I couldn't convince the wife to drop work and go shooting today, so had to console myself with some bench-top prep.



It's the first benchtop of the summer... Had taken about 3 months off for some other work. Felt nice to make some fine sawdust.



This one is 8'2" long, 2.5" thick, 21" at the narrow end, 26+" at the wide end.



It sure goes nicer when a man has good company.

That's damned impressive.

I'm guessing that this bench isn't gonna have much flex....

Tell me you didn't do that top with a draw shave? Your knuckles must be bleeding if you did. I miss having my hound covered in sawdust snoozing at my feet while I worked on my lathe. She never seemed to mind.

Looks good, Mike!

Steve, I was asking the new owner about how he wanted to support it- and we're putting in a full dimension rough-sawn frame under it.
Douglas fir is tough enough, and 2.5" thick is nice, but it would flex under a good bucket of lead. Not much, but it would. I don't like flex and sag. I build my bookshelves of 2"x12's, supported every 3.5 feet.

There's going to be a 6" x 6" post angled up from the back wall nestled into a timberframe joint strongback in the middle of the bench. The two end strongbacks are going to be supported with vertical posts so we don't have to make a box at the ends.
Two shelves, only about 12" and 14" wide, but roughsawn again at 1.75" thick.

DElliottg, the drawknife was used to peel a little bit of the inner bark off.
That would be an exercise in masochism to try to smooth off a 26" wide slab with a drawknife. I used to do it with handplanes though- and seriously, that finish beats the heck out of a sanded finish. Doesn't take THAT much longer... but I still haven't done that in at least 10 years.

Tony, thanks. I don't think the dog was wearing his schwag when you were here- did you recognize him?!

I try to refrain from commenting on another mans wood... But that is some fine wood sir!

That's awesome!

I love the finish from a hand plane, and you're right, it's a much nicer finish unless you're in confused grain then you can get tear out if you're not careful to stay razor sharp. Made a table top from Peruvian walnut a while back and it's tear out prone to begin with. I ended up having to hand sand the top, I just couldn't keep it from tearing out in places.

Do you have a bandsaw mill or do you use an Alaskan mill to make your slabs?

I did. I figured that was your hat, though. Nice to know the dog (like the rest of your family) is a 2a supporter as well!

I forgot to answer regarding the mill. Have a bandsaw here.

Would love to see the Peruvian Walnut table top.