Well this project has definitely been a woodworking adventure. I have learnt quite a few lessons about wood selection, tool sharpening and usage, in what turned out to be a most rewarding experience. Sure, I look at the battle scars left on the bench by single handed assembly, the incorrectly located knife walls, stains after glue up (why wasn’t I more attentive?). But rather than wince, I remind myself that only a few months ago I could not have imagined a bunch of humble Home Depot 2 x 4s being transformed into something so substantial and useful.

I am afraid to say I would have been in the camp that would have been happy just to cut glue and screw, those unfortunate souls over exposed to the 10 second TV creations of the home renovation experts. How wonderful and refreshing to find Paul Sellers. The internet at its best, a reward for the intrepid searcher and those willing to try to learn how to do something better.

Paul reminds me of a substitute craft teacher that I was fortunate to meet in the 5th grade (wow, was 1973 that long ago?), the father of a fellow student and joiner by trade. Unfortunately a heart condition had forced his early retirement, and confronted him with some life changing decisions. I was so fortunate he decided to try his hand at teaching his craft. The Australian indentured apprenticeship system and a mountain of hard work equipped him with an amazing set of skills that I was so envious of. At the time my younger brother and I were inspired to purchase a few hand tools of our own, less expensive ones of course, an entry model Disston tenon saw and ½” and 1 ¼” yellow and black plastic handled Stanley chisels. No collector classics here. These were added to tools that included a Stanley No. 4 (purchased late ‘50s) my late father had left to the family. I smile at the memories of the diligently cut dovetails in the particle board (the wood of necessity for 10 year olds) speaker boxes we managed to fashion.

I continue to smile now because I am reunited with my “old classics”, having been inspired to tune them up and work wood. What’s more I have something to show for it, a bench that should last long after I am gone. What a revelation it is to plane on a bench that efficiently transmits the body’s power to work piece instead of inducing a series of bench shuddering convulsions. Totally open to learning and developing new skills I am determined to make the time to continue this wood working adventure and have a go at some of the wonderful projects on this site. As any 10 year old will tell you, it’s more fun doing than watching.