Another bench

[Zulu]

Years ago I cut down a red oak tree. I took an 8' long section of the trunk to a sawmill and had it slabbed into 2" thick pieces. I painted the ends, and stacked it in a dry place for about two years.
Then I used some of it to make a couple of cannon carriages.
I had a couple of pieces that were pretty warped but had no cracks in them. They sat around for another three years cause I couldn't figure out what to do with them.
So I made a warped bench with warped legs.
I cut rounds in the top of the legs and set them into the bench seat. Then used wedges to tighten them up.
I bought the scrolled ironwork and welded ends on it to use as a leg stiffener.
I think it turned out pretty cool for a warped piece of wood. It is 6' 2" long and 13" wide at the widest part.
Zulu

[52bagman]

X-C-LENT

[hillbill]

very nice! a family heirloom.

[Zulu]

very nice! a family heirloom.

Heirloom?
Nope!  It's going on my website when my lovely assistant gets a chance.
Zulu
www.jmelledge.com

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

I've got a piece of cherry like that I've been wondering what to do with.  It's got a little bit more "warp" than that but maybe it'll straighten out through the middle if I use the ends for legs.


Where did you get the iron work? 


Alan

[Zulu]

Hi Alan,
The bar with the scrolls on it came from Steel Supply in Houston.  It is just down the street from me.
I cut it to size and welded the ends on it.
It was only about $21
Zulu
http://www.steelsupplylp.com/

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Steel Supply is going to gain a customer thanks to Zulu.  They've got some neat stuff.  Thanks for the heads up.


Alan

[Zulu]

Steel Supply is going to gain a customer thanks to Zulu.  They've got some neat stuff.  Thanks for the heads up.


Alan

Alan,
There are a lot of things you can do to incorporate ironwork into your woodwork. 
Here is an example where I used scrolled stairway spindles from Steel Supply and welded them to a frame I made to support a walnut mantle.  I set the pillars on lathe turned walnut bases.  If I recall, I think I only paid about $9 each for the spindles at the time.




 
 
Here, I bought four "scrolls" and used them to tie my table legs together.  The legs are just 3" pipe with 5/16" round bar wrapped around them.  The wood in the center is "poisen wood".
 



 
Fabricated metal from Steel Supply is generally very reasonably priced.  I think it really adds a nice touch to my woodwork.
Zulu
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Well buddy, from what I've seen of your posted woodwork, it is way over the top! Anything that adds to it is fluff.  My stuff looks like it was finished by a drunk with a dull hatchet compared to yours.  I am going to use some things from Steel Supply though. 


I started a small hallway table made of mesquite with walnut trim a year or so ago and I think I can put together a base from items I saw on their website.


Thanks again.  I never get tired of looking at the pictures of the stuff you put together.


Alan

[Zulu]

Alan,
Do you weld?  Do you have an acetylene torch?  i do all my welding with a $250 cracker box welder.  I am self taught just by messing around with it.
While it might look hard, some of my stuff is actually pretty simple.  I heat and bend round bar around things to look cool.  It works!    Sometimes it also hides my welds.    Which is a good thing!
Here is my kitchen.  I just heated and wrapped 1/2" round bar around 3" pipe for the legs.  Where ever I welded the 1/2" bar together, I wrapped 3/16" round bar around my welds to hide them.





 
The chairs I made from 1/2" round bar for$6 each in metal and $75 each in a cowhide.  I made a pattern out of paper, then cut out the leather and installed the grommets.  I then soaked the whole thing in water overnight.  Then I installed it wet on the chair and laced up the back with wet rahide.  Then it went into the sun till it was dry.  Turned out nice.  I copied a picture my wife found in a California magazine.  They wanted $826 each for them.
Zulu
 

 
 
 
 


 

 
 
 
 

[scratchmark]

if ya ever need some custom stuff done, i've been doing steel work and blacksmithing for the last 18years and have done the baskets as you have on your bench which looks great i might add.

[Zulu]

if ya ever need some custom stuff done, i've been doing steel work and blacksmithing for the last 18years and have done the baskets as you have on your bench which looks great i might add.

scratchmark,
Those baskets were cold rolled on a machine.  If you did yours hot I must commend you!  They would be very hard to make.
Zulu

[scratchmark]

They re actually quite simple once i got it figured out, but i had a scrap pile before i did...lol

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Zulu, Yes I weld and have oxy/act rig.  I've got a little Lincoln arc welder that I've had for a lot of years.  Most of my welding experience has been very utilitarian and not much in the way of "artsy" stuff.  Perhaps when I retire from my full time job I'll devote a little more energy to making things of a more aesthetic nature.  I am going to build that base for the hallway table though.  I've looked for various bases but the table top is ten inches wide and 4 ft long.  There's not much out there prefab in those dimensions.  Right now I'm thinking that an 8" wide top made of flat iron to attach to the top with prefab legs made from scrolls or rods with baskets (gotta think about that some more). 


Lots of good ideas on here.


Alan

[Zulu]

Alan,
Here are some more ideas.  Some tables I have made.  Simple design and easy to make.
Zulu