This wonderful piece of English Oak came to us locally. The harvester saved it for the unique grain with a lot of character. We didn’t have enough material to do the seat and legs, so we used some sections from a dried alder round that was saved for a special purpose. The result is a very heavy boot bench for an entry way or alcove.
The live edge was left on and the entire piece is sanded to a smooth finish and coated in polyurethane in case it has stay on the patio. There are no screws or metal in the design. Each leg was notched to slide into the seat sideways with a few taps of the mallet. This final was eventually glued with PL 8x for a permanent bond. The bottoms are also sealed with a waterproof poly cement. This oak bench is big, heavy and will last a long, long time.
#135 BL 06 13
Approx: 18″ tall x 16″ deep x 48″ wide
Wood source: hawleyscape.com
A local tree harvester saved a nice round of Norwegian maple from the chipper and we had it slabbed for a future table and bench. The wain with the bark was wide enough to sand out and turn into an interesting table.
There were some band saw marks that needed to be ground and the piece included metal that someone hammered in long ago.
Next the sand with the grain to highlight the wavy quilting. The result is a surface with subtle ripples and quite smooth. We didn’t want this piece perfectly flat , only that it caught all the available light.
The legs are hazelnut, two with the bark polished to a natural bronze and one that had lost it’s bark but had an ideal curve. They’re inset and doweled, then glued into a tripod design that’s quite stable. The surface finished in poly so it’s durable and sits just shy of 28 inches (71 cm) which makes it a decent desk height.
The result is a space to compose or read–on a surface made by someone wonderful, nature. The maple grain is truly inspiring and the live edge creates a new environment anywhere you sit.
Approximately 28″ tall, 42″ long and 20″ at its widest.#137-BL-06-13
We start by tracing the grain with an orbital sander to expose the art inside.
Sometimes we leave a few band saw marks, but this piece was sanded smooth.
Using a finishing sander to
Sanding the poly finish builds up on the paper. Clean with brush or compressor before it scratches the finish.
The surface is smooth enough for finishing. We use compressed air and dust fans, then a wipe down with a tack cloth,
The second layer of poly is applied and the shimmer is really beginning to show.
A close up of the maple cell structure. Working wth maple is sort of mesmorizing, like you’re looking at stars and galaxies
Another section of the writing desk.
More interwoven grain called quilting
Beautiful tones of maple bark are polished on the underside.
Now serving… one kitchen table and one matching coffee table, coming right up. A new duo for a new home that uses barn fence planks. The wood is fir and spruce with Prairie Bench rustic finish and polished with durable polyurethane. The table top is notched and glued then set with hardwood hazelnut dowels. The legs are 3″x4″ posts with gussets.
You can also have a trestle design with a center beam that makes a handy footrest.
Using our shield frame, the ‘Timber Wolf’ is carved in spruce, uses a braided sisal handle and has garnets for eyes. The gemstones hold the slightest red light and give the piece an ominous look. The grain of the wood dictated the outcome and suggested the wolf idea. The result, a Prairie Bench impression of the classic big, bad wolf.
The finish is a Prairie Bench Rustic Brown. This was a fun project and expect another with more dimension.
Five piece cookery table and benches. 42″L x 28″W.
A client asked for a version of our Country Lunch Bar with some storybook flair. We designed it a little smaller and included some unique features to make the pieces more memorable. The set is sturdy for heavy chores and constructed with dowel plugs for added support.
#125 – 129 BL 01-13
For fun we carved the emblem of a legendary cookery.
Large knot hole filled with fine sand for translucent effect. The sand is special to the client.
Each seat is different and numbered.
Great for meal preparation, hobbies, and having lunch.
Table top ground and sanded to feel like its from a castle. It will darken naturally with time. 32″ surface height.
Five piece cookery table and benches. 42″L x 28″W.
