Making beach forts out of driftwood is amazing fun. I couldn’t help bring a ton home but had no project in mind. Shortly after that, I was driving home and saw an enormous cedar on its side, under a pile of branches. That’s when I thought, hey! how hard can it be? And stopped to beg for branches. My just right adirondack chair was broken; I would make a new one… no- a bench out of weird shaped wood.

But how? I never made furniture before. But I’ve sewn clothing which is another kind of construction, so I made a scale drawing and then a full size template out of scrap wood. A beginner class at IsGoodWoodworks, Seattle, was a great way to learn basic skills and, after that, I was ready to tackle the bench.

Prep: I used drawknives to take off the cedar bark, cut the branches off and sanded each to 220. I use hand tools, many used and sharpened up. 

Build: Tools: Japanese saws, square, level, drawknife, drill, chisels, circular saw.
When the branches were ready, I didn’t have enough wood; so I got twisty yellow cedar 2x2s for the rest and prepped them too.

Wood: Driftwood, green cedar branches, dry yellow cedar, 1 inch dowels and smaller ones for loose tenons, glue.

I finally made a strong leg and then two more, squared an area as big as the bench, set up the legs and added the front and back to make a base. Next step was to add uprights at each end. I stared at the wood, trying out combinations of curvy wood wood until the back fit together, looked right, and felt nice to lean back on. Followed by fitting and joining and fixing.

I asked several big guys to test it out, making it stronger until it didn’t creak when a very large gentleman took a seat.
Finishing: Seafin teak oil
Using a brush for the first coat, I soaked the wood with as much oil as it could hold and let it dry 3 days. When dry to the touch, I sanded, and added 3 more coats, sanding each when dry. My new bench feels just right. I can sit on the deck and see lake Washington below

Launch Gallery