Comfortable Outdoor Seating: Upgrade Your Garden with Benches

Introduction

In this Youtube video, the creator shows how he made a bench, which he calls the Aldo Leopold bench. He mentions that this bench is supposed to be the easiest bench in the world to make, and he was able to make it at a relatively low cost. The creator mentions that he made the bench for his wife, who had been requesting one for almost a decade. The creator takes the viewer through the process of building the bench and breaks it down into manageable steps. In this article, we will go through the process of making the Aldo Leopold bench step by step.

Supply List

Before starting, it is important to know the supplies needed to make the bench. The supplies mentioned in the video are as follows:

• Three 2x4s – 8 feet long
• One 2×6 – 8 feet long
• 8 half inch bolts and washers
• A saw
• A drill with a 1/2 inch drill bit

At a rough estimate, the supplies cost the creator about 40 dollars.

Building Process

Step 1: Making the Legs

The first step involves making the legs of the bench. The creator uses the 2x4s for this part. The legs are cut to a length of 18 inches. At this point, the creator mentions that it is important to make sure that the legs are not the exact same size, as they have to mirror one another. To make sure the legs mirror each other, take the longer leg and put the shorter leg on top of it. Then, line it up on the end where it is flush, and draw a line. That line will be the cut line. Flip the shorter leg and cut along the line. Line up the two legs to make sure they mirror each other.

Step 2: Making the Seat

The next step involves making the seat of the bench. For this part, the creator uses the 2×6. The creator measures the length of the seat, which is 33 inches. The creator sets the saw at a 30-degree angle and makes the first cut. Then from there to the 33-inch mark, the creator cuts the board. At this point, the creator does not measure the second cut. Rather, the creator cheats by lining up the cut piece with the remaining piece and cutting until they match, as long as they are the same length.

Step 3: Joining the Pieces

Before joining any pieces together, the creator makes a cut on one corner of the seat to allow for a comfortable backrest. The creator makes the cut by measuring two inches from the top and six inches from the bottom and connecting the dots. After the cut is made, the creator assembles the bench by joining the legs to the seat. The creator puts the bigger bolts, washers, and lock washers in the half-inch legs. The creator places a board on top of the legs and attaches the legs to the board using screws. The board is flush on top, and the legs are on the side. At this point, the viewer should have a complete bench.

Conclusion

In summary, making the Aldo Leopold bench is an easy process that can be completed with basic supplