Trestle Bench From Reclaimed Douglas Fir

[Scott Barringer]

Just finished this Friday and wanted to share. The DF was salvaged from some tall cabinet doors during a remodel I worked on awhile back. It's from the mid 1930's probably. The walnut was left over from other stuff. I documented this build on my blog at www.barringerwoodworks.squarespace.com if anyone is interested. The finish is a hand-rubbed oil and urethane mix, satin sheen. Pretty happy with it and I like the old hardware impressions and screw holes but I want to get back to the Shaker stuff. Let me know what you all think.

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[Scott Barringer]

Oh, forgot to add, the white sheet was from my girlfriend's linen closet.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I absolutely love the simple clean lines of this! The color of the wood and the little additional contrasting wood. Simply stunning in my eyes! Well done sir!

[Scott Barringer]

Thanks so much Ken!

[Brett Robson]

Beautiful job! I love the warm color of aged df! It looks like it has very close growth rings. Was it difficult to work with?

[Art Mann]

What character! I can't think of a better use for the salvage material. I have also used a lot of salvage lumber from old structures. I think fine wood is like fine wine in that it just seems to get better and develop more character with age.

[Jim Becker]

Just plain beautiful!

[Buck Williams]

Very nice, I've never seen that type of a wedge use d to pull the bottom stretcher together. Or at least I guessing that the walnut that slips over the bottom stretcher tusk provides the means of tightening the bottom stretcher. Nice design and contrast there, thanks for sharing.

[George Bokros]

Absolutely stunning. The grain really pops and the contrasting wood is a beautiful touch.

George

[Scott Barringer]

Thanks! Yes the DF was difficult for me. Could have prepared and maintained my tool edges better. But even then it's hard to work by hand. Had some tearout in a few places that had to be cleaned up.

[Scott Barringer]

Thank you. I like the old wood too and the story it tells - the occasional nail hole, hardware impressions, even water stains. I'm debating about my next project. It might be a small shaker style chest from some reclaimed mahogany door jambs I got from another house awhile back. It's got nail holes and stuff too. Should look really nice. Working as a carpenter on old houses, it just blows my mind, the difference in quality and craftsmanship between the old houses and modern production homes. I pull out beautiful, vertical grain Douglas Fir studs ALL THE TIME in bathroom remodels. Interior trim is often nice old Redwood, even Oak, that's been painted over! Amazing.

[Scott Barringer]

Thanks Jim.

[Thomas Canfield]

That must have been some heavy duty cabinet doors since the material looks to be over 1" thick. What was actual material thickness you salvaged? Very nice.

[Gordon Eyre]

Well built bench, congrats on a great project.

[Scott Barringer]

Thanks Thomas. Yeah, it was awhile ago so it's hard to remember but they were some tall doors. It might actually have been a pantry door of some kind. They were panel doors and the original thickness was about 1 1/8". I planed it down to 1". The trestle (stretcher) came from the stile of a man door actually from the same house. That was about 1 1/4" if I remember right.

[Scott Barringer]

Thank you Gordon!

[Mark Valsi]

I like it very much !! great design, and the wood (for pine) is fab !!

[william watts]

That's a beautiful bench. Douglas fir is my favorite and one doesn't see it used often, even though here on the west coast its a local wood. You have some nice material there, and you have done a wonderful job on the bench. The wedges for the thru tenons are intriguing and a real eye catcher, are they glued?
First class work.

[John Brad]

Very nice job. Luv the finish.

[Paul Cahill]

Gorgeous color, and I love the clean lines. It looks substantial without appearing too heavy (although I presume it is actually a beast to move). Great job!

Paul

[Judson Green]

Nicely done. That wedge is clever.