Hey gang,

 

Right after I registered here, I had to replace my desktop computer. What fun transferring files!

 

Anyway, I took a trip to a friend's in PA.  He had told me that he had a rotting back slat on a bench that is wife's father had owned.  She wanted to save as much of the bench as possible for sentimental reasons.  So, I brought a selection of hand tools and my jig saw and palm router, figuring I'd have to replace the back.

 

After closer inspection, the rot was in several places on the bench and couldn't be salvaged.  Long story short, My buddy (who's a woodworking novice and doesn't own any stationary tools) and I replicated the bench as closely as possible using PT. We did it in a day.  I used the original bench to trace out the curves on the legs and arms.  If I had known it would be as involved as it was, I would have brought the 2 1/4 hp bosch router, and made templates out of hardboard. I had no way of recreating the curves on the back slats, so we went the straight slat route. Don't look too closely.  I don't consider it my best work, but given the circumstances, it came out all right.

 

And his wife is thrilled, so all is good.

 

 

 

Awesome job! I can see why she was happy!

No templates for all those curved pieces and it came out beautiful. Great job.

Awesome Work! Great Job! Thank you for sharing.

Great job for 1 day . Looks like it could have taken a couple weeks.

You hit a home-run on this one! Very nice...Sorry about the 'puter, but glad you got things running again and back among us. Thanks for taking the time to update us and creating the thread. Good one for the gallery.

Paul that looks great.  Do the plan to paint it?

Looks fantastic to me, As long as his wife is happy with it, that's what really counts anyway

 

that is a work of art... nicely done..

Shucks, one day! I'd say you done good. Not too mentions it looks fantastic, I tried to look close, saw nothing out of place.

1 minute ago, John Morris said:

Shucks, one day! I'd say you done good. Not too mentions it looks fantastic, I tried to look close, saw nothing out of place.

I couldn't either John. I'd be darn proud to have that.

 

Just now, Charles Nicholls said:

I couldn't either John. I'd be darn proud to have that.

 

Shoot ya!

Thanks for the compliments.  I'm my biggest critic, and if you looked at it in person, you'd see without the templates and flush trimming bits,  the curves aren't symmetrical.  But his wife is happy, and when all is said and done, that's all that matters.

 

I told them they'll need to let the PT dry a bit.  It was pretty heavy.  I suggested they leave it till spring.  I don't know if they'll heed my suggestion.  I did point out to them that if they paint it while still full of water, they may be painting it again in spring anyway.

 

Oh, and I think the only way we got it done in a day is we used pocket screws for a majority of the joinery.

Well done, we are always our own worst critics.