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Twin Oak Entry Benches -
Quartersawn White Oak - Light Oak Stain, Satin Finish
MountainHaven
created matched entry benches using quartersawn white oak for the main entry
points into the living space of the client's home.
The client has two entries into the living space with the need for seating
at each entrance. Storage was needed in the pieces, as well as sufficient
clearance beneath for footwear.
Height and width dimensions were also very
specific, as was the need for the pieces to blend in with other solid oak
pieces in the home.
The styling requirements dictated a light,
traditional approach. The desire was for a simple, clean style without the
hard linear aspects of a modern or contemporary style. Other oak pieces in
the home are traditional in style, but with a heavier presence than was
desired for the twin benches
Functionally, the benches have a storage drawer
that slides either to the left, or to the right. This provides greatest
utility and versatility of placement in the home. The drawer runs on
hardwood guides rather than metal roller guides, making the operation quiet,
simple and impossible to spring, or bend, should the drawer be impacted
laterally while in the open position. The mortise and tenon joinery, with
tenons locked into the mortises with dowel pins, ensures maximum strength
and durability. The bench seats are attached in a manner that allows them to
float (for expansion and contraction) to avoid splitting, yet they do not
allow for detectable manual movement.
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The
lifecycle chronology of the project is illustrated and described below. Click on any of the
small images to open a full size
view in a separate viewing window.
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Parts
is.....scattered. Styled bench legs are seen resting on the band saw and
table saw, both tools necessary to mill the tapers and curves on the legs,
front and back. |
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Completed leg
assemblies (4) can be seen standing atop the sheet goods bin for the shop.
Tapers of legs are clearly evident. Bench backs and seats are in glue up
clamps. |
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Bench frames now
complete. Bench on top of table saw has drawer guides installed, seat and
back dry fit but not yet permanently attached. Guides are clamped in place on the bench
standing on the floor. |
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Both benches now
assembled and ready to have the drawers made and precision fit. All tenons
are locked into their mortises with oak dowels. The dowels are hard to
see in this view. |
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The finish has been
applied to this bench, and a small carving has been applied to the face panel.
The tapered legs help reduce any boxy feeling in the piece. |
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A close look near
the ends of the back rest and near the tops of the legs will reveal the
locking dowels inserted through the tenons. The entire frame utilizes the
locked joint for added strength and durability. |
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One of the twin
benches with the two way drawer fitted, built, finished and in place. The
drawer may be opened by sliding either to the left, or to the right. |
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The sliding drawer
has been pulled out to the right. Hardwood drawer guides are visible. An
occasional rub of white paraffin wax is all that is needed for decades of
smooth, silent operation. |
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A close up view of
the front panel carving. Notice, too, the profiled edges of the seat that
match the bench legs profiling. |
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The front and back
panels have tenons that fit snugly into mortises (slots) in the legs. The
tenons are then locked in tight with hardwood dowels. Clean, tight, very
strong joints. |
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The back legs of the
benches are one piece solid oak of very straight grain. The back rests are
dowelled onto the faces of the legs. They look simple, but were complex to
mill accurately. |
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Another view from
the back right quarter. The drawer is easily, and comfortably operated
whether seated on the bench, or standing beside it. |
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Each piece made in
the shop has the signature of the craftsman and build year burned, by hand,
into the piece in a subtle location. |
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One of the twins
positioned by the main entry into the home. |
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Another view of the
bench in it's new home ready for many, many years of daily use. |
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The second twin has
it's assigned place as well. The two way drawers allow the bench to be
placed beside another piece of furniture, or wall, with no loss of
functionality. |
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