Crafting a Faux Live-Edge Bench

[@dhinamhurrill8045]

Inspiring work! Minimal tools. Definitely My next project!

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

Thanks, Dhinam! Good luck!

[@Roadwarrior721]

This is very helpful! I need to make an epoxy table for my kids; can’t afford the real slab. Thanks for the upload

[@Canadian_Eh_I]

Just a tip on staining: Spray water on the wood first and leavwe it over night..then do final sand, it will take the stain much more evenly !!! its called weathering

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

Great tip, I'll try it out!

[@DanLimbach]

Great project. I will definitely take some pointers from this. My tweaks will be to char the "live edge" more for some higher contrast from the rest of the slab. I will also use threaded inserts and 1/4-20 bolts to secure the hairpin legs (or I might do black pipe with flanges).

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

Thank you. I would have charred the piece more as well if the person I made it for didn't request a light torching to the edges. And threaded inserts would definitely add more strength, black pipe with flanges even more so.

[@CostaClicks]

Oh wow this looks so amazing! I tried this with a small acacia shelf it’s quite fun and saves allot of money 😂

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

You're right about saving money. It's crazy what some furniture places want for "natural" looking stuff!

[@jamesharless5357]

Very nice job!

[@r.f1981]

Hey bud, what angle degree to you have the jigsaw set on? Very cool piece you did btw👍🏼💯

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

Thanks, friend. I don't know the exact angle, because I went as far as my jigsaw would allow and I used a Bosch 6-inch jigsaw blade to help compensate for the angle and ensure I'd be able to saw through the wood thickness. My guess is the angle between the blade and jigsaw base was less than 45 degrees but greater than 30 degrees. I don't think this technique would work well for wood thicker than what I used. On a recent project for my daughter, I needed something more robust than a jigsaw--so I purchased a Milwaukee Deep Cut Handheld Band Saw. If you have access to one of those or the option to rent one, I think it would have made a project like this MUCH easier.

[@r.f1981]

@@Music_Art_Creativity ah right on, thanks for the insight

[@markartusio]

Very nice job, man. Very attractive. I do have one suggestion, however, which should make it look more realistic. Even though the faux live edge you made looks great, a woodworker such as yourself can take one look and tell that it’s a fake edge. I think you could do a much more “stealth“ job if you arrange the grain on your wood in a better fashion before hand. In other words, any true live edge will not show any grain pattern. Next time, try selecting rift sawn Boards for the edge of your panel. With the sloping grain pattern on the edges, you can create the faux edge without showing any lines of grain. This should make it look much more realistic! Good luck!

[@kooljimix]

Very helpful, Thanks for sharing...

[@dasfreakster]

Very nice. How much did you charge for this project? Pricing is where I have the most trouble.

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

I charged $150 at the time because it was just a hobby of mine and the girl I did it for provided the hairpin legs. If I were to do it today, it would be $200 minimum if the legs were provided and $250 to $275 if I had to source them myself (with inflation how it is). To price your stuff when you're starting out, I'd recommend asking enough to cover your costs plus a 50% profit margin. If things are selling easily at that price point, move it up to a 100% profit margin. If you have enough work coming in the door, keep doing this until only 70-80% of people think your prices are fair. That way you price out problematic clients looking for a deal. Also, always collect an initial deposit to cover the cost of materials and write a simple contract saying that once the materials are purchased, the deposit will no longer be refundable. Then, once the client is notified that the project is completed, the have 30 days to pay the the remainder of the quoted total cost. If they fail to pay the project balance after 30 days, you, the builder, are entitled to sell the project piece at any set price to recoup your time and effort. Have the client sign the contract and give them a receipt for their initial deposit then another receipt once the final balance is paid. It's a good way to cover your ass.

[@The_Joker_]

04:00 I was seriously cringing when I see clamps not being used! You need your hands dude. Nice job though

[@BradsWorkbench]

The_ Joker lol it’s jig saw 😝

[@tsmith4361]

BEAUTIFUL MAN!

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

Thank you!

[@Jordanwoodworking]

Nice bench

[@mrduffy21111]

Looking to do a dining table and benches in a similar manner. Wondering if the glue holding the boards together is enough or if they need doweling, pocket holes, undermount supports, etc, as I have seen in other videos. At what point (length, width, weight, use) does the glue encounter failures? Nice work!

[@emostorm7]

The glue is stronger than the wood.

[@destinybj8246]

Se siente el Amor a tu trabajo, lo transmites muy bien en tus creaciones, es hermoso lo que haces y lo combinas con la escritura, maravilloso! Esto se llama... Arte” Amor al arte! Bendiciones 🙏🤗

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

¡Gracias por sus amables palabras!

[@piinkdollable]

Love it!

[@adammoran7849]

I'm in the process of making a cedar blanket chest with a "live edge" lid. I am hand sanding the contours in as I think it looks more natural.

[@petaa716]

Michael, what kind of wood is that? Thank so much for the video!!

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

It's just a simple pine board I got from the Home Depot lumber department! I think it was 2 inches by 12 inches by 10 feet and about $15 when I bought it in 2017 to make this bench.

[@harpreetrayat6672]

Lovely

[@jeradmiller4575]

Why didnt you use threaded inserts for the legs?

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

I would have, but the client gave me the box of these hairpin legs and I just used what I had on hand to fasten them. Regardless, the bench felt super sturdy when fully assembled.

[@mindyanderson9019]

What angle did you use to cut the edge? Bench looks awesome!

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

I made the angle a bit arbitrary, but It was somewhere between 20 and 30 degrees. Thanks for the question, Mindy!

[@sarahrfuller]

What kind of stain and color is that?

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

It’s called “Early American”!

[@ER-ck4ri]

Why did you not use dowels tho

[@Music_Art_Creativity]

Great question, Eric. It's true that dowels or biscuits would have added to the strength of the joint. Dominos would would have made it even stronger. However, the TiteBond III wood glue I used, given the large surface area between the three pieces of wood (1.5" thick by 36" long) had a dried tensile strength perfectly fine for the bench design. One reason is because the three wood pieces are glued together longitudinally. I have a feeling even pocket holes with strong screws on the underside would have been strong enough, but would have looked a bit unsightly. However, if I wanted to glue together three stubbier pieces where the seams are parallel to the sitter's legs, I would absolutely have to use a combination of wood glue and dowels or something stronger to hold the pieces together.

[@emostorm7]

Glue is stronger than the wood

[@richardsefecka6552]

My God get some clamps man

[@otaktempecacubaan3692]

Kreatif, i want try to