How To Restore Cast Iron Benches

[@wfleming537]

exciting to see you and the wife working together very cool

[@ericstoever9577]

Doing things with family, and for family! It a blessing. Thank you for sharing. Be well, be safe, and take good care!

[@drawlele]

So I was super busy yesterday working on a Makers Playground group project and didnt get a chance to watch this. I'm not going to lie I do enjoy working on projects with my wife, it's fun team Elward projects. Those benches turned out nice did something similar about a year before Florida at my grandparents house. Helped my grandpa do a swing and a gliding(?) bench for the porch that used to belong to my great grandparents and will hopefully one day belong to me (only one on the family that actually enjoys them). I'm also going to have to look into that penetrating epoxy my spalted maple got a bit to punky to turn easily. Great video James I'm glad you had Sarah and some fun working together.

[@RobWalsh]

Really delightful to see you doing a project with your wife. Her enthusiasm is charming. 🙂

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Love working with her!

[@rakeshbhansali4907]

James, you are a good man. God bless you and everyone around you.

[@NikosDIY]

Dream team! I am tuned for Sarah's workbench.

[@scottfield598]

Well done nurse Sarah

[@jomichat1975]

More than the skills and projects portrayed in your videos, I admire the chemistry between you and your wife. May your union last forever.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks. I love working with her in and out of the shop!

[@David-hm9ic]

This is just what worked for me, YMMV and not trying to contradict your recommendations. Back in the late '80s/early '90s I read a furniture finishing article in one of the woodworking magazines. Owning a sailboat, it captured my interest. The subject of the article had been varnishing furniture for decades. He recommended a few things that have stuck in my mind. 1. His final sanding was with 100 grit sandpaper. He said the varnish would fill the sanding scratches and they would never show. 2. He thinned his first coat 50% with Penetrol (not applicable here since you started with the penetrating epoxy) and subsequent coats were thinned 10%-15% with Penetrol. Penetrol allows the varnish to flow out without brush marks. 3. He said to always brush from a dry area into a wet area in one direction only. Never brush back and forth because it leaves dents in the finish. I followed his instructions to the letter on the teak trim on my boat and it looked like it was sprayed on. For recoating I just hit it with 100 grit and varnish thinned with Penetrol. Super simple (for maintaining varnish in the subtropics) and it always looked great.

[@andreadake5049]

This is wonderful advice. Thank you for sharing

[@mikekelly7456]

Its nice to see Sarah working with you, A beginner coarse in hand tool wood working would be nice. Her first project could be a stool she can use for planing. keep up the good work Sarah

[@FredMcIntyre]

They turned out great, awesome work James and Sarah!! 😃👍🏻👍🏻👊🏻👊🏻

[@bobloblaw5236]

I just picked up a beautiful cast iron park bench. It’s really ornate. And old… ha. I cannot wait to restore it. It’s going to be such a fun project. Thanks for the tips!

[@tdkrei]

Very good video James and your wife is a wonderful lady,(smart too). You both keep on smiling and do more together, this is good.

[@soberlivingwithbrianfrankl8254]

Yes! Lots more sarah in the shop!! She does need her own bench to work on

[@tomfreebern2556]

Great video good to see the wife get involved

[@3Godfree]

Great restoration, Benches looks beautiful. Sarah, awesome job, you are a good sport and sure carried through it (White Oak is not easy). God bless you and your family.

[@MontyPython1087]

This was perfect. I have an old set of cast bench pieces that need restored. I was curious what finish to use.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Yes, Sarah needs a Sarah height bench. Plus we can cover/discuss how to build for a person's specific height for general woodworking, and maybe a second video/series on a bench-top mini-bench for dove-tail/joinery working. The seating benches turned out beautifully. I'd bet the family will love them for years to come. Just to make sure of the longevity, set a reminder on your calendar to go over and do the sanding and re-varnishing for them every year. As time goes by, they may not remember or be physically able to do it themselves. Great job, James and Sarah.

[@morrisonsusan]

I would love to see you teaching Sarah a "beginner's course" in woodworking where she takes on very simple projects and learns how to use basic woodworking tools. That way I can learn along with her. Thanks.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

We have done a few of those in some of the live videos. Might have to do more.

