Quick and simple wooden seat

[craigmarshall]

Hi,

A few months ago, I made myself a wooden seat. I plan to make a nice sturdy one out of hardwood and proper joinery one day soon, but I had never done this kind of thing before, so I made a working prototype out of softwood and screws. I will change quite a few things about the design when it come to making the next one.

Please beware, there are a couple of pics of a cut on my thumb from a jap saw (no blood), so if you're squeamish, don't look!

Here are the seat pics:

craig9.googlepages.com/woodenseat1

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Craig

PS: I will have another thread for this projects page soon, I'm making my first dovetailed box (a small toolbox/tooltray) out of ash and oak. If I don't break all the tiny pins off during assembly today, that is..

[craigmarshall]

I forgot to talk about the tools used during the project. I have a bit of an obsession at the moment with building up my hand tool skill, so I want to use them wherever practical. I used all handtools apart from: Jigsaw - used for crosscutting (!) and tapering rip cuts on arms. I used the router for one of the halving joints and the rebates, and I used a new makita lithium combi drill (is that my first drive-by? Shame it wasn't a nice philly shoulder plane), for all drilling, countersinking and of course screw-driving. Other tools involved include jap saw, block plane, sandpaper, square, pencil and lid of toolbox. I think that's it.

I'm quite proud of the finish on the lap joints or halving joints whatever you call them, they look spiffing after a bit of planing.

Anyway, enough dribble ...

[nick]

Handsome looking bench, Craig.

Note to self : must get carpet in the workshop - it looks so much nicer than concrete......

[wizer]

nick said:

Note to self : must get carpet in the workshop - it looks so much nicer than concrete......

And a couple of clothes airers ;D

[mailee]

Nice one Craig, By the way I don't think her arms are too spindly she looks great....oh sorry the bench you mean I agree they could be a little thicker but still a very good job and mostly with hand tools too! Well done.

[colincott]

Well Done Craig
As it was made in your sitting room/ workshop ( I used to to that before the workshop was built ).
But my living room is 24'x17' at the biggest part

I also have one question

Have you put together with just screws?
As you have to be careful because just using screws, they can break with not much warning.

[dom]

Well done Craig.
As you say, it'll be a good model for the harwood bench.

[engineerone]

well done craig,

question though, did the bench come with that accessory,
or did you need to build the bench to get the accessory???

paul

[craigmarshall]

Nick, WizeR and Colin:

Yes - I find it much more comfortable working with carpet underfoot and clothes airers in the way :-). This is not actually the workshop I use, I am lucky enough to work with a furniture maker/joiner during the week, and have use of his workshop at weekends now.

Colin:

Yes - just screws. Well - PVA glue as well, but all the joints are edge grain to long grain, so the glue doesn't count for anything much. The bench is not intended to be a permanent fixture, just used for long enough that we can decide on final dimensions for a hardwood one made with mortise and tenons. It has had the weight of three adults on it though without so much as a groan.

Mailee and Engineer One:

Meg was much pleased at your comments :-)

One day when the replacement gets made, I'll post some pics on here so you can see whether it resembles the original!

Cheers,
Craig

[colincott]

Craig

Dont get me wrong, as the screws should be ok but I meant just keep at eye on it.
If it starts becoming lose then tighten the screw with some more glue as it is not for long

[jaco]

Still trying to find the bench ....

Saw lots of timber floating around, must have been to confuse the elderly people!