This bench is made of 5/4 hard maple, the stile is 6/4 for extra strength because it's pegged. I just finished up with the shellac finishing on the surfaces, with a little wax on the mortise pegs, in the bench sleeves and on the brackets. The seat is 42 inches, end to end with a seating area of 36 inches by 12 inches wide between posts. The seat rests on adjustable wooden brackets held by high quality wing nuts that don't require a tool to tighten and loosen.  High quality threaded steel rod was used that threads into a 3/4" insert on the back face. This bench rocks if the brackets are installed with the curved faces up. If rocking is too funky, then inverting the brackets makes for a flat bench to. The brackets are 10" long x 2-3/4" wide in the middle. The seat can be adjusted for 19-29" of height.

Various parts to the bench:

The uprights are mortise and tenon feet, with rounded mortise slots for handles and square mortise for the stile. The peg holes in the stile are 1/2" x 3/4" at top and 1/2" square on the bottom, pegs are 6" long. Some of the mortises I chopped by hand (one foot), some routered (handles, bench sleeves) and some with my recently acquired drill press with mortise attachment (upright stile hole,pin holes). Table saw was used to cut the tenons.  I like the drill press the best, but you still have the clean up with chisels and a good rasp sometimes. ;)

Pre-finished (not sanded) shot here showing the wing nuts, pegs and the backward rock.

 

Shows brackets, rounded top for rocking, square bottom for flat bench seat. Pegs tapped in place on the stile.

 

Assembled, solid as a rock (maple). ;)

 

Enjoy. :)

Comments

TheLoominary (not verified)

Wonderful craftsmanship! Really like the rocking seat, as it allows for natural body motion with no pressure points on your legs. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work. Frank

ammann58 (not verified)

Excellent work! Wonderful idea. I have never tried a rocking bench, but the thought has occurred to me to try one. I really like the option you have built into the support brackets. Brilliant. Thank you for sharing.

Adam

 

endorph

I have a couple of friends with rocking benches and they love them.

ReedGuy

Thanks for sharing your views.

I'm going to be going at my loom in a day or two. I have the frame timbers cut now. I just need to mortise the joints on the press. I have to think a bit on how wide I want this thing. ;)

Just requested a quote on some SS reed rod. Still waiting on that. Finding SS isn't hard, but getting small quantities is a mission in itself. :D

Adinkracom (not verified)

The bench is really neat . Do you have a schematic? Especially of the Parties and tenon feet. Thanks

ReedGuy

Adin,

Is there any particular part that isn't described above that you need dimensions of?

SallyE (not verified)

I have a rocking bench and I LOVE it.   This one looks wonderful!

 

ReedGuy

I've been using it now for a year. :)

BoyLearner

I have a loom but no bench at present and this look like an ideal place to start. As an Aussie, I am not sure what you mean by 5/4 and 6/4 hard maple - is this some sort of strength measure? Doesn't look like dimensions. I will draw it up and see what dimensions I am lacking.

Thanks for posting.

Hakim

ReedGuy

Hakim, the terms 5/4 and 6/4 is the hardwood lumber industry's terms for 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" of thickness of a board. They talk in 1/4" increments for board thickness when sawing hardwood lumber. These dimensions are undressed (plained and sanded) and when sold are generally 1/8" heavier or little thicker so they can be plained down.

By all means make a bench similar to mine here, no problem. Remember to counter sink the holes on the uprights (both faces) for the seat brackets to prevent tearing out when you insert/remove the steel rods when adjusting the seat up and down.

rlmarchand (not verified)

You really should sell these.  They are beautiful.  I bought something similar on ebay, but it wasn't nearly as nice. Just my opinion.

Shelley

ReedGuy

Thank for all the compliments. It does work nice to. :)

My response to building to sell has always been "no".  It could be supplimental income, but not a living. Some day I may set up a sale shop, mostly dreaming. But, take a small band mill to a stand of fir timber, and never know what might transpire. :)

Ann A

I am trying to convince my husband to build me one. Could you send the measurment of the side piece from floor to top? It looks to be about 36 inches?

ReedGuy

Mine is 35" high, with the mortised feet attached as shown. 36" inches, over all height, would be just fine if you used that.

You will like the bench, I guarantee it. :)

jon_weavetools

Super workmanship on your maple bench!  I never considered a rocking bench - thanks for sharing!

ReedGuy

Yes many thanks to everyone enjoying the bench. I've sure enjoyed it. Hard maple is a "white wood", but I can tell you that there is a lot of figuring going on in that wood that a photo cannot capture. I've tried to capture it in photos, but it's impossible. The seat there is hard to describe, it's a lot like the texture of skin. I'm only in my 40's, but my bones like comfort. :)

pammersw

This looks wonderful! When I buy a loom, if it doesn't come with a bench, we'll make one like this. May I ask why the sides are so tall, with holes cut near the top?

ReedGuy

Seat height adjustment is up and down along those sides. Holes at top are for convenient handles. The seat slips up and down the sides, so grabbing the seat to move it results in pulling the seat up the sides. Much less awkward grabbing and moving your bench with those top handle holes. :)

pammersw

Oh, I see! Thanks for the explanation.  :)

Ann A

Hah, I was close at 36"! :)

Thanks for pointing out the mortised feet. My eyes hadn't caught that detail! But I am not the woodworker!

ReedGuy

Yes, they are mortised so the grain of the feet is parallel to the floor which resisted shearing. If they had veritacal grain like the  uprights, they would split off under compression.

Don't try to build the uprights too high, no higher than just under your belt a little. It's easier to lift by bending your elbows, than by lifting your hole arm by the shoulder muscle.

Naturalysam

I am currently negotiating a trade of my table top loom for a floor loom which doesnt come with a bench. So I decided to build a bench to fit my tight budget and space. I have access to a beautiful pile of cherry wood (early inheritance) and for the bench top I bought a really nice piece of 5/4 walnut. This project has really inspired me however I am making the build slightly less complex but adding lots of storage to the bench. I cant wait to start building.

ReedGuy

Good luck with your bench. I nice loom bench is essential, and often safer than some things to get bye on.

sandra.eberhar…

That's gorgeous!  I'm a little sceptical that the built in bench on my new-to-me AVL will fit me, so I may be doing something like that soon.  

sandra.eberhar…

That's gorgeous!  I'm a little sceptical that the built in bench on my new-to-me AVL will fit me, so I may be doing something like that soon.  

ReedGuy

The only bench I've had for a loom. And that's only been 3 years, but I enjoy it. There is a commercial one made much the same style, but I forget the brand. It's a loom company, but I just forget.

CelticCats

Wish that I could make something as beautiful!  What an awesome talent you have!

Dorn

mrdubyah (not verified)

It looks a lot like the Harrisville, but the Harrisville has a tray instead of the lower beam under the seat.  Over time, the screws in the tray loosen and it wobbles slightly.  It has to be tightened often.  I'll bet your beam and wedges make for a tighter, more permanent fit. 

ReedGuy

Yes, it is very stable, no wobbles. You would really like this bench. Once you sat on it and got comfortable with it's movements, you would never fear of falling off on your head over backwards. The key is to have a wide foot print on the floor and parallel grain to the floor so the feet don't split off. And a good hardwood would be my choice of material.

I weave in a large open area, nothing behind me but hard floor. I don't want to touch it with my head with the force of gravity. ;)

elements

Hi ReedGuy, I'd love to make a bench like yours (from what I follow of the dialogue) but I can't see any photos. If there are updates links please let me know where to find them.

<3

eL

Nigel Gunton

I see no response to your query about missing images. Did you get an answer? A lot of the posts have broken links for the images. Quite frustrating!

pammersw

This is on my want list to build myself this year. I think I'll try for maple,  to match my loom.

D-Stitchins Studio

My awesome hubby has been creating storage for all of my weaving supplies in the small closet in my Studio (Loom Room).  He has managed to build storage for all of my equipment that is not currently in use on any of my looms.  Within a 3 foot square he has managed to fit 5 of my hard-to-store items, my warping board, spool rack , raddle, tapestry loom and 6 shuttles.... I can access any one of them now without disturbing the other items and can see all at one glance!  Yay, what an improvement, a spot for absolutely everything (providing I don't go overboard in the yarn ordering (hahaha). 

   Diane

Nandem

  • I am really hoping my favorite woodworker can make me one from this description, but I can't tell where the threaded steel rod goes, or why. Is it what the wing nuts are screwed into? Do you think it would work to drill through the brackets and use countersunk bolts? 

Nandem

  • sorry I posted twice.  I did not realize that "save" means "post" when you're previewing. 

ReedGuy

Threaded inserts were used in the brackets. You want the brackets adjustable up or down so you can be seated at the right height.

1/4-20 insert

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=44237&cat=3,43576,45375,44237

1/4-20 threaded rod

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=61637&cat=3,43576,61994,61637

1/4-20 wing nut

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/Page.aspx?p=61651&cat=3,43576,61994

There will be no slop in the threading like there is in el cheapo nuts and rods.

 

Jenny B

Hello

I'm a 'newbie' weaver.... and just found your details of the bench.... fantastic.

Hubby now has instructions for my Christmas present !  No pressure then...!!

Jenny

ReedGuy

There have been a few folks from here that have made my bench. They all have been satisfied with the design. :)

Gone

^5 Reedguy! Beautiful!

It has all the earmarks of a strong seat. I love the simplicity, almost "shaker-esque" but the craftsmanship is top drawer. What finish do you use? Shellac or Poly?

Many of the Finnish looms are made of Birch. It's equally strong and durable but lighter... just in case maple should ever become too expensive. ;-)  Great work man!

ReedGuy

Hi Tomz, I finished it with shellac. It has been a great bench. Many folks have added their own little touches when making this design. :) It is very solid and won't throw you lke a horse. ;)

I like maple because it is easier to smooth edges since the pores are much more minute than birch. We have a heavier birch (yellow birch) here than in Europe. Although the wood looks the same, it is even heavier and slower growing than our native white birch. Black birch is another heavy birch. The heavy birches have a mint taste to the twigs.

Jenny B

Hello

when I first found your loom bench I was so impressed..... hubby asked / cajolled / encouraged to build it for me....

and vola !

He used bits of wood he had around (so mostly pine), worked out dimensions for my loom and surroundings, and did a few modifcations (as always....)

and the result is I'm delighted!

 Hmmmm - I was hoping to attach a photo, but can't see how to do it.....

Jenny

dcrowder (not verified)

I used this design as inspiration, but modified is because I am not good at making mortise/tenon joints. Built it 3 years ago because my legs are getting weaker and the rocking mode gives me a little extra "oomph" when treadling rep weave or any weave with more than 4 shafts to a treadle Worked great! I have posted my plans to my blog site dianecrowderdesigns.biz, under the posts tab. Thanks, Reed Guy! See photos of mine and detailed plans on my post. Comments welcome.

MarilynS

Is it possible to see the images in this blog?

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