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Beginners Bench *PIC*
So like every newbie woodworker one of the first things I have to build is a bench, so here's my version.
Keep in mind this is the first real piece of furniture I've built so go easy
Anyways it is made of plain old spf lumber from home depot, 6 - 2x4 and 2 - 2x6. The legs are laminated 2x4's and 2x6's. It is roughly 5feet wide by 2feet deep. The bottom stretchers are pinned pinned m & t, I cut the mortises with a dado blade before I laminated the legs. The legs are also pinned m & t into the feet, but there I cut a stopped dado to create the mortise. Most benches don't have the top stretcher but since I'm going to be using a laminated mdf top I was a little worried about sag. The top stretcher is attached with a half lap joint.
The bench is actually sitting on the top which is 4 layers of 5/8 mdf. I have put on 3 coats of poly so far and I think I might leave it at that, I haven't finished the top as I need to cut out an inset for the vise and edge band it. I'll probable poly the top also.
Some things I leared about building this bench:
-spf lumber is so soft, it doesn't take much to dent. I think just talking about it just know added a few more dents.
-spf lumber has serious tearout issues, even with backer boards.
-I had a great time building it and I'm glad I started woodworking.
I didn't use real hardwood as the cost would have been high and I considered this a practice bench. Also I don't have a jointer yet and s2s hardwood isn't commonly available in Vancouver at reasonable prices.
In keeping with the recent threads on time spent, at this point I have 24 hours into it.
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