bench design  

Are you really Heath Robinson?
I don't know if you are familiar with Heath Robinson creations, which make a very complex machine out of what should be a very simple funtion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Robinson

Does it strike you as...
Does it strike you as complex? Perhaps it is but it won't require any great skill to make.
I have been accused of Heath Robinson like solutions in the past, you've been talking to my parents havn't you?

No. I love it's simplicity.
Part of the process seems to be wondering if it will it work. With that thought in mind, and your first name, and my own rocky experience, I arrived at Heath Robinson.
I like the direction you are going and hope the bench will be stable without additional braces and brackets.

pictures
Heath, as you can see, I have resized your pictures. You can post the next ones at 500 pixels width.
Thanks, Alix.

This second design
is a very nice refinement. I wonder if it is possible to unlock the leg stabilizing pin(s) so that the legs could fold ?
The first model suffered only from the lack of triangulation, or a sufficiently large glue contact area at the intersection of the legs/top, to provide what architects call "resistance to shear loads" -- particularly in a seating piece. The cantilever at the ends, which looks great, is also problematic, unless the piece is quite long and heavy.
I am very big on triangulation, as you can see in this model of a large table base:
You could drag this beast down the street behind a truck. . .
Lovely renderings, by the way. That isn't SketchUp, is it ?

Hi SDR yup its sketchup, I...
Hi SDR yup its sketchup, I love it, its so easy.
That was the idea with the locking pin, so that the legs will fold. I am remodelling it atm, I spent some time yesterday trying to break lengths of slat and dowell to see what dimnsions I should be aiming for. I am going to try and make it so that the same locking pin will position the legs in an up or down position, just a matter of equi-distant centres I think.
Are you a Gehry fan by any chance? 🙂

I will have a look at the pro...
I will have a look at the proportions, I might still get a see-saw if I'm not careful.
Does abyone know if Gehrys forms are all just smoke and mirrors or is it part of the structure?

Sounds really
good. It's harder to make something fold, but I like the benefits -- and the challenge ! Are the legs made of metal ? Four of the same casting or stamping is good economics. . .
No, I'm not normally into chaos -- though I coined the phrase "non-arbitrary complexity" forty years ago. But lately, in my quest for a strong animal-like form with a minimum of parts, I have been experimenting with the "backbone" table -- derived I guess from the trestle type. And this new series exploits what I would call "pinwheel symmetry": the two halves of the form are identical, but in plan the NE corner is the same as the SW, if you see what I mean. The top of this table might take the form of a parallelogramic frame of the same boards as the base, surrounding a piece of glass. This frame would complete the structure. . .
Keep up the good work !

Gehry gets
critted by purists for having his exterior forms be pure sculpture, unrelated to what's going on inside (in many cases) and certainly not performing any structural function. I note that he is evolving a bit toward more disciplined and rational form in some new work; I give him credit for the courage to follow his instincts, for all these years, and for getting something built.

I agree with your admiration...
I agree with your admiration for someone who gets things done but I like shadow, Ando buildings and silence so Gehry doesn't appeal too much.
I can see the structural benefits of working off sqaure but I'm a right angle conservative by nature, I like arcs too. I got this book a couple of years ago you might like, its great, "timber construction manual" by Birkhauser, there is a steel and concrete edition in the series. Quite expensive books but incredibly inspiring if your'e looking for dynamic structural solutions.

Hey HP?
I like your...
Hey HP?
I like your renderings too. I have numerous sketches of various coffee tables that I would like to make some nice renderings of. This SkethUp program, would you recommend it for someone who usually draws by hand? I'm looking for a simple and user-friendly 3D program that allows me to make some nice illustrations with surfaces like wood, chrome and glass and which can show large pictures of small details. Please tell me more.

I would recommend it, its...
I would recommend it, its free from google, there are tutorials, forums and message boards, "warehouses" of models for download and the proffesional version is not too expensive. What is great about it though is that it will give you accurate measurements of your drawing, so you know exactly how long that piece of timber needs to be.
I have been working on my bench, I have managed to completely conceal the pivot and locking pin + I have discarded the idea of using dowell and will use 10mm dia. brass rod instead.
I will no doubt tweak a few things but I am closer.

pictures

One thing though is that...
One thing though is that when you export a 2d image from the free version you are limited to the resolution of your screen.
I have just realised I will probably need to have the locking pin be visible and push through a closed hole like the pivot pin *sigh* oh well it still looks better. I hope the timber will be rigid enough for me to only have to join it on the ends and leave the body of the bench as transparent as possible, I might also have to pull the timber that connects the legs upwards, its good to be able to get the broom around these things!

I hope anyone reading this...
I hope anyone reading this is actually interested in seeing a design progress.
I won't post any more images until the real thing is done, Thank P + A for letting me have the space + anyone who made suggestions. Heath.