Love your fish bench! You did a great job making an accurately proportioned fish shape. I think staining it with an exterior stain would give it a more rustic/north woods look.

It looks great! Very creative. Unfortunately I haven't had any luck with wood holding up outdoors, so no recommendations here. I'd keep it on a covered porch or inside! I guess it depends on your climate but here in Ohio its too wet.

Thanks! The plan was for the fish to have the likeness of a Bass and initially planned on using three chairs - then I changed it to being only 2 chairs and thought I'd have to change the fish to something like a Bluegill instead lol. Hubby said I should keep it a Bass. I will post a picture when I finish it up. It sure HAS been wet so far this year. I'm in Wisconsin. Thinking on spar varnish and/or exterior stain and bring it in for the winter.

Another Wisconsinite! Yes, Wisconsin winters can wreak havoc on wood. I can't wait to see it when you are done with it!

A Musky would be great for a three chair bench.

I love, love, love it! Hubby used Minwax Helmsman spar urethane on our bench but it's newly done and we don't have much winter here anyway.

Great job, wilcinbro1! What did you end up using to seal it?

I used spar varnish in gloss on the pallet wood and thompsons waterseal deck and house solid oil stain on the chairs. I have 4 chairs left, I could make more gahhhh lol. The chairs were made in my uncles shop class back in the 70's and the wood was still perfect, just the joints needed re-work and reinforcements. So glad I was able to keep them going :-)

I like the story that the chairs were made in your uncle's shop class back in the 70's. That makes your bench so much more special.

I love your bench! I live in Washington state, so sympathize with those who have lots of rain and what it does to outdoor wood! I see you have it finished now, but wanted to share that Varathane Diamond Elite polyurethane is nice to work with, too. It is water clean-up! Just be sure you get the exterior one.

I used to make a lot of tole-painted signs, wood bird houses, and painted clay pots and used the Diamond Elite as my finish coat. I researched it and learned it was not harmful to plants or wildlife which made it safe for plant pots and birdhouses.

I love the story and the bench.......

I don't come here as often as I used to, but still love all the posts that are made.

That is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, Wilcinbro. I love it that the chairs themselves were handmade and that you have given them a new life. Pallet wood is really rugged, made from the hardest of hard woods and permeated with who-knows-what chemical preservatives, so most likely the fish and seat boards will endure, while the chairs will benefit most from the sealer. Fabulous job of creating that fish! Very impressive work!

Bench came out beautifully! So nice to save the handmade chairs for future generations to enjoy!

Very folksy!

I love your fish bench.