as a drawing board. What where you thinking!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
kjverlanic
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56 posts in 528 days
posted 506 days ago
Wow! I think you found your calling in life. Those are astounding! Can’t wait to see more. Oh and Welcome to LJ’s.
-- “There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper … and the buyers who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.” John Ruskin
griff
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897 posts in 640 days
posted 506 days ago
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee T
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
stanley2
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274 posts in 673 days
posted 506 days ago
I’m speechless. I’ve taken a deep breath. Marvellous
-- Phil in British Columbia
Dusty56
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3392 posts in 566 days
posted 506 days ago
SIMPLY FANTASTIC !! CONGRATULATIONS ON SUCH A STUNNING PROJECT : )
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
mgradwohl
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189 posts in 691 days
posted 505 days ago
Those are awesome, the only thing I’d do is reverse the handles so that you turn the frowns into smiles. It would be nice to have your bench smile at you every time you went to the shop!
jeanmarc
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1750 posts in 594 days
posted 504 days ago
Wow, those are incrredible benches.
-- jeanmarc manosque france
jcees
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545 posts in 677 days
posted 503 days ago
Genuine shop furniture gorgeous and done well. Bravo!
always,
J.C.
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
Sawdustonmyshoulder
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168 posts in 506 days
posted 501 days ago
In the living room? NO!!!! Put it in the bedroom. I would want this to be the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night. And yes, I’ll pay the shipping charges AND the crating charge. One up on ya, Texasgaloot. Let the bidding begin. You up for the fuel surcharge?
Great work, great design, thanks for letting us take a look.
-- Makin' Sawdust!!!
jockmike2
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7222 posts in 1125 days
posted 501 days ago
You gonna eat off those? You certainly are not going to pound on them are you. Sheeeesh. Are those virgin goat horns for door knobs?
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Davesfunwoodworking
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259 posts in 753 days
posted 500 days ago
Okay, now if I made a work bench that looked like these I couldnt use them for woodworking. I would just go out to my shop and look at them all the time. Great work!!!!! Very nice and hey they will last a life time plus more.
-- Davesfunwoodworking
MarkWilk
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183 posts in 754 days
posted 498 days ago
I don’t know if I would put these in my shop. They look like furniture for my living room!
Outstanding!
-- Mark, Florida, http://penturner.wordpress.com/
Chris
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1452 posts in 869 days
posted 497 days ago
Beautiful work! I love the thought you put into the form and function. Nice to see people think outside the box.
Box what box? :)
-- Chris
Wooder
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163 posts in 1064 days
posted 490 days ago
By far, the best looking bench, I’ve ever seen!!!! Wonderful job. Great thought process and wood combo. Thanks for joining up and sharing your “baby” with us!!
-- Jimmy
Bigdogs117
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1759 posts in 499 days
posted 489 days ago
Very nice. I would enjoy working at those every day.
-- Rusty
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 592 days
posted 489 days ago
WOW! I’m not sure what to say, those are absolutely spectacular!!! You’ve done a fantastic job! Oh, and Rj, Welcome aboard!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
thetimberkid
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1944 posts in 581 days
posted 487 days ago
Great looking bench!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/
FRITZ
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77 posts in 477 days
posted 474 days ago
Ron, everytime i see the bench it just blows me away [still have photos you sent me]
people Ron is a true craftsmen ,unbelievable work he does
Your Indiana Buddy Fritz
woodspar
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705 posts in 977 days
posted 474 days ago
If … this … is … what … his … workbenches … look… like
What does his FINE FURNITURE look like?
sigh…
-- John
Joni Hamari
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23 posts in 570 days
posted 463 days ago
Fabulous…Just Fabulous...Love the design, the Wood…Spectacular!
I think I would love to see this as a kitchen island…Truly inspirational…I could work on these all day!
-- Joni Hamari, Cave Creek, Az www.CustomSculpture.com
Beginningwoodworker
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3857 posts in 551 days
posted 455 days ago
Thats a nice looking workbench.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Dennis Zongker
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1005 posts in 470 days
posted 389 days ago
Thats a beautiful bench! I would be scared to work on it.
-- Dennis Zongker
Watson
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12 posts in 375 days
posted 374 days ago
Wow… what did you finish the top with?
woodworm
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7826 posts in 469 days
posted 374 days ago
Do really mean to use this beautiful bench as a workbench?
What was your wife’s reaction when she saw it in your workshop?
