Japanese Style Bench Build

[Benham_Design]

In this project I design and build a bench incorporating Japanese style architecture, as well as in lay some bow ties/butterflies along a crack I carve as a decorative feature. Depending on how you argue the semantics of what joinery is, their are 5 or 6 different types of joinery in this project.

Used a dado blade to cut the bridle joints on the tablesaw

I tried to find piece of walnut that had grain flowing in the direction of the decorative arch

Hollow mortiser left the walls of the mortise rough so I cleaned them up with a chisel 

Angled tenons to match the taper on the legs.  cut with a combination of dado blade and a Japanese handsaw

Hand chopped with chisel and mallet 

planed flush 

Edited November 18, 2018 by Benham_Design
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[..Kev]

Nice project!  Interesting creation of the live edge!

[Coop]

Really nice piece. Fantastic job! 

[Coop]

Just out of curiosity, how does a bearing on top and bottom of your straight cutting router bit aid in making a climb cut? Does it help to prevent the bit from pulling into the wood? 

[Coop]

The white handle saw used in the video, I was looking at some of these yesterday at Woodcraft. They look darn handy. I would suspect, like any other tool, there is crap and there is cream. Any recommendations of a good one of these that won’t break the bank, yet make you glad you bought it? And I bet there ate teeth configurations to consider? 

[Benham_Design]

4 minutes ago, K Cooper said:

The white handle saw used in the video, I was looking at some of these yesterday at Woodcraft. They look darn handy. I would suspect, like any other tool, there is crap and there is cream. Any recommendations of a good one of these that won’t break the bank, yet make you glad you bought it? And I bet there ate teeth configurations to consider? 

I have found the gyokucho brand even though relatively inexpensive to be really well made, sharp and cut great.  As far as teeth, I haven't found a good resource which explains the best use for each tooth configuration.  The different websites marketing teams think they'll sell more if they throw "dovetailing saw" on everything.  

[Benham_Design]

1 hour ago, K Cooper said:

Just out of curiosity, how does a bearing on top and bottom of your straight cutting router bit aid in making a climb cut? Does it help to prevent the bit from pulling into the wood? 

Yes, it allows me to not do a climb cut and  always rout with the grain for the cleanest safest cut

[Coop]

Thanks bud for both answers. I was watching a video on Friday where a fellow used one of these. Not that I want to get into just hand tools but I can see where this could be used in lieu of my bandsaw when it was not practical. A little more precise, if you will. 

[Benham_Design]

1 minute ago, K Cooper said:

Thanks bud for both answers. I was watching a video on Friday where a fellow used one of these. Not that I want to get into just hand tools but I can see where this could be used in lieu of my bandsaw when it was not practical. A little more precise, if you will. 

Yeah, they cut on the pull strock so I find them easy to get started and control

[Coop]

Good idea too,  on the razor cut and chisel to get a good starting line. Oh, and welcome to the forum.