You Could Always Build a Bench

Seattlest bit on New City Arts' "Build a Bench in a Day" class last year, knowing little about the woodworking studio on Lower Queen Anne that runs classes via Pratt.

We drew a bench. We figured out how much wood we would need. The very capable, very forgiving instructors showed us how to use the table saw, joiner, and planer, and maybe another machine, we can’t really remember. The point is, Tom and Gudrun took us from imbecile to imbecile-with-a-bench by the end of the day.

Some hints: keep it simple. We rushed to finish our bench, and it was as simple as a bench can be. Some of our classmates had grand plans, like the one who wanted lots of curves and the one who wanted to make a bench/rabbit box, and they left at the end of the day with an unfinished pile of boards. We left with a bench. (And therein lies the final hint: make sure your bench will fit in your car.)

If we had room for another bench in our lives, we'd be there.

Build an Indoor-Outdoor Bench in a Day this Saturday, 9 to 4, at New City Arts, 117 Warren Ave North in Lower Queen Anne. Costs $125 plus materials (our materials were $25). Call 328-2200 to register or for further details.

Yes, that's our bench right there. Dog tail not included in woodworking class.