Garden Bench with Matt Kenney

Intended for more advanced woodworkers, Garden Bench with Matt Kenney—part of the Fine Woodworking: Video Workshop series—opens with introductory remarks from master furniture-maker Hank Gilpin, who notes that a piece of garden furniture need not be a beautiful future heirloom. Indeed, he says, precisely since these objects will be exposed to the elements they won't last for many decades. So, he advises, don't make a chair or a bench for outdoor use from expensive teak, and don't bother oiling it, but do design it for the sort of comfortable experience one wants while sitting in the shade with a book and a beer. Following Gilpin's introduction, craftsman Matt Kenney proceeds to handcraft a garden bench in step-by-step fashion over several sessions, focusing on templates and jigs and joints, while also incorporating smooth curves for maximum comfort. In the end, he produces a piece that looks simple yet elegant, but not so precious that an owner would be afraid to let it go gray in the sun and rain. Other new titles in the series include: Arts & Crafts Style Coffee Table, Dovetail Techniques, Frame-and-Panel Cabinet, Shaker Chimney Cupboard and Router Table. Recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)