The Cherry Bench

A good friend of mine recently reached out and asked if I had time to knock out a last minute birthday gift for his wife. Now, this isn’t just any old friend, he’s a GREAT friend that has been there for me through thick and thin, hell and high water… you know the type. I immediately said yes.

The next day, he brought over a very large slab of wood that was shaped like a Pringle. It was a twisted, rough sewn mess. After a 45 minute brainstorm session, we decided that the best way to utilize the slab was to make an entry way bench for his home. After making the slab flat, I was left with the most beautiful, figured cherry wood I have ever seen. It made me more excited to move forward with this project.

After hours of sanding, finessing and fine details, bench top was finally ready for a coat of finish. In most woodworking projects, this step is the most satisfying. Seeing the grain pop, the chatoyance shimmer, and all the hard work pay off is really what it’s all about. After all, I think of these projects as functional art.

After the oil had cured, I invited my friend to the shop so he could be involved in installing the legs on the bench. He was a great help in getting the legs positioned just right and ensuring no unwanted movement happened while I was marking out for the mortises. When securing the legs, we spent time chatting and cutting up like we always do. We finished off the slab with a coat of wax to really smooth out the finish and add a little bit of protection. What a blast it is to have another great soul in the shop!

Do you have friends that you share your passions with? What do you enjoy most about having your friends involved in those passions?