Burn the bench

**transit** · 22nd June 2016, 05:29 PM

This is a cautionary tale that I hope assists other reckless souls

I should explain that the workbench is an old school one I got at an auction
at the local Education Board workshop decades ago. They were closing down
as the 'new right' laid waste to all that was useful in this once fully employed land.

As you can see, it involves a foreign element which attempted to burn the bench.
US pronunciation approriate, it was a sod of a situation.
Too embarrassed to capture the actual burn, I begin with the remedy.

Yes I can see the borer but I subscribe to the aircraft design theory that holes make things lighter and stronger ok...
It is Rimu so the two tooth is de rigueur.

Using the age-old draw some lines and hack it out with the router method
a suitable lump of possibly Kahikatea, subtlely bevelled is gently eased aboard.
The pencil code indicates a right angle, presumably because like the right whale, it is the one to have.

Wanting a tight fit, I employed the Birmingham screwdriver, 20 oz or what we call 567 gms

Keen to continue with fine tools I engaged Mr Kinzo looking all his 30 years and still with his own teeth.

Little Stanley fancied the lowering job

But time was short so no.4 horse power was called up

Those are paint spots ok, no flies in my workshop.

Things then took a Krenov/Zen turn with the dreaded 'sand paper' not getting a look in.
The round over shows the hand tooled look so popular with the punters, a couple of quick passes, dinner was ready.

Quick wipe with tar and she's all good.
The very slight contrast in timbers remains a warning to me and a conversation starter for visitors.

Pete in NZ

**Simplicity** · 22nd June 2016, 07:22 PM

Have you thought about writing poetry.
Brilliant little WIP [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji3]

**Christos** · 22nd June 2016, 07:35 PM

Lovely and well presented thread.

**transit** · 22nd June 2016, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Have you thought about writing poetry.
Brilliant little WIP [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji3]

Cheers

There was a woodbutcher called Pete
His workbench had taken the heat
He patched it with glee
using part of a tree
and eventually a retreat he did beat

**transit** · 22nd June 2016, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Christos

Lovely and well presented thread.

very kind thankyou

**artme** · 23rd June 2016, 09:21 PM

A really entertaining AND informative thread.

reminds me of a table - Aus. Red Cedar - owned by an acquaintance. He stripped it back to refinish
the thing only to find several patches of the sort you have done. Trouble is they were done with, probably, hoop pine!

I tiold him not to bother trying to match the colour again but leave things as they were jus to show the history of the piece.
For some reason he took offense.

**IanW** · 24th June 2016, 09:41 AM

Pete, my first thought was, 'he should've matched the grain direction', but given the somewhat less than pristine state of your bench top, that would obviously have been unnecessary fussines.

It's better as you've done it, I think, one more battle scar acquired in the bench's honorable (& apparently long) service, and an excellent conversation starter.....

Cheers,

**transit** · 24th June 2016, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by artme

A really entertaining AND informative thread.

reminds me of a table - Aus. Red Cedar - owned by an acquaintance. He stripped it back to refinish
the thing only to find several patches of the sort you have done. Trouble is they were done with, probably, hoop pine!

I tiold him not to bother trying to match the colour again but leave things as they were jus to show the history of the piece.
For some reason he took offense.

cheers

I always remember some american woodworker, made a pristine traditional tall cabinet...
then wacked a 4 in nail in the side of it and bent it over a bit...said it all about preciousness

**transit** · 24th June 2016, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by IanW

Pete, my first thought was, 'he should've matched the grain direction', but given the somewhat less than pristine state of your bench top, that would obviously have been unnecessary fussines.

It's better as you've done it, I think, one more battle scar acquired in the bench's honorable (& apparently long) service, and an excellent conversation starter.....

Cheers,

Thanks IW hehe yep the bench is getting a bit rough.
Making a shelf atm, spotted a grub hole right in the line of sight, plan on drilling a hole in the middle of it and driving in a twig...
hey a knot and a feature !

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