Two Person Bench

This project was a commission for a friend living in an inner-city apartment. She requested a two-person bench to accompany an existing table and chair set, whilst continuing the light grain colour and form aesthetic.

The overall dimensions were agreed to be 450mm tall 220mm wide and 930mm long, to allow two people to side by side with ease. Recycled Tasmanian oak was the material of choice by the client for its similarity in colour to the existing table, as well as the environmental benefits of upcycling materials. After visiting the Timber Zoo, I was able to find a 25 x 2100 x 230mm recycled Tasmanian Oak board from which I could cut the bench top, under-side brackets and four legs.

After cutting the board in half, I cut, scored, and glued the smaller board to create four 55m x 400mm square posts which were then chamfered on the table saw to reduce material prior to turning on the lathe. I used a technical drawing of the predesigned legs as a template to ensure consistency of 22mm thickness up the first 300mm, to a gentle decrease over the last 100mm to a final diameter of 15mm.

I used a two-part epoxy resin to fill the existing nail holes and defects in the timber. This set within 24 hrs and was sanded back to 800 grit and finished with two coats of varnish. I decided to keep the corners and edges sharp to exaggerate the simple geometric profile and follow a similar form to the table it sits under.

I used a sturdy 3/8” angled leg plate set to attach the legs to the bench top. This setup also allows for disassembly and compact storage for shipping and transport. Overall, I’m very pleased with the strength of the legs, final colour of the timber and the way it fits in with the clients existing table and chairs set.