I began making a dining table bench for someone based on the Farmhouse Bench plans from Ana. I was glad to start it since I'm likely making one for our house in the near future (with a table with room for 15 million kids). After taking some stain samples to match with the existing dining room set I decided that the bench I built was looking to bulky for their space, then I was less than enthusiastic about the way the stain was coming along, so I set it aside and started over. ARG. I went with a smaller more modern version of that bench with a 1x12 seat. That was much better.
I've also been in the battle of Jen vs. Bench (watch your mouth, Jen) with some small kid sized benches I made a while back to go with the Trestle Table I made for the Barosh family. The kids managed to break off the 1x2 stretcher along the underside of the bench, so I had them brought in for repair. I got them fixed and put back together and they WOBBLED! ARG ARG ARG! It was really irritating and very discouraging!
I felt as if the wood was fighting against me. It was being stubborn and refusing to become what I was trying to make it. And as I said those words out loud in complaint to a dear friend I heard the Holy Spirit saying, "Um...duh. You are the wood." Oh snap. And it was true. How often am I the wood in this situation? How often do I refuse to listen to the leading of my Jesus and keep trying to do my own thing, my own way? He is trying to take this boring, beat up, rough and splintery piece of me and turn me into something new, something useful, something beautiful. So in that moment I decided to do a few things.
a. Stop being a stubborn piece of wood
b. Ask Jesus for patience and concentration in building
c. Ask my Dad for advice on building
The next morning I stumbled upon a tutorial video on using the kreg jig, and wouldn't you know it, they used a clamp. DUH!!! A CLAMP!!! How did I miss this? Clamp your piece of wood to the work surface, glue and screw and it can't run away from you! So simple, yet so essential. I started over with trestle bench repairs, changed the design a bit, used clamps and then I had stable, non wobbly benches. AMEN.
So here are the two dining room benches I tackled this week.
The farmhouse bench: 17H, 14W, 39L
Currently for sale: $60
And the sleeker version: SOLD.
