Ipe

Original Bench not so very good

So the clients asked me if I could rebuild this rotting down front porch bench. I said I’d give it a try. The old one was made of pine, not even pressure treated, and painted. I noticed the back seemed to be a bit rigid and the ‘design’ did not look very comfortable. I proposed to make the new one out of Ipe and to soften the design a little in hopes of making it easier to look at and sit on. The back got some camber and the leading seat slat was pitched down a few degrees to make it easier on the back of the leg.

2.0 is Ipe and hopefully a more pleasant design.

I was able to use a lot less material because the Ipe is so very strong. This really is only evident in the ends and the back supports. Both were constructed as units and glued with polyurethane glue prior to assembly. The armrest faces got a little customization so they would conform to the stonework.

I have gotten a lot of use out of this pool table slate (see these entries The Brunswick Slate Story Part I and From Pool Hall to Countertop – Second Life for Brunswick ) Last fall when our second daughter was on her way we needed a new changing table setup. So I cobbled together this little guy with bits and pieces of wood lying around and the last large piece of the Brunswick slate. The wood is Ipe and Brazilian cherry so I guess both of these woods came from Brazil. The cherry is leftover flooring tongue and groove from a project in our house. The legs are Ipe and came from a trellis that had been outside in the weather for about six years. I made the trellis for a client who wanted to grow clematis on it. After a few years she realized the clematis were never going to climb all the way up the trellis. She asked if I could shorten it so I cut off about three feet from the lower half.The cut off legs made good stock for the legs on the changing table. A little about that Ipe wood. It has become very popular with builders of high end decks due to its durability, insect, fire and rot resistance.