A Very, Very Expensive Bench

[cabinetman]

Here's a little look into Jimmy Carter's woodworking, and a bench he made that should bring in at least $250,000.
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[LinuxRandal]

Caution, this topic got VERY touchy on another board, everything from politics, to the talking of how 2xish it looked, with the blue ends still on it.

[JimD]

I guess I'll follow the old adage of not saying anything if I don't have something nice to say.

Jim

[cabinetman]

Caution, this topic got VERY touchy on another board, everything from politics, to the talking of how 2xish it looked, with the blue ends still on it.

Whoa Nellie...not gettin' off to a good start here. Leave the comments on the other board. This is not a political thread, just a human interest story. No need to start a ruckus.
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[Pappy]

I've seen other items he made that I liked better, but it is interesting.

Just like many of us, he uses his shop to relax and get away from his daily problems. Difference is that he has Secret Service to make sure he isn't disturbed!

[gsmittle]

Just like many of us, he uses his shop to relax and get away from his daily problems. Difference is that he has Secret Service to make sure he isn't disturbed!

I wonder if he'd let me borrow those Secret Service folks for a while.... I have a TON of relaxing to do.

g.

[SARGE..g-47]

I wonder if he'd let me borrow those Secret Service folks for a while.... I have a TON of relaxing to do.

g.

Ain't as relaxing having Secret Service around as you might think, GS. I have run into President Carter twice at Highland Hardware with Miss Rosalyn with him.. and once on a Habitat for Humanity project.. and the SS appear quite up-tight and watch everyone like a hawk that approach or speak to him. Sort of an un-comfortable atmosphere IMO.

He and Miss Rosalyn are genuinely nice folks and even though his WW skill would not come close to most members of the Wood-workers Guild of Georgia, he appears to like to do it for fun and some of his pieces are sold at high dollar. But not because of their show quality.

You look at his bench or other work and say.. it's not worth what it was sold for and I do better work myself. Well.. something is worth what someone is willing to pay and again, there are those that are willing to pay as done by an ex-president.. it's all for charity and they can monetarily afford to do so for those reasons.

Regards...

[footprintsinconc]

i never knew him to be a wwer!

[cabinetman]

i never knew him to be a wwer!

I didn't either. I don't know what I would pay to have a signed piece of woodworking by a US president. I guess it would be a cool thing to show to friends. Somewhere I heard that George Washington had a Oak tooth. Now that might be a cool collectible conversation piece to put in a small glass display box and stick it on a mantle.

I'm not aware of any other US presidents that were into woodworking. But I'm wondering if there is some story about how Woodrow Wilson got his name. D'ya think maybe he carved out some oars?
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[radhak]

Interesting that he chiseled and carved a concave sitting surface. I have always thought a straight long bench is not best shaped for comfort of sitting. But doing it on maple takes some fore-planned masochism.

I wish there was a close up picture. I'd like to see more - is there an 'L' shape at the back-supports? Intuitively, that'd make for less strength - but he's hoping for 500 years of use....

But design-wise, turned-legs for such a square bench seems out-a-sorts. But who am I to talk - he sells his bench for a quarter-mil, while I hesitate displaying my products here ...

[Pappy]

I looked up the Carter Center and scrolled through the auction listings. Some interesting items. Current bid on the bench is $300,000.

How about $16,000 for a pair of Reeboks! And I thought Wally World prices were high...

Link to the auction if anyone is interested in looking.

http://www.cartercenter.org/donate/w...iveauction.asp

[ironhat]

Now, *that* would be satisfying; using your noteriety to do so much more good than what could be normally achieved by an otherwise average piece of furniture. Nice work, Jimmy! It might be a pattern that other people of fame could copy in order to help so many more. I guess that we can see it with Brad Pitt as well and I'm just forgetting others right now. Very cool.

[LinuxRandal]

Now, *that* would be satisfying; using your noteriety to do so much more good than what could be normally achieved by an otherwise average piece of furniture. Nice work, Jimmy!

My sentiments exactly.
I am sorry if I came across any other way. Between the two separate attempts at a cordial posting of this, preauction on another board (which I read but never posted to, due to the behavior), and going to a funeral, for a friend who our families have been friends for 3 generations (which I think is rare now days), my mind was off, and I think I came across wrong, instead of just a "lets keep an eye on this folks", post.