Well, I guess with my first blog entry I kind of set a precedence of being a scrounger so we’ll continue with a little project I made for the garden.
Years ago I was given a huge cherry log. At 34” in diameter and 10’ long it was quite a monster setting in the driveway but as with all woodworkers I had visions of a beautiful piece of furniture when the time came. Sawing it up with the chainsaw was a quite chore and a feat in itself but we manage to get some beautiful wood. After stacking and stickering the lumber in the loft for drying I was left with the slab cutoffs, Do I keep them or chunk them to the brush pile? The don’t make quick decisions as ‘Hast makes wast’ so we stacked them along with the stored lumber. For years while waiting for the drying process and shifting these huge pieces around the LOML had started a bird sanctuary and garden and asked if I could build her some sort of bench.
DING! DING! Bells went off and we had a project for what might have been scrap lumber to the logging industry.
We took one slab and hand planned it smooth on one side and sanded the bark side . Then cutting off the ends. we fashioned the legs . The legs were tenoned into the seat at an angle and pinned through the seat top with 3/4” dowels. Everything was then sanded again and coated several times with Tung Oil then a Spar Varnish applied for outdoor protection.
Momma’s happy as she sets contently on her rustic bench enjoying the garden and the birds!
-- Smitty, Alabama, http://www.firstdesignwoodworking.com/
12 comments so far
TomK
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504 posts in 770 days
posted 588 days ago
See, this is why I have trouble throwing any piece of wood away! That is a beautiful bench!
-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke
toyguy
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722 posts in 733 days
posted 588 days ago
I have a couple of slabs sitting in wait … Someday I will also figure out what to do with them.
Nice project, nice results…. anything that makes the other half happy is always a winner.
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
Scott Bryan
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20707 posts in 718 days
posted 588 days ago
My wife continually prowls my workshop often commenting about the “trash” that I am saving. I will have to show her this post.
This is a gorgeous bench. It is more than ample justification for saving off cuts and other scraps.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 610 days
posted 588 days ago
That is awesome. I love the natural lines, and the natural trunk line of it, the rounded front. Great job!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 858 days
posted 588 days ago
Good ‘un, Smitty
-- Thos. Angle
motthunter
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2079 posts in 695 days
posted 588 days ago
love it
-- making sawdust....
freedom75
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14 posts in 589 days
posted 588 days ago
My problem is no where to store it. I have a Standing Black Walnut tree To cut right now but have no please to store it while it is drying
-- John, Greensboro NC noobie Woodworker
Douglas Bordner
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3424 posts in 960 days
posted 588 days ago
Gorgeous finish on that bench. I’d be proud to have that in the garden (or in the entry hallway).
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
ND2ELK
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6202 posts in 670 days
posted 588 days ago
Great looking bench. I can see why your likes it so well. You did a very nice job on it. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
David
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94 posts in 611 days
posted 588 days ago
Truly Awesome ~ incredibly beautiful piece of work.
-- Islandwoodworker@Gmail.com
pappyjohn
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138 posts in 609 days
posted 584 days ago
Trully a Lovely Piece of Scrap Wood Smitty, thanks for the tip, I’m fairly new at doing the types of finishes you LJ’s are producing. I didn’t know you could put Varnish over Tung Oil. It sure does produce a Terrific looking Finish.
-- Your Brother in WoodWorking John, Pittsburgh , PA.
smitty1
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33 posts in 595 days
posted 584 days ago
Actually PappyJohn I use Tung oil quite a bit. Tung Oil can be used to accentuate the grain Pattern or if multiple coats are applied, a finish in itself. In the Case of the Bench I used it to highlight the grain. Then after a several days of drying I used a UV Spar varnish to protect it from the elements being it outdoor fixture. Even then the outdoor finish will need to be rejuvenated periodically.
Have a Good One,
Smitty
-- Smitty, Alabama, http://www.firstdesignwoodworking.com/