Thread: 'Christmas present' WIP

Thanks Sawdust Maker - I'm pretty happy with it myself. I think it should set off the curve of the back and the slats nicely. Only time will tell.

A great WIP on a complex Job. Crackerjack problem solving!!!

Was wondering where you'd gotten to. Thought the project might have gotten the best of you ...

Originally Posted by Ozziespur

Was wondering where you'd gotten to. Thought the project might have gotten the best of you ...

No, it's big ... but it ain't that big!

So after a week of chaos, followed by a week away in Melbourne with Christopher Schwarz (what a great bloke, and a great time that was!) I have finally strung together enough hours to finish this behemoth!

After cleaning up the leg pieces, and taking a spokeshave to the back pieces to flush the ribs and their connectors, it was a fairly easy process to assemble. Put the seat pieces upside down on a couple of horses (the wooden kind) and attach the legs - the two middle slats were bolted with M8x90mm galvanised bolts, the front and rear slat couldn't be done this way as the legs were obstructing access from the bottom. I toyed for over an hour trying to make a guide block for my hand drill, so that I could join them with 19mm hardwood dowels. It was imperative to get the holes at a true 90, but no matter how I tried to rig it, I couldn't get them right. The pieces were too big and unwieldy to use my drill press, try as I might to stabilize them. Then I had a forehead-smacking moment and realised I could simply Domino the buggers - 15 minutes later, job done!

Since I had taken the time to properly fit and size the tenons for the back pieces, they simply glued and pressed together - no clamps needed.

Following that was the finish. I have used a mix of 1 part decking oil, 1 part boiled linseed oil, 1 part satin estapol (for a little hardness) and 1 part turps. It is a very thin mix that soaks in and doesn't leave runs. The only trouble is, with the BLO in there it takes ages to dry. I gave the first coat 24 hours, and 24 hours after the second coat it's still sticky. I don't know if I'm going to regret the finish selection - only time will tell.

Here is the finished piece in it's new home at the end of the garden. The client hasn't been able to sit on it yet, since the finish is still tacky, but I think she's happy enough that she'll give me the final payment!

Attachment 260234 Attachment 260235

Thanks for your comments ladies and gents, it's been a fun one. Let's clean up the workshop and start the next one!

cheers

pete

Nice work. I love it. Good luck with the payment

What a great piece to have in the garden!!!!

Now this has been quite a work in progress and I have enjoyed reading your comments.

Well done

How comfortable is it to sit in

Just waiting for a bird to sit in that tree & answer the call of nature all over it ..

Beautiful piece of craftmanship Pete, thanks for the journey.

Yep Ozziespur, I'm waiting for the exact same thing!!

I'm actually waiting for a day without work and without rain so I can put on the third coat of finish!

Sawdustmaker: as for comfort, the base is as comfortable as any wooden seat I suppose. The curved back actually works really well - my wife likes to sit upright, so she takes the middle, and I'm a 'recliner' so I take the end. Once you get used to the slight springy movement as you lean on the back, it is really very supportive.

As for the payment - apparently late delivery = late payment! Maybe it'll be my birthday present!!