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Showing results for tags 'pews'.
Found 5 results
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Well this project took me a lot longer than I ever expected. I was ask to build this right after my knee replacement and I thought I could do more than I really could. So it took me a while to admit I just didn't have the strength and stamina to work on it and it got put on hold for a while. My customer was okay with it, they were in no hurry to get the table. So let me start here. I was ask to build this table out of reclaimed lumber. I don't have any reclaimed lumber or at least I didn't think I did. I met my client at the wood stash to look at what I had and pick out something for what she wanted. Here is where the story get interesting. Her father is a retired pastor and a local church in our area was about to go under. They were down to 20 members and he just hated to see it close. He called the pastor or our church and as it turned out, we adopted them and are working on rebuilding the congregation. When our church took over the facilities, we took out all of the pews and put down new carpet and they decided to spread the pews apart so they wound up with four they didn't need. I got a called and was told I could have them if I would come right then and pick them up. I did and stored them at the wood stash. So while she is looking around, she sees the pew parts and ask what they were. I told her and she said that is what my table needs to be made from since my dad had a part in saving that church. So this was one of the seat sections that would be used for the top. Here are the sections cut down almost to size. Along with the table were to benches to fit into the corner of the Breakfast area. I got on those and built the framework out of 2x4 lumber. We took more of the seat section and made the seat for the bench and we took the backs of the pews and made the front and sides. They were delivered and put into the corner of the Breakfast area. So then it was back to the table. I was sent a picture of the table she wanted for this area and the only one she found had a round top but she wanted this base on the table. I was ask if I could do this with a 48" square top. Now I usually just get dimensions and work from my head maybe making a slim sketch while I work but this time I decided to sit down and draw out this table in SketchUp and add the dimensions. So that was my working drawing for this table. I got some old beams to make the bottom from and they were some of the first pieces to run through the new 8" jointer. After jointing and planing and cutting to size I make the half lap joints for the base. Then the ends of the braces were rounded over on the bandsaw and sanded smooth. I then cut all of the 45 degree support pieces. A quick Dry fit after a new fence for the SCMS and all was good to move forward. With everything cut it was time to start the assemble. Beth was in the shop to help me with the assembly as this table started getting heavy pretty quick. Assembled we put the first coat of Minwax Dark Walnut stain on to match the Oak Church Pews. After about twice as long as it should have been I finally got it dry enough to get the second coat on and then wait a little longer. The finish coat was General Finished Endro-Var which I really like in the Satin finish. Last night I installed the top using figure 8's and attached the trim around the top that came off the pew edges. So now the table is finished and ready to deliver. It has been an awesome project. Thanks for letting me share it along the way here and to give you a final wrap up. Well I will post one more picture after it is set in place with the benches.
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After a slight (2") mess up on my part the last time I took these out to the customer to install, this time it went in well. Had to cut out around the molding but other than that, it was all ready to go. These are old Oak pews from a local church. They wanted to keep the original finish so I had to make all my cuts where there was not new wood showing. I took the hymn book racks off the back, cut them down a little and installed them on each end so as there four year old said, "A place to put my iPad." So now I just have to get the table that goes with this finished. I had the top all glued up and ready and had it standing next to the cabinets in the back of the show I hit something that hit it and caused it to fall over and it busted in two of the old glue joints. So I will be getting it glued up and ready to deliver in a couple of weeks.
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This week I'm going to start a project for my sister's church. They are replacing their pews with padded chairs (good choice I might add) but to smooth the feathers of a few members they want to build a 4 foot circular communion table out of a the straight backs of some of the pews. I'm hoping that the backs are solid oak or I'll be gluing some edging. Anyway, I want to put a 3" or so skirt under the top so I need your thoughts. How would you folks do it? I'm thinking about making the skirt about 1/2" thick and kerf cutting the back side to make it bendable. How far apart should I make the cuts? I think I'll inset the skirt about 2" in from the edge so the skirt will be about 44" in diameter. Y'all got any ideas?
