I threw a few more boards on the woodshed today.
I wouldn't have quoted such an old post but I checked your profile and see that you still come around. Beautiful bench! And that joinery you used blows my mind. I've been a custom cabinetmaker for almost two decades and that is among the best joinery I've seen.
I do have one thing that you might watch for in the future when gluing up wide planks like this one. Look at the ends of the boards. See how the growth rings are turning in what looks like a "frown"? I call those "smiles" and "frowns" It's not crucial on a plank the size of yours - around 12 inches or so - but when gluing up it's best to alternate your "smiles" and "frowns". This will help your lumber from cupping in the future. I'm sure you picked the face of your board by the cosmetic appearance. If you ever do a very large plank this way and fail to keep in mind how the wood cups you can run into problems rather quickly.
As you can see from the picture below, you can look at the ends of a board and determine how it will cup. Closer to the center there is very little cupping but the wood will tend to try to cup on the top and bottom, becoming a bit thicker in the middle. I'd say after the amount of time since your project was completed you have a distinct upward bow down the middle like the board right below the middle one in the pic.
Again, beautiful work!
Mini-milling 8x8's at home.
A corner chisel hasn't shown up yet, plus the handle broke on the Bailey's slick. The metal part of the slick works fine, but the handle seems to be some kind of Taiwanese softwood.
A few more boards and posts installed.
Yes, this area is a mix of prairie, forest, and canyons. Wildfires and a harsh climate make it difficult for trees to establish except on the shady north slopes.The surrounds looks like the building is isolated on it's own on a prairie, I'm intrigued as to what other buildings or plants/forest are near by?
It varies quite a bit from year to year.Maybe you've said before, but how long does the snow last?
Enter your email address to join: