A wooden bench is both functional and attractive furniture you can put in your garden. It’s also a relatively easy woodworking project you can do on your own.
Materials:
• 8 pieces of 120” x 3” x ½” wood planks (for the seat and back rest)
• 4 pieces of 15” x 1” x 1” wood blocks (for the seat and back rest support)
• 2 pieces of 15” x 3” x 2” wood blocks (for the seat support)
• 2 pieces of 116” x 3” x 1” wood planks (for the front and back aprons)
• 2 pieces of 15” x 2” x 2” wood blocks (for the two side stretchers)
• 2 pieces of 20” x 2” x 2” treated wood blocks (for the two front legs)
• 2 pieces of 40” x 2” x 2” treated wood blocks (for the two hind legs)
• Measuring and marking tools
• Safety gears like gloves, goggles, mask and earplugs
• Table saw
• Sawhorses
• Woodworking clamps
• Planer
• Random orbital sander
• Sheets of 60-, 120-, 200- and 300-grit sandpaper
• 16-ounce claw hammer
• A pack of 3” round wire nails
• A pack of 1” round wire nails
• Wood sealant
• Brush for applying wood sealant.
• Paint, varnish or wood stain (optional)
Instructions:
1. Start by sawing and planing the needed wooden pieces and parts. This way, you just have to focus on the assembly later on.
2. Once you have all the needed wooden parts, sand them using the random orbital sander and 60-grit sandpaper. Re-sand them using the 120-grit sandpaper.
3. Work on the legs of the bench. Get one of the wood blocks for front legs, another one from the two hind legs, and one of the wood blocks for the side stretcher. Make marks 5” above the base of each leg. Put the side stretcher in between the two legs, specifically right on the 5” mark. Using the hammer and two 3” round wire nails, attach the side stretcher to the two legs. Repeat the steps on the remaining legs and side stretcher.
4. Build the base for the seat using the two wood blocks for seat support and two wood planks for the aprons. Using the hammer and four 3” round wire nails, attach one of the 15” x 3” x 2” wood block on the outer and upper side of one of the assembled legs. Do the same on the remaining wood block and legs.
Next, put the legs together by placing smaller ones (20” tall wood blocks) in front while their 40” tall wood blocks are at the back. Put the 116” x 3” x 1” wood planks in between the front legs and in between the hind legs using the hammer and 3” round wire nails. The said planks serve as the aprons for the bench.
5. The next step is to build the seat of the bench. Get four of the eight 120” x 3” x ½” wood planks. Put them at least 1” apart from each other. Attach them to the legs and aprons of the bench using the hammer and 3” round wire nails.
6. Then, put two of the four 15” x 1” x 1” wood block under the bench’s seat. They should be evenly placed. These will serve as additional support for the seat. Use the hammer and 1” round wire nails for the seat support.
7. Build the back rest using the remaining 120” x 3” x ½” wood planks. Attach them on the 40” x 2” x 2” wood blocks. They should also be 1” apart from each other. Use the hammer 1” round wire nails for the back rest.
8. Provide additional support to the back rest using the remaining 15” x 1” x 1” wood blocks. Put them evenly on the back of the back rest as well. You need the hammer and 1” round wire nails for this step.
9. Double check the entire bench for protruding nails. Hammer them down before proceeding to the next step.
10. Sand the bench using the 200-grit sandpaper. Clear the dust and re-sand it using the 300-grit sandpaper.
11. Apply finishing touches. If you’re going to apply paint, varnish or wood stain, put them first before coating wood sealant. Or, you can just use the wood sealant.
Where to Download Plans
There are hundreds of bench-making plans you can find online. If you want free plans, you can visit The Spruce Crafts, Instructables, Family Handyman and Pinterest.
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