Bench Seat from Slabbed Wattle

[Calm]

Hi last week i checked some of the slabs i cut last year and they were down to 12% moisture so i have made a "prototype" bench seat. This was slabs from a Wattle of some type, yellow flowers like a cootamundra wattle but from the Ballan area.

The timber has been through the thicknesser and nothing else. I wet the grain for the last photo to try and get an idea of the finished look. It will need pulling apart, sanding and a finish of some type.

It could be short but that was the length of the slab. Some will be out of Blackwood as well. The legs are a full slab width that i split down the middle to plane and thickness then i dowelled and then glued it back together, the jig i made was not good enough but a sander wil clean that up. Better jig on the way

17 YO daughter said it needs another board on the back, it is quite comfortable to sit on as far as angles, height and spacing.

Go for the comments, good or bad, it is a PROTOTYPE so i need ideas for improvement. I was hoping to make quite a few of these so finish options, what tools to sand with, approximate selling price, maybe a square table as well, etc etc. will all help.

[mongrell]

sand out any grey bits , round over all edges that are square with a big round over bit and round the corners off with a jigsaw i just use a paint tin or somethin to get the right curve ,then give us another look

[Sawdust Maker]

looks good
I'd agree with your daughter re the second back slat (or whatever it's called)

just a query, would the bottom slabs or legs be prone to splitting?

[weisyboy]

looks good calm

maby for the back you could cut a small slab inhalf and leave a gap between the 2 halves.

looks good otherwise.

for finish ther is a couple of options.
you could use an oil or a 2 pack floor varnish if you want a high gloss hard wearing finish. you could also use a marine varnis althow this would not be as tough.

and now the hard bit price!

what ever people will pay.
do you have an outlet or will you be advertising in the paper etc, or be visiting markets?

[Calm]

Thanks for the ideas. I will pull it apart today and have a go at rounding the edges and corners.

I think the grey bits (natural edge) will stay as they are part of the effect.

I hope the legs dont split but they will be around here for a couple of months before i advertise them in the local paper.

Finish thanks Carl i hadnt thought of a floor or marine varnish. I have no idea of what is the best way to sand it or if it will look better with a satin, semi gloss or gloss finish. As they will basically be outdoor furniture open to the weather a sealed finish will be required.

[weisyboy]

do them with a mat floor finish sand with an orbital sander to about 400 grit should turn out good.

[Calm]

Thanks for the comments so far but the finish is causing me greif. Bunnies and the Haymes paint shop have both told me that 2 pack floor varnish is not for outside use and wouldnt recomend it and have recommended something else. They also dont sell it so that could be a reason they didnt like the idea.


MAYBE a very kind great person known as a MOD could transfer this thread to the finishig section and i might get more opinons.

Feel free to give you options for an outside finsh that wont get on clothes.

[weisyboy]

i am sure you can get 2 packs for outside. otherwise it may be marine varnis or oil.

[Allan at Wallan]

Hi Dave,

I share the opinion that another board is required
for lower lumbar support.

Will wait for others to venture their opinions as to
finishes ... that is not my field of expertise as many
others would already know.

Allazn

_________________________________________

I once stole a calendar - and got 12 months.

[watson]

MAYBE a very kind great person known as a MOD could transfer this thread to the finishig section and i might get more opinons.

Feel free to give you options for an outside finsh that wont get on clothes.

Move completed David

[Calm]

Move completed David

Thanks