| Shaker Meetinghouse Benches |
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| This style Shaker meetinghouse bench is simplistic, comfortable and versatile. The Shakers used this and other style benches because they were sturdy, light weight and could be easily moved to accommodate their meetings. For my part, they are enjoyable to make, calling basically for a hand formed seat, a number of turnings for the back, support legs and stretchers, and a simple top rail. The front legs are thru-tenons wedged on the top, while the rear legs are foxwedged. While this bench is available in ash, cherry, oak, maple or other hardwoods, it is also available in a more accurate finish of either poplar or pine for the seat and ash or another hardwood for the turnings and back rail - all finished in traditional milk paint! These benches are generally offered either in the 4 ft or 5 ft length, but other lengths could be made, with the only restriction being on the availability of lumber in the desired length. |
| this bench is entirely in ash |
| this is a 5 foot bench |
| ALLEN WOODWORKING located in EAST BERLIN, PA 17316 1-717-624-9011 info@allenwoodworking.com |
| Deacon's Bench A deacon's bench is a common classification for various styles of benches, which for the most part have arms. The overall construction of this bench is the same as the Shaker Meetinghouse Bench. This bench is made of red oak. |
| Stools: These pictured below are three legged stools. The tops are of thick stock cherry and the legs & stretchers are of red oak. |
| This stool has legs turned in the bamboo style typical of some Windsor chairs. The top is of cherry and the legs & stretchers are in birch and wedges of walnut. |
| This a milking stool made of cherry, oak & wedges of walnut. It is 14 inches high. |
| High Back Chairs: I have made a number of these high back dining room chairs in various hardwoods over the years. They are comfortable chairs. An upholstered seat could also be used. |
| Bow Back Chairs These chairs have a steam bent bow and seven spindles. If you look close at the two left pictures below (click to enlarge), you will see that on my chairs the leg tenons & spindles are through and wedged for superior strength. There are two different style seats pictured below: one with a wide seat and the other in more of a tear drop shape. |
| click on images to enlarge |