Beautiful, well-built bench, wherever you put it
Okay, let’s start with a full confession: I knew this bench wasn’t going to fit in my narrow bathtub, but I ordered it for a different use — to be a sturdy, handsome, and modest-priced bamboo accessory for my bedroom. That’s what it’s turned into, and that’s exactly where it sits right now, at the foot of my Tempurpedic. Spoiler alert:  I LOVE IT!<br /><br />The unit came disassembled but turned out to be a cinch to put together. The instructions are hardly necessary. There were stickers with letter coding on the legs and body that showed what went where, and an Allen wrench for the stainless steel screws. There was even an extra wrench and set of screws included. I think it took me five minutes from start to finish.<br /><br />There were only two minor imperfections I feel obliged to mention. The first was a rough patch on the bottom of one leg. A little sanding took care of it, but it’s something I think should have been caught in quality control before it left the factory.<br /><br />The other issue had to do with the soft rubber feet that affix to the bottom of each leg. An improperly pre-drilled hole in one of the legs meant that I ended up stripping the notches in the head trying to get the screw securely seated. Not a huge deal, but still…<br /><br />For those considering it for bath use, my experience may be instructive. A couple of years ago, I realized I really needed to be able to sit down while showering. I saw (and purchased) the Oasis Space model in the accompanying photo here on Amazon. It’s perfect for my situation. The legs are only 13 inches apart, which means they can sit flat on the bottom of the tub, and the circular seat measures well over 12 inches, which is ample for my gluteus maximus. It also has a number of different height settings.<br /><br />For my bathtub, this bamboo version is wider where it needs to be narrower and narrower where it needs to be wider. Instead of 13 inches, the legs are 18 inches apart, making it impossible to place it securely on the bottom. And the slatted seat, while comfortable, is over two inches narrower than the diameter of my existing shower seat. Finally, while an application of Tung Oil would probably retard mold, I’ll be much happier using this bench as a bedroom accessory.<br /><br />I continue to be impressed with the Oasis range of products and the company's excellent customer service.
Rating: 4 stars