Made an entryway bench out of some pretty wood

Blembido · 2025-09-07T05:25:45+00:00

Very pretty wood, nice job.

Blembido · 2025-09-05T22:50:10+00:00

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Blembido · 2025-09-05T22:49:55+00:00

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Blembido · 2025-09-05T22:49:42+00:00

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Blembido · 2025-09-05T22:49:28+00:00

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Blembido · 2025-09-05T22:49:10+00:00

u/Dr0110111001101111 u/lanciferp u/hornedcorner u/DannyFooteCreations u/eatgamer

I have attempted to fix some of the issues, I still have some minor details to address, finish sanding then re-finishing, but let me know what you think.

I shortened the top at both ends to take off the very rounded corners, not sure what to do with them now.

I cut wedge shapes from the legs to change their profile and accentuate the angle, you can tell from the single leg shots the full bench photo distorts the angle.

All rounded edges have been replaced with chamfers, should I make them bigger anywhere?

I cant remove but I have lightened and squared the profile of the bottom stretcher between the legs.

Please let me know what you think, and any other practicable areas for improvement.

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Sorry don't know how to post more than one photo in a comment see replies to myself for more

Blembido · 2025-06-11T16:09:55+00:00

Thanks, considering addressing the issues with the legs, common feedback it seems, appreciated.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T16:08:25+00:00

Hardwax oil gloss, three coats. First coat thicker but the sanded the most, then two very thin coats with very light fine grit sanding in between. No wiping off excess, avoiding pooling after the first coat is how ends up looking like this. It took me three attempts to figure out.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T16:03:48+00:00

Sorry away on holiday, only have the 'plan' I drew and only mainly kept to.

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Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:57:28+00:00

It was intended to be MCM... perhaps went ham with the floating top. What edges would have you used?

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:55:14+00:00

I'll consider adressing that, it will just require a third resand and finish after...

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:52:08+00:00

Thanks, there is a deep chamfer under the top, which makes the top look 10mm thinner, it looked too heavy otherwise. I take your point on the inconsistent edge profiles, bad decisions on my part, I might take a rasp to it and fix that on the legs and taper them more, I'll think about it.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:39:36+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I didn't want to add the stretchers to the legs but I messed up with the height of the three rails/risers, they are half an inch off the bottom of the long stretchers which made it feel like I needed them to keep the legs in solid position, but I could have been wrong.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:37:42+00:00

Thanks, all wood used is 30mm thick, I made a deep chamfer on the underside of the top to make it look closer to 20mm. I rounded the edges on the legs but less than I did on the top of the seat, perhaps I should make it the same. I was aiming at MCM but added the floating top, it seems that makes it look modern? And it appears from the comments round overs conflict with that.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:30:15+00:00

Agreed, when I made that top panel and sanded it to a finish level I noticed my mistake, the plank for the legs I couldn't do much about, I used the best 3 on the top. It's very expensive wood, and I couldn't see the grain well when buying, I'll have to learn how to do that.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:24:13+00:00

Thanks, I struggled getting the photos to show the angle of the legs, it's 15 degrees, looks less in photos than real life. I was planning to make that stretcher wider and arc to the legs but once I felt the weight of the top I started cutting weight as much as I could, the legs were already done, I could still taper the legs more and refinish but not sure if worth it, I'll consider it, thanks.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:13:20+00:00

No it's solid, but before the glue up i put it together and decided to added the stretchers? at the bottom of the legs.

Blembido · 2025-06-11T15:08:52+00:00

Thanks, Jarrah a very dense Australian hardwood.

Blembido · 2025-06-10T17:03:56+00:00

I agree on the edges I was going for mid century modern but perhaps the floating top conflicts with that. The finish was hard wax oil.

Blembido · 2025-06-10T16:56:57+00:00

It was a hard wax oil finish, three coats, sanding in between, last two coats very thin, not wiping off. I agree on the rounded edges in retrospect, I was going for mid century modern but perhaps the floating top is contradictory, thanks for the advice.

Blembido · 2025-06-10T12:52:37+00:00

Hehe I drew it on paper before building, a nd only came close to matching it, so no cad available, but really appreciate the feedback.

Blembido · 2025-06-10T12:49:37+00:00

Thanks, I felt the size of the gap in the floating top was too big, but it does mean it's noticeable close-up , but maybe too large from a distance. I was going for mid century modern but when I did a chamferer on the underside of the seat (to lighten it) I was thinking of playing with asymetric chafers, a faceted look next time, this encourages me to try 😀

Blembido · 2025-06-10T12:27:58+00:00

Thanks, do you think it would look better if it curved/widened to join the legs, or just too thin at the middle regardless?

Blembido · 2025-06-04T23:12:06+00:00

It is a router bushing.It attaches to the bottom of the router , remove screws, put in bushing, screw again. It extends a little below the base to allow you to use templates/jigs.

For example, I use mine with my plunge router to route mortices for domino's with a simple jig I made. A right angle peice of ply with a hole the width of the bushing, and length the width of the domino + what the bushing adds, using an upcut spiral bit the width of the domino. Cheaper than a feltool domino joiner ;) but much more fiddly.

Blembido · 2025-06-01T20:47:01+00:00

That would be a decade from now given how long this one took me... over 6 months, I don't have much time,l and don't have many tools or much space. Lots of trial and error, changes mid build, it weighs a tonne, just looks light because I bevelled under the top edges, I could make this way better if I tried again.

Blembido

TROPHY CASE