Additional Info to build my loom bench

© Diane Crowder, 2019.  All rights reserved.

For step by step details on building the bench, see post from 2017.

¼” plywood box bottom cut to fit inside legs.

Legs and bench supports MUST be hardwood or the bolts will wear the holes and the bench will not be sturdy.  All other parts may be soft wood or ¾” thick plywood.  Slots in bench top must be at least 3” from the ends.

1 bench top 9.5” wide x 35.5” long  (longer or shorter depending on loom size )x ¾” thick

2 hardwood legs 3 ¾” wide  x 25 -40” long x ¾” thick

2 hardwood bench supports 9.5” x 2.5” x ¾” thick

2 outer feet  3 ¾” wide x 9.5” long x ¾” thick

4 inner feet 3 ¾” wide x 3” long x ¾” thick

2 storage bin sides 3 ¾” wide x 26.5 up to 30” long x ¾” thick

1 piece ¼” plywood for storage bin bottom to be cut to fit after dry fitting pieces (about 4.5-5” wide and 26-29” long)

Wood glue, hardware, and clamps

  1. Cut all pieces to length and sand.  Cut slots in top and at the tops of legs with router or drill and chisel.  Round off edges of holes.
  2. Clamp legs together and drill holes for bolts.  All holes must be spaced exactly the same distance apart: drill holes in a scrap of lumber to use as a jig. 
  3. Trim the feet pieces to slant according to directions.   Center bottom of legs on outer feet and glue and clamp. Place inter feet on top of outer feet with flat edge against leg and glue and clamp.
  4. Round off bottom of support and drill holes centered, using the same jig as for the legs.
  5. Route or chisel a ¼” dado in inside of storage box sides (1/4-1/2” from bottom edge) to hold plywood bottom.
  6. Bolt supports to inside of legs. Lay them down on bench and slide the top on. Use a square to be sure legs are perfectly perpendicular to top. Check to be sure storage box sides are cut to fit and screw to the legs with bottom of box sides against tops of feet.
  7. Stand bench up and check for wobbles, and adjust as needed.  Unscrew one box side and slide in plywood bottom, re-attach side.
  8. Finish as desired (varnish, wax, etc.) Paint is not good where bench top meets legs.
  9. For use flat, put supports on flat side up.  For rocking, put rounded side up.

Hungarian reader builds rocking bench

 

Weaver and woodworker Zoltan Gacsi of Hungary wrote to me to clarify some points in my instructions for a home-crafted rocking weaving bench.  He built this one in only a weekend, and it is a beauty.  I especially love the curved detailing at the handles in the top of the sides.  Zoltan says the height adjustments are easy to make and it rocks very smoothly.  (Photos by Zoltan Gacsi, used by permission.)