[@christina9459]

Heyyyyyyyyy! That was VERY inlighting...i have a bench in my front yard that i want to refurbish and your video was SUPER DUPER helpful.....you gave me the names and items and steps ill need to follow to complete the job THANKS.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks Tina. glad I could help!

[@kevinjacksonphillips]

Thanks. Was given two cast iron ends with couple slats. Baffled what to do with it. All the info I need on your post

[@SteveC38]

Awesome Job You Guys!!! I would most definitely like to see more videos with Sarah👍 It looks like you two had lots of fun.

[@kristophermarsh9400]

Very enjoyable to watch you two working together. Good video, good project, good to see the family.

[@mgreene939]

Great project. I’ve seen lots of those benches along the side of the road that are in need of repair.

[@ronitsingh85]

wow nice work guys! glad your wife is hands on there. I have the same squirrel tail planer! its cast iron and solid. have not used it yet. like you guys i use all hand tools. its so much physical work but so rewarding to do. i have a lion head cast iron bench and 2 kids sized benches to restore. found all 3 in 2 separate estate sales in the same day.

[@hdwoodshop]

You guys are so cute together. You’re blessed, brother!

[@hdwoodshop]

And yes, build that lady a bench!

[@hassanal-mosawi6049]

Good job!

[@tomas6700]

Nice project. Seemed like you guys were having fun. It was fun to see.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks man. This one was a blast! Nice first today.

[@Amy-oy5hk]

I was so impressed to see you two using hand tools. Thanks for the step by step tutorial! I have the iron frame, but no braces. Can you recommend where o might find some?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Those are just big pieces of metal. Half inch by 1/6 in. You should be able to get them in almost hardware stores or big box stores

[@donjohnson8649]

I just finished restoring a pair of 48" benches for a friend of mine. They were both 48" to start with, but I modified one of them into a 24" single seat chair. TIP: when taking old rusted fasteners out, just use a cut off wheel...works great and they're not worth keeping so destroying them in the process is no big deal. In this case the original wood was so badly rotted, that I just pulled it all apart/off by hand, leaving the fasteners to be addressed as above. Both had cast iron inserts in the backrest (2 pieces in each with a couple of vertical wood pieces, one at each end and the cast parts were in good shape so I used two in the 48" bench and one in the 24" single seat. Had all the cast stuff blasted to remove old paint and the rust, then painted them all a black satin. I used Oak planking and spent part of one morning cutting, sanding and sealer/staining the wood parts. Hand did the flowers and vines with modeler's enamel in various colors as appropriate. Stuck it all back together with stainless hardware and they came out great looking. I have done several restos in the past and those came out nice, too. Kinda fun to do!

[@markv2517]

Great choice of hats Sarah!

[@pulsehead]

A few years ago, I went to the big box store and bought a couple of the oak stair treads, cut the rounded bit off of one and made a "portable stair". Put a few scrap 2x4 pieces on the sides/back, and my 5 year old loves to stand on it at my workbench. It is about the height of most stools but since it is just under 48" long, the size makes it very stable.

[@superderm6540]

I xould warch you two all day beautiful example of what a relationship can be if you treat each other with respect and love the time you have together ❤

[@marklangkamp3151]

Love the hat, the bench’s too, good lady a keeper.

[@bruceweirich3733]

Beautiful woodwork!

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

Yes! Workholding is very important

[@MCsCreations]

You guys really did a beautiful job! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@dirdick43]

Can I hire Sarah for a project? She is an impressive worker - and so tiny. Great project video. Really enjoyed it.

[@lucasvignolireis8181]

+1 vote for a bench for Sarah! Make it a portable Moravian workbench

[@RobertHOTodd]

Nice, thanks for this, very timely for us. You're both inspirational, please keep doing what you do so well!

[@philliparudolph9595]

great reclamation

[@scottswineford6714]

More Sarah is always a good thing

[@richardgroom988]

The apprentice did a good job Soon have her own channel 😀 Stay safe

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

sweet video Wood By Wright How 2. I smashed that thumbs up on your video. Always keep up the great work.

[@haqvor]

I think that Sarah needs that Stanley no 1. ;)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That would probably work fairly well.

[@haqvor]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo its the perfect romantic gift for that special someone!

[@athmostafa2462]

I enjoyed this video indeed 😊 .

