| Sitting Bench -- Cutting and Milling Wood |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-108 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
In this project, host David Marks demonstrates the steps in the construction of an Asian-inspired sitting bench made from solid maple. With its curved seat and sculpted columns, the bench is reminiscent of ancient Asian artifacts. The design of the seat's soft compound curves and the gentle sweep of the legs suggest the historical roots of the piece and give it a timeless appeal. The striking simplicity of the bench -- sculpted from three solid slabs of maple joined by integral tenons -- is enhanced by carved purpleheart wood discs adorning the outside of each leg. Materials: Maple-slab stock
Poplar stock (for prototype/mockup)
Circular saw
Band saw
Jointer
Power planer
Table saw
Chalk or carpenter's pencil
Saftety glasses or goggles
Note: Cut sizes may vary. For exact measurements, please contact David Marks through his website -- information below under Resources. Safety Alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when working with wood, saws, drills, routers, etc. Steps: - In order to get a get an accurate idea of the techniques used to build this bench, a prototype (figure A) was first made using inexpensive poplar wood. Thin boards of poplar stock were glued up to mimic the thick legs of the actual piece. The prototype provides an opportunity to create a mock-up of the bench and to work out good, solid joinery before beginning work on the actual solid-maple bench.
- The wood selected for this project is a single solid slab of big-leaf maple ( figure B) -- the tree whose leaves inspired the familiar symbol in the design for the Canadian flag. The rough-cut slab is about 2-1/2" thick, and the wood displays distinctive color and figure, including burled grain and swirling patterns surrounding a bark inclusion (figure C).
- The piece is inspected to determine the best sections for use in making stock for the bench, and the sections that will be excluded because of flaws and less desirable appearance.
- The selected sections are marked with chalk (figure D), providing ample-sized pieces for the three sections of the bench.
- The sections of the rough piece are cut to length using a circular saw (figure E) to create the pieces of stock that will be used for the seat and legs.
- Once the slab for the seat has been cut, the stock pieces are cleaned with a steel brush to remove any loose debris (figure F).
- The band saw is used to cut away the knots and unused sections of the wood (figure G).
- With the rough blank cut out of the slab (figure H), the next step is to create surfaces that are perfectly flat, and corners that are 90-degrees square. Accurate surfaces and angles are important, as they will serve as reference points when creating the joinery.
- The face of the slab is made perfectly flat by running it across the jointer (figure I) for several passes.
- Once the bottom face of the slab is flat, that face is referenced against the jointer's fence when running the edge of the slab across the jointer (figure J ).
- Next, the slab is run through the power planer (figure K). Using the flat, jointed face as a reference, a flat and parallel surface is created on the opposite side.
- The same steps are used to create the stock pieces for the leg.
- Finally, the slabs are cut to size on the table saw (figure L).
With the pieces all cut to size, and the stock carefully milled, the flat surfaces and perfect 90-degree angles will make for true reference points when creating the joinery -- the next phase of this project. Sponsored Resource
> Click here to order your tools and materials for this project from Woodcraft!
RESOURCES :
Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456
Mastering Woodworking Machines (Fine Woodworking Book)
Author: Mark Duginske
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 0942391985
David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com
The Complete Book of Wood Joinery
Author: Robert J. Decristoforo
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co.
ISBN: 0806999500
Advanced Woodworking
Model: 0783539126
Author: Editors of Time Life Books
1998
Time-Life Books Inc.
Website: www.timelife.com
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