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Randolph Torres
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114 posts in 406 days
posted 369 days ago
Rj: ??How could you put that work bench in the shop it should be in the kitchen. Thats by far the nicest kitchen table I have ever seen. You could use the vise as a grape press.
-- another tip from cooperedpatterns
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 840 days
posted 369 days ago
mighty fine, indeed
-- Thos. Angle
mmh
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1366 posts in 600 days
posted 337 days ago
BEAUTIFUL workbench for the kitchen, living room, dining room, home office, anywhere it won’t get damaged! Your workmanship is superb. Can I place my order?
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Bob A in NJ
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519 posts in 877 days
posted 315 days ago
Hi, wow, I can’t believe I missed these. I thought I had nice benches. These are more like showcases. If you bring them to a craft or trade show you can book enough business to do woodworking full time.
Well done sir.
-- Bob A in NJ
davidroberts
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224 posts in 364 days
posted 299 days ago
Hi RJ – mighty fine lookin benches, no doubt. I had a question though. Do you still like the wide drawers? I’m planning to install drawers under my workbench top and had planned to build three rows of drawers, two drawers per row. The drawers would be about 1.75 feet wide or so, each. You have four rows with one drawer per row. They look to be 2.5 to 3 feet wide. Did you use metal drawer sliders or is it wood on wood construction. If it is wood on wood please share your construction method. I had planned to cut 1/4 inch dados and use an inch wide strips of hardboard to let the drawers rest and slide on. Pretty low tech. The idea is from a ww’ing magazine showing shop improvement plans, I think Wood. Thanks!
-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."
Rj
home | projects | blog
523 posts in 509 days
posted 298 days ago
Thanks David I used accuride sliders and I really like having the wider drawers insted of two drawers side by side- I put dividers in them if needed. Two drawers create more wasted space = drawer sides etc. take up more space. This is just my opinion though some people like having two.
Hope this helped!
-- Rj's Woodworks,San Jose & Weed Ca,
scottb
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3391 posts in 1205 days
posted 298 days ago
like a brand new pair of white sneakers, scuff those up quick! add a ding, then you won’t have to worry about ruining them.
Wow, talk about inspiration in the shop!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Lee A. Jesberger
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3709 posts in 858 days
posted 297 days ago
Hi Ron;
I don’t know how I missed these. This is an excellent first impressions for your clients, as they walk into your shop.
Your work here, as always, is remarkable!
Superb!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
WoodSpanker
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298 posts in 270 days
posted 264 days ago
In-FREAKING-credible! I’m going to burn my pine and maple workbench now… firewood… mere firewood… by comparison! What a craftsman you are, sir! I salute you!
-- Adventure? Heh! Excitement? Heh! A Woodworker craves not these things!
tooldad
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446 posts in 593 days
posted 264 days ago
Would you mind revealing the secret to the technique to create the drawer fronts? Thanks.
spanky46
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735 posts in 268 days
posted 247 days ago
Very Special! Thanks for sharing
-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.
savannah505
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971 posts in 464 days
posted 233 days ago
Awesome work, I didn’t know China put out such great looking stuff. LOL, glad your my friend, so I can tease you. These are beautiful, and anyone would be proud to own these.
-- Dan Wiggins
Moai
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718 posts in 271 days
posted 199 days ago
Incredible Benches….I love the empty space between the top and Drawers box..trully a couple of heirloom pieces!
-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.
aurora
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36 posts in 130 days
posted 128 days ago
inspired me to get right out in the shop.
Kindlingmaker
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1417 posts in 404 days
posted 88 days ago
I just saw this! WOW! Are you actully going to work on it? If it were mine it would be proudly in my living room!
-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings
Dalbergian
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44 posts in 78 days
posted 39 days ago
You owe me a new keyboard,this one is absolutely covered in drool!!!
Outstanding benches,you have taken the fact that Walnut & Maple contrast each other perfectly to the Nth degree.
Beautiful.
-- "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible." ~ Frank Zappa
WistysWoodWorkingWonders
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71 posts in 35 days
posted 32 days ago
WOW!!! Amazing work benches… PLEASE DON’T USE THEM! Trade me for my crappy, ugly, workable benches… I will treat these biscuits like they should be, behind a glass case for all to see… LOL
Simply amazing work here, but I really must ask that you take good care of them and when your ready to give them away, keep me in mind… Love the contrasting woods… ok, I’ll shut up now I think enough has been said… keep up the good (GREAT) work RJ
Tim29
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18 posts in 28 days
posted 8 days ago
Wonderful. Inspiration in the shop is more important than most realize. Thank you for showing these off.