The Harmony Bench
Once I finished the side table from Steve Ramsey's course, I moved on to the next project on his list, the Harmony Bench. All of the pictures on the website of this bench had shown it being used as a true bench, sometimes placed in the garden, or in an entryway with a boot shelf nearby. I had another plan for it. It would be a long window-side table in the kitchen.
The original course plan design was for the bench to be about 36 inches long. My window space is 70" wide, so I needed really straight pieces. I would also add some horizontal support in the middle, so the boards wouldn't bend. My version would need to be higher also so that it would be flush with the side of the window.
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| The original design from the Weekend Woodworker course |
The lower shelf would be installed much lower than in the plans, so that it could actually be used as a shelf, rather than just a structural support.
My wife decided on the finish that would be used. Because the wood I bought was simple pine, it didn't have a strong grain, so a dark stain was chosen. That would also gel well with our dark appliances in the kitchen.
This project was tough. The wood from Home Depot had bends and warps that weren't clear until I was working with it. I didn't have a planer that could be used to correct the wood. This meant a LOT of sanding would be needed. It was a good learning opportunity though. It showed how important it was to be really picky with wood when the project involved making decorative pieces (versus garden box).
I was also surprised how much glue was involved in making furniture. This particular project was designed to show no screws, with all of the outward pieces being held on with only glue (which is ironic to say, since wood glue is stronger than wood itself).
It was this project where I first discovered the ability to fill gaps in wood with a wood glue / sawdust mixture. It worked amazingly well. Sanded well also. I then covered that patch with wood filler that would take the stain also.
The stain used was a water based stain. I used a wood conditioner first, which allowed a better dispersion of stain. Once the stain was applied, another issue was discovered - fingerprints. When I was gluing, my fingers had glue residue that I had transferred to parts of the boards without noticing. When the stain was applied, it wouldn't penetrate the areas with glue residue. It showed up clear as day when light coloured fingerprints appeared in dark stain. Once I was done swearing, I sanded those areas down and re-stained. I sanded with 220 grit, then stained again. The difference between 2 coats of stain or paint, and 2 coats with a sanding between them is dramatic and shouldn't be skipped.
Once that last coat was dry, I submitted the photo to the course admins and installed it into the kitchen. It is super heavy, solid and well used.
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