Walnut 'piano' bench

[Prashun Patel]

This is too small to be a real piano bench, but I didn't know how else to name it. I had this odd piece of walnut around for a year or so, and didn't know what to do with it.

C&C welcome.

A lot of people have expressed dislike for that maple stretcher. Just couldn't resist.

Finished with WOP.

[Jim Matthews]

A lot of people have expressed dislike for that maple stretcher.

They're idiots.

Unless it's SWMBO,
then she's right.

I think the Maple nicely complements the lighter color in the Walnut.

I can't imagine how you carved this...
PSA sandpaper on your backside and slide around until it fit?

I like the way all curves meet in the center of the seat.

Kudos

[Art Mann]

I really like the sculptured look of that bench. Nice work! In all honesty, I would have made the stretcher out of walnut but your preference is what matters.

[Prashun Patel]

Thanks all. I do the heavy lifting with an angle grinder, and then finish with spokeshaves and rasps.

[Jim Tobias]

Very nice! The curves and shape are very pleasing to my eye.
We both have a similar affliction/affection for putting contrasting woods together on a piece.
I like the maple stretcher

Jim

[Gordon Eyre]

Beautiful bench Prashun. I love your work and this is no exception.

[Jim Rimmer]

Really nice work. Great figure in the walnut.

[glenn bradley]

Sweet bench Prashun. I like the contrast of the turned spindles versus the hand shaped seat.

[Pat Barry]

First off Prashun, this is beautiful work. You are really becoming a master of the sculpted joinery. I recall your Maloof style rocker and at least one other project you have posted with the scultpted features. I am ambivalent about the maple stretcher - I think it looks good as is and would still look good with the walnut. Did you consider sculpting the stretcher attachment to the legs and even possibly the stretchers themselves or did you feel that might distract from the focal point of the project?

[Phil Thien]

Awesome work! The others are right, you're more than a woodworker, you're an accomplished sculptor working in wood.

[Prashun Patel]

Thanks for the comments!
Pat, to be honest, this is an experiment. I'm just trying to branch out. I find turned elements elegant, and sculpted work more 'organic'. I'm still searching for a design that balances both. I've done a few projects with completely sculpted joints, and I'm just trying to keep it interesting for myself.

Sculpted joints are also a lot of manual labor and can get a little tedious.

I'm currently working on a cherry bench that will have sculpted elements in the stretcher. Here's the beginnings of it.

I'm experimenting with making the seat and the base separate as suggested in a past issue of FWW. In that sense, it's really structured like a garden bench.

[Dan Bowman]

Based on that last picture, I have to ask. Just where the heck is your workshop?

[Prashun Patel]

Kind of looks like Walter White's workshop, right?

My shop is tightly tucked behind a staircase at my company's plant.

[BobW Robinson]

Well done. Love the shape.

[Brett Robson]

I think it looks great! You seem to be building more of what I'd consider "studio furniture" - stuff made with more of an artistic flair than strictly driven by function. In that regard I think contrasting woods are perfectly acceptable and in the case of your stretcher, really compliment the overall design of the piece and give your eye a fun little detail to pick out and study! Bravo!