Popular Post wdwerker Posted February 23, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Oaks open pores and tendency to splinter come to mind. Mel will have a hard time finding big enough pieces of Ebony . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 1 minute ago, wdwerker said: Oaks open pores and tendency to splinter come to mind. Mel will have a hard time finding big enough pieces of Ebony . Bubinga? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Bubinga ? I've seen plenty of big pieces, certainly heavy enough, dark enough that Mel might be happy (and if you can afford a 2k coffee maker.....) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 6 minutes ago, wdwerker said: Oaks open pores and tendency to splinter come to mind. Mel will have a hard time finding big enough pieces of Ebony . Found a guy selling 8/4 Ebony. A 6" x 5' board is only $630. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bglenden Posted February 23, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Hi guys - I'm the OP and kind of amazed at the lively thread that resulted from my little question. For myself - I'm convinced that the answer to my question is: Alder is indeed softer/lighter than is desired for a lifetime bench. Not to say that it couldn't be done, it would surely be better than what I have now (construction lumber & plywood, FWW "getting started" bench, now about 6 years old). I think the hard vs. soft maple secondary question that came up is less definitive, although it is striking that at least two soft maple Roubo builders regret the choice, and I don't think I heard any soft maple builders say that they were perfectly satisfied with their choice (but: small number statistics, and I believe Marc is still happy with his soft maple bench). So, thanks again all for the very helpful discussion. Sorry it got a bit contentious. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 haha we are passionate people about our wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 11 hours ago, wdwerker said: Bubinga ? How about Padauk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 Padauk? BS! You've already committed to ebony? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Janello Posted February 25, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 I went out to the barn today, and in an attempt to prove Eric wrong, drilled 200 holes in my hard maple roubo to lighten it up the same weight as Alder. He was right, it was better before. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 @Janello did you also replace your pirate ship vise wheel with this to prove Eric wrong? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 On 2/23/2017 at 10:26 PM, K Cooper said: Padauk? BS! You've already committed to ebony? I've been kicking around several ideas. I am 99% committed to making a Shaker bench. I am usually not a huge fan of contrast, but an all maple Shaker bench might look silly. Which is why I am thinking of other woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheperd80 Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've been kicking around several ideas. I am 99% committed to making a Shaker bench. I am usually not a huge fan of contrast, but an all maple Shaker bench might look silly. Which is why I am thinking of other woods. For some reason those shaker benches with the blue painted cabinets look kinda cool to me. Not that id ever build one that way, but they have a certain appeal. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 1 minute ago, sheperd80 said: For some reason those shaker benches with the blue painted cabinets look kinda cool to me. Not that id ever build one that way, but they have a certain appeal. I planned on that for a very long time. I really like the look. My mind won't be made up until I'm ready to cut the wood for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 3 minutes ago, sheperd80 said: For some reason those shaker benches with the blue painted cabinets look kinda cool to me. Not that id ever build one that way, but they have a certain appeal. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk Same here. The more I look at Shaker designs the more I like them. Except for the paint. But the designs...beautiful in their simplicity. The Shakers were nutbags but they had an eye for design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 I'm 99% sure that when I eventually build my last bench, it will be the FWW shaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 16 minutes ago, bleedinblue said: I'm 99% sure that when I eventually build my last bench, it will be the FWW shaker. One thing's for sure...you can throw out any concerns about weight if you build a Shaker bench. Those things are HEAVY. You could put a hard maple top on an alder and plywood base and it'll hold your house down in a tornado. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janello Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 I came really close to building a shaker instead, but then came to my.senses and said....that's way to much damn work. Always admired that bench though...even painted they look cool, and that's sayin sumthin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.