[@brandonthebuildertx]

When you were putting on the penetrating epoxy it looked like a rope bridge waiting to happen, lol. I have a bench just like this I need to do the same thing to.

[@tooladdict7463]

They came out great well done what you’re not tempted to make them a little bit longer?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thought about it but the lumber I had was only 8'

[@theJonnymac]

I doubt at that thickness much longer would have been good.

[@jonathanlillpopp2869]

I think this is the first video that really see Sarah’s height vs yours in a really good perspective. 🤣 very cute! And I’m glad you gave Sarah a booster stool! Nifty project. Thank you for all that you do! God Bless!

[@taniagomez1685]

Hi! Wonderful project!!! I just have a question! Do I need to sand the wood before the first coat?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It depends on the surface you want. If your planning is good then there is no need for sanding. But some like to do it.

[@tiffany6156]

Thank you !!!! Awesome video !

[@guesthouse1455]

add a coat of marine paste wax for extra protection against UV's salt / Benches look great/ just shows what team work is all about/ love the way you both used hand tools to construct the new slats/

[@bosschief8872]

Very cool! Nice video.

[@DIRTY716]

I have a beach like this. Can you send me a list of the hardware? Great job!!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Hardware just depends on your bench. There are hundreds of designs that look very similar in each one is slightly different. But the only hardware is a nut, bolt and washer. Everything else should be with your bench.

[@tellthemborissentyou]

I always put a bit of lubricant on stainless steel bolts as I have had trouble in the past with the threads seizing. If that happens you have to use a hacksaw to get the nut off. I think it happens when the invisible chromium oxide protective layer gets damaged on the thread and the new layer forms joining the nut and bolt.

[@janetdepue9826]

What would you recommend to use on cast iron for a long lasting matt finish?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

For exterior there is not much that is both matt and long lasting. Sorry. I am drawing a blank on that one.

[@jessicadewitt3249]

Do you think I could refurbish an old cast iron bench with cast iron on the back rest and transition it to all woods slats? Or do you think it would need keep the cast iron on the back, keeping the same design. I have one but the cast iron on the back rest is too rusted, so I would just want to keep the side rails and add all wood slats to seat and back rest.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sure. Sounds like a fun project.

[@joelk3187]

I'm hoping to do this project over the summer, but I'd personally prefer a matte finish, that brings out the grain and deepens the colour. I've chosen to go with an oil but I'm not sure which one. Possibly Danish oil or Tung oil? If anyone could recommend a type it would be much appreciated.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

This two can mean the same thing. It depends on the brand. Both would look great, but neither will stand up to the weather. The only matt finish that will last more then two years that I know of it Rubio monocoat exterior. Oil finishes are great but Ned to be re done every 6 months to a year. Of the oil finishes Boiled Linseed Oil would last the longest, but not by much.

[@k.duffey2449]

What is the piece you put in the back and sides called? I need to get those to support my bench. Thank you

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

The cast iron bench ends.

[@dustinhertz7273]

What would you do if you were doing this identical bench, but do not have the center brace? I used cypress boards, and it' a little too flexible and needs strengthening.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I would make it shorter or make a strap. It is just a bent piece of metal.

[@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time]

Is it difficult to maintain a straight cut for the slats?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It is a skill to learn. At the beginning it is hard to follow a line but the longer you do it and the more you train your body the easier it gets.

[@cbryantbear6498]

Hard to see that hat... Go Lions!!! Really glad to see your wife involved.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol thanks man.

[@cindybryant930]

Really you are using my name like I said the police will know about this

[@troyj3292]

Don't listen to him. Her hat is awesome!

[@DawnRK3204]

What did you use for middle support?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It came with a simple strap

[@tinywoodshop5491]

Great work Sarah :) you too James haha

[@josephsais3490]

You mentioned that you cut the white oak into 4 foot strips, would you advise against going longer?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It depends on the structure of the bench. with 3/4" thick strips I would not go longer then 4' but if it were 1" I might go up to 5' some benches have stronger structure under the bench to go longer, but those are not common.

[@josephsais3490]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo got it, thank you!

[@c.a.g.1977]

James, I'm thinking about doing a similar project. Could you tell me, what do you think the maximum length of the slats could be? Would it matter which wood I use? Thinking of sapele or something similar. What wood would you suggest?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

If you're going with something like Sapele I don't think I would go over three and a half or 4 ft. But if you do something like white oak you might get out to around 5 maybe 6 ft if you make them a little bit thicker.

[@c.a.g.1977]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Thanks James!

[@s.n.8475]

What primer and black paint you used for this project? Thanks in advance. Great video.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Just a simple self etching primer and standard gloss paint.

[@s.n.8475]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo thank you. 3 more questions if you don’t mind. - -Are all the three 1.5” wood pieces just for the bottom? -What size did you use for the square head steel screws? -Are the 1 1/4” hex button head long enough for this project. Thank you again.

[@ralhmcc47]

Now Sarah can take you to work Ralph

[@Smalls-tm3mz]

White oak is really expensive and doesn't seem easy to find locally- is there another wood you would recommend?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That depends on where you are at. As long as the wood does not touch the ground most hardwoods will do fine.

[@Smalls-tm3mz]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo I live in MN- main choices at big box stores are oak, red oak, maple, poplar, and aspen

[@reforzar]

I would like to see more projects with Sarah. Nice work! Hope she’s as sadistic as you 🤪

[@sarahwright7354]

Worse, I married him 🤣 and I wouldn't change it 😁

[@hdwoodshop]

Sarah Wright 😂

[@ReverendJoaquinRLarriba]

Soooo, I bought the Total Boat following your link and followed the instructions carefully which said, "not to mix more than you will use in a 20 min time period." It was applying perfectly for about 3 minutes when the mixture reacted and melted the mixing container sending epoxy everywhere. Should I have mixed in glass? Any idea why it kicked so fast?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That's what happens when you mix too much at one time. If there's too much in one space it heats up and the heat causes it to cure faster which creates more heat which then causes to cure any faster. It's actually very dangerous if you do it in a paper cup. Because the paper cup can catch on fire. Usually I never let it get any thicker than a 1/2 in or so in the bottom of any container I'm using.

[@ReverendJoaquinRLarriba]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo that was helpful, but how do I measure 2:1 at only 1/2 an inch, eyeball it?

[@ReverendJoaquinRLarriba]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo also, now I have thick hardened epoxy on some of the slats, the varnish will surly not penetrate the epoxy. Should I power sand back to bare wood?

[@randycook7613]

I live in your area where do you get your hardwood from?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I create a few relationships with local sawyers. You can find them on Facebook marketplace and Craigslist. But if I need a specific lumber right now that local sawyers don't have I go up to badger hardwoods about 45 minutes north.

[@jackmiller3628]

What kind of rods did you use to weld wrought iron? Did you happen to use MIG?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I can't remember the number off the top of my head but they are specially formulated for cast iron. I've also used 6011 in the past not quite perfect but they do fairly well.

[@criswilson1140]

Usually you use bronze rod or TIG.

[@sheilbwright7649]

I know it is not woodworking but it is interesting to see different building codes. In Australia you must fence a pool and enforcement is quite strict. It has significantly reduced the number of pool drownings and has widespread community support. I wonder whether any parts of USA have a fencing code and what support it has?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Our pool yard is fenced in. It is not a code but people look at you weard if it is not.

[@sheilbwright7649]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo I'm genuinely pleased. You only need to meet one pool owner who lost their child or a friend's child and the pain that causes you to be pro fencing. It's just from our end of the world some of what goes on in America seems strange. I can't understand how wearing a mask in the time of a pandemic is a political choice. I understand (but don't agree) putting gun ownership before children's lives but I can't understand how people can say our policy doesn't work after the Port Arthur Massacre we enacted very tight gun controls and whilst there have been subsequent gun deaths not a single mass killing. I understand the second Amendment would not allow Australian style legislation but saying it doesn't work in Australia baffles me. In fact the Australian Army sends combat doctors on secondment to American Hospitals to get enough experience in GSW. Any major American city hospital gives them more experience in a week than they can get in a month in Afghanistan. On the other hand I'm sure that there must be things in Australia that you must go WTF?

[@joesardone3801]

I saw a bench with broken slats on the side of a road in my neighborhood once but I was on my way to work. I was going to pick it up after I got home to fix but it was already gone :(

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Oh sad!

[@maryford9651]

I love that there wasn't an electrical tool in sight.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That is how we roll.

