Children's Bench

[drillman88]

This is the first of several children's benches I intend to build.I couldnt find a design I liked so I modified one from a picture I found.I put screws and plugs in the slats and stretcher after pictures were taken.I still need to finish it but I'm waiting for some warmer temps before I start.
I am going to give this to some friends and let their children test it for size and seat height before I build anymore.

[shoottx]

Very Cool

Rough Dimensions?

[SARGE..g-47]

Nice job on those slats. I see SYP on the base but.. the top slats could be another species from the grain and color. But... I know that if your photo skills are like mine.. the color can be very decieving.

I think you are making a wise move to test the and sizing (and durability for that matter) with the "real deal" as kids have an instinct for full steam ahead and their body masses are different. You may (or may not) find that the base ends and stretchers may need to to to 5/4 or 6/4 if they get torqued enough under "kid abuse" which is normal for them.

Again.. well done and good luck with the future builds....

[drillman88]

It is 32" wide about 15 1/2" deep to the outer slats and about 14" tall.It is all syp from shipping crates I get from work.I had thought about going heavier on the base but decided to try the first with 3/4.
Thanks for your kind remarks.

[Pappy]

Nice design. The curve in the seat is eye appealing.

The only modification I would suggest is to 'flare' the legs a little, making them at least as wide as the depth of the seat. Using a curved profile to flare themwould make the legs fit better with the curved desugn of the seat.

[Mr__Bill]

I like the design and can see how a flare on the legs would look good to. One thing I have noticed with children's chairs and benches is that they tend to carry them over and then stand on them to get up to or see something. A flare to the legs may make it more stable when the child is climbing on top. Mom and dad will often use it that way too, so it must be sturdy enough to support their weight too.

I like the idea that it's made out of recycled shipping crates just be sure that they were not treated with something. There was a thread on pallets being treated with something, not sure that this applies to shipping crates but I thought I would throw it in just in case you don't have enough to worry about.

Bill, on the Sunny Oregon Coast

[drillman88]

Thanks for the compliments and suggestions.
Would you flare the legs about 5 degrees or so?

[SARGE..g-47]

Thanks for the compliments and suggestions.
Would you flare the legs about 5 degrees or so?

I would find the angle to get them to the end as Pappy suggested. That might be 5* but I would guess 10* and maybe as much as 12*-15*. A simple protractor (I have a cheapie plastic with a piece that attaches and turns on the angle scale from Hobby Lobby) will find that angle easily enough.

And what I mentioned about the possibility of using thicker stock would probably be taken care of with the flare for support as the thinner stock would most likely be more eye appealing. You'll find the best combo by observing what happens with actual use on the first.

[Pappy]

Sorry about the quality but the picture had been scanned in from an almost 25 year old photo. (I built this for my youngest somewhere around 1980.)

The angle is not the best but it shows what I was thinking. The legs on this desk started the width of the seat and desk top, curved in and then back out to give a wide footprint that made the desk very stable. Both the boys climbed on it when they were 3 and 5.

[lrogers]

I too like the curve of the seat.

[Richard in Smithville]

First off I like the design. The curve on the slats look very nice. Plus I like the idea of recycling the shipping crates. I imagine that if you seal the wood, you shouldn't have to worry about pesticides. Also most wood that travels over boarders is heat treated so the wood should be "clean".

One thing I would do( IMHO ) is double the thickness of the legs. Little ones tend to fidget and 1 1/2" will be more solid.

[drillman88]

I thought by flaring the legs out you were talking about angling them out towards the side of seat not front to back.I hadnt thought about front to back I'll have to do a little brainstorming and see where that leads me.I do like the idea .It could lead to some interesting designs.
I will probably also go to 1 1/2" material for the legs as well.
The crates are for roller bearings and stay within the US and Canada.They have the markings from US and Candian lumber mills, so I am confident they havent been treated.They will sometimes have a little oil or grease I have to clean or work around but thats about it.

[chopnhack]

Really cool reuse of wood Drillman. SYP is a local species down here and we use it all the time for construction. Very strong and as dense as many hardwoods.

[Pappy]

Hope the pic helped. Any objection to me ripping off your top design?

[drillman88]

No way I could object.I ripped off too many things myself.
The center of the curve is 3/4 below the outer edge.The front roll is 45* cut so that the length is about 1 1/2".The slats are center cut 1x4's.I didnt measure the radius of the curve I just drew it free handed.