Building a Bench with Carved Opening for Stone Leg | Unique Woodworking Design

🪵The bench design incorporates both woodworking and stone carving techniques, creating a unique and visually appealing piece.

🏛️The inspiration for the bench design came from an architect who integrated a granite boulder into a house as a fireplace, sparking the idea of incorporating stone into woodworking.

🧱The stone leg of the bench required grinding out the inside to make it lighter while maintaining its structural integrity.

🔨The process of carving out the opening and fitting the stone leg required precision and multiple test fits to achieve a tight and stable fit.

🔩To add stability and visual interest, the bench was assembled using custom brackets and wedges, with cross supports held in place with dominoes.

What inspired the design of the bench?

—The design was inspired by an architect who integrated a granite boulder into a house as a fireplace. This sparked the idea of incorporating stone into woodworking.

How was the stone leg made lighter?

—The stone leg was made lighter by grinding out the inside using an angle grinder. This reduced its weight while maintaining its structural integrity.

How was the opening carved out?

—The opening was carved out using an angle grinder with a power carving disk. The wood was gradually relieved to create a snug fit for the stone leg.

What techniques were used to assemble the bench?

—The bench was assembled using custom brackets and wedges to secure the wood and stone together. Cross supports were held in place with dominoes.

What was the biggest challenge in building the bench?

—The biggest challenge was achieving a tight and stable fit for the stone leg. It required precision and multiple test fits to ensure a perfect fit.

00:01Introduction to the project of building a bench with a carved opening for a stone leg.

00:15The process of dealing with the stone leg, including using an angle grinder to score and cut it to size.

00:58Grinding out the inside of the stone leg to make it lighter and manageable.

02:18Milling the lumber for the top of the bench and carving out the opening for the stone leg to pass through.

05:32Creating the custom brackets to hold the wood and stone together and fitting the stone leg in place.

07:03Bending walnut strips to create the arch shape and fitting it to the bench.

08:36Cutting and refining through mortises for the cross supports and fitting them in place.

10:46Filling the carved void in the stone with spray foam to ensure stability and durability.