Building a Dining Bench Seat (with Storage)

Follow along in this two-part video series documenting how I built this custom cherry dining bench with storage for a client in NYC. I had made an extension dining table for this client a year ago and I was commissioned to design and build a matching bench that had to fit the table.
The bench is constructed using frame-and-panel construction with Domino slip tenon joinery.
This Part 1 video follows the process from the initial milling to the glue-up for the bench side sections; Part 2 takes it from there to the final glue-up and finished piece.
The dimensions of the bench are 44"L x 30"H x 17.5"D.

[@kenvaughn6379]

Wow!! Definitely not some guy messing around in a garage. So that’s how the pros do it .

[@GothamWoodworks]

Ha. It wasn’t that long ago that I some guy in my garage. Sometimes I miss those days - much lower overhead.

[@bluevireo425]

Not a reality for most people...but, beautiful work anyway. Building my own custom fit bench...with old wood, bricks for gluing support..and whatever else I can find...hand saws...dowels...in a grungy under a deck work space...dropping termite poop on my head...but...alas the work will get done...ha ha ha.

[@GothamWoodworks]

I’ll take talent and skill over fancy tools any day - fancy tools just speed things up so we can make more stuff, so we can buy more tools. It’s a vicious and expensive cycle.

[@bluevireo425]

@@GothamWoodworks Agreed....my comment meant for laughs...your work is excellent...part of me thinks the real prophet from the 'fancy tools' can only be understood clearly after you have learned to work without them...