This project is for myself. the brief is cheap and straightforward!
I started off with 2 pieces of sandstone, purchased from the local garden centre for £5 each. They are non-standard in size, compared to any that I saw online but by chance were exactly what I was looking for 410x600.
The bench will be dug into the ground, and will stand about 450mm high to the top of the seat.
The sleeper was the best of a bad lot that was available in Leeds on the Thursday before Easter. Howarth timber had a pile of black slimy ones, jewsons had none, so I had to pay top price from Arnold Laver. It isn't bad- it is specced for landscaping, so I cannot be too demanding! It saved having to drive far though, because Lavers is next to work and the other alternative was 15 miles each way away. I got lavers to cut it so that it would go into the car, and didn't cause me issues unloading it on my own.
I started by looking at the timber to choose the best face for the top, and the best faces for the outside. sawhorses made everything a comfortable height to work from.
I could have/should probably have just ran it through the thicknesser, but that involved getting the thing out and lugging a 20kg lump through it. So I hit it with some course grit on the ROS. I bought some 24grit for the purpose, but it didn't eat through it like I had hoped. The primary purpose was to get rid of the worst of the grime and sharp edges, and make it a bit friendlier on the hands to handle. It didn't take too long. I turned the underside so that it was facing up to cut the housing for the legs.
I measured my slabs and used the track saw to cut the housing slot. I cleaned up the bottom a bit with a chisel, which didn't take much. One side is a mm or two loose, so I may need to wedge it if that causes a problem. I suspect that it won't.
I fitted the legs to test, and having done so assembled it right side up.
I want a bench that doesn't look too basic, so thought that I would add some "carving". I was going to carve in the shape of a seat base, but it is beyond my skill level, and I want the bench to be double facing- having planted the borders, hopefully I can sit and look at them sometimes! so I found a design on the net which gave me an idea. I decided to make a couple of simple bum shapes, with a flat bit in between for a cup of coffee.
I started with doing some depth guides with the track saw, then cleaning with a chisel. An arbotec disc would have been ideal here, but I don't have one and they are a bit much for a single project. I hoped that the 24 grit would help here, but it wasn't great. the coarsest abranet I have is 80 grit which is not ideal either. with the trash saw, the chisel, and the ROS, I have managed to get one side almost done. It needs some further refining, because it is a bit rustic still. I have torn some grain/chunks out, and chasing that may be more hassle than is needed for a rustic bench. As long as it is smooth, it will be functional. The whole thing will need a good sanding down anyway because when cleaning it up, some sawmill marks remained. This is a pic of it in its final place, just to see how it would look.
Next weekend, I hope to do the other side. I have done the tracks depth marks, and done a bit of chiseling but I ran out of time.
I am still undecided on a finish, if any.
I started off with 2 pieces of sandstone, purchased from the local garden centre for £5 each. They are non-standard in size, compared to any that I saw online but by chance were exactly what I was looking for 410x600.
The bench will be dug into the ground, and will stand about 450mm high to the top of the seat.
The sleeper was the best of a bad lot that was available in Leeds on the Thursday before Easter. Howarth timber had a pile of black slimy ones, jewsons had none, so I had to pay top price from Arnold Laver. It isn't bad- it is specced for landscaping, so I cannot be too demanding! It saved having to drive far though, because Lavers is next to work and the other alternative was 15 miles each way away. I got lavers to cut it so that it would go into the car, and didn't cause me issues unloading it on my own.
I started by looking at the timber to choose the best face for the top, and the best faces for the outside. sawhorses made everything a comfortable height to work from.
I could have/should probably have just ran it through the thicknesser, but that involved getting the thing out and lugging a 20kg lump through it. So I hit it with some course grit on the ROS. I bought some 24grit for the purpose, but it didn't eat through it like I had hoped. The primary purpose was to get rid of the worst of the grime and sharp edges, and make it a bit friendlier on the hands to handle. It didn't take too long. I turned the underside so that it was facing up to cut the housing for the legs.
I measured my slabs and used the track saw to cut the housing slot. I cleaned up the bottom a bit with a chisel, which didn't take much. One side is a mm or two loose, so I may need to wedge it if that causes a problem. I suspect that it won't.
I fitted the legs to test, and having done so assembled it right side up.
I want a bench that doesn't look too basic, so thought that I would add some "carving". I was going to carve in the shape of a seat base, but it is beyond my skill level, and I want the bench to be double facing- having planted the borders, hopefully I can sit and look at them sometimes! so I found a design on the net which gave me an idea. I decided to make a couple of simple bum shapes, with a flat bit in between for a cup of coffee.
I started with doing some depth guides with the track saw, then cleaning with a chisel. An arbotec disc would have been ideal here, but I don't have one and they are a bit much for a single project. I hoped that the 24 grit would help here, but it wasn't great. the coarsest abranet I have is 80 grit which is not ideal either. with the trash saw, the chisel, and the ROS, I have managed to get one side almost done. It needs some further refining, because it is a bit rustic still. I have torn some grain/chunks out, and chasing that may be more hassle than is needed for a rustic bench. As long as it is smooth, it will be functional. The whole thing will need a good sanding down anyway because when cleaning it up, some sawmill marks remained. This is a pic of it in its final place, just to see how it would look.
Next weekend, I hope to do the other side. I have done the tracks depth marks, and done a bit of chiseling but I ran out of time.
I am still undecided on a finish, if any.