[@myrawright282]

Good to see you both working together! ❣️❣️ Beware...if you start this way...by the time you are our age...um...little wife will be ready to die sooner! 🤣😂❣️

[@Mariotomas210]

What size are your boards?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

They were all inch and a half by 3/4 or 2 in by 3/4. Depending upon the radius they were attached to. Though I've done the other benches in the past that have some as wide as two and a half by 3/4.

[@Mariotomas210]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo thank you so much. Also why do you use the tool to shave the wood?

[@elizabethlightcap6460]

What are the underneath braces called, or can I make them?

[@troyj3292]

I really enjoy when you get to marry your woodworking with your family.

[@fernandolobaoemoficnadeapt9197]

Só ative a legenda no seu canal, escolha as línguas que podem ler e pronto, você não vai precisar traduzir nada! Obrigado

[@kennethnielsen3864]

63rd.

[@standswithfish]

Nicely done and what timing, I have one to refinish! But wait, what do I see? She is wearing SNEAKERS! And you're wearing sneakers! I'm shocked 😁

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol my cloth and rubber clogs!

[@willie042987]

Go Pack. 😏

[@robertsparkman8516]

I'm trying to decide if you were letting her be the star of the show, or extracting revenge.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol don't tell her!

[@robertsparkman8516]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo well that answers that question!

[@garthok6224]

thought you were a small bald red hair friendly guy, but you look like a giant next to Sara.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol 6'1. But my wife is 4'10.

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo bald midget Gandalf Jr and his giant Hobbit Wife?

[@cindybryant930]

@@thomasarussellsr haha. Y'all are so fucking funny. I really just don't have time for y'all's and miss her ass is anymore I will do what I have to do so that me and my children can be happy finally and I need to get y'all out of my life I will not let you do this to me or my children any longer

[@cuttwice3905]

I knew a couple where the husband was 6'7" and the wife was 4'8".

[@lancem5965]

Cindy Bryant please explain what you mean here.... I am intrigued.

[@soberlivingwithbrianfrankl8254]

That's the prettiest gnome I've ever seen.... lol sorry sarah. (Not about the pretty part, but about the gnome part)

[@AlBorland3877]

Don't even try. You screwed it bad. XoD

[@soberlivingwithbrianfrankl8254]

@@AlBorland3877 hahahahah

[@nathanielhart2846]

For those who use other brand epoxies, just know that many of them don’t contain UV inhibitors. In no way does that necessarily make them poor quality, but there are different epoxies for different purposes. That’s not to say you can’t use them for this application, but but be sure to protect them with something containing UV inhibitors (I.e. varnish, clear coat, etc.), since UV will degrade epoxies. Also, some epoxies create an “amine-blush” after they cure. Some do, some don’t. It’s basically, a thin waxy film byproduct of the chemical reaction that’s left on the surface. A quick, but thorough scrub with water and a scotch-brite pad (scouring pad) will remove it. I tend to do that prior to the light sand. Then clean with a solvent and apply your chosen UV protecting finish. Happy building, friends. P.s. Wear gloves and a respirator, at least. Epoxies are amazing for numerous reasons, but they are chemicals with potentially adverse effects. Prolonged, repeated exposure without basic PPE has ruined the career of at least one person I know. It’s possible for some people to more or less, become highly allergic to them. Not good if your career is based around using epoxies. Annddd, as a bonus, plain old $ store white vinegar is a safe and great product for tool clean-up, since it works, won’t eat through your gloves like other solvents, and it’s cheap. Just clean things before the epoxy sets, as no solvent that I know of will make that possible once it hardens.

[@cuttwice3905]

While I'd love to see you make a bench for Sarah but I would much rather you stay married.

[@myrawright282]

🤣😂🤣😂

[@JohnColgan.]

Your Paduan Apprentice had a good day. She seems quite mechanically adept, a good quality to have in a wife, less arguments when they (generically) play dumb, deliberately ham fisted to get out of tedious processes. .... Yes I am divorced !!

[@jacquescretin9765]

I was wondering why you chose to use epoxy. Does epoxy on garden furniture stand the variable conditions of weather ? Is it flexible ? Doesn't crack ? The 2 coats of varnish, are they protective on epoxy or only decorative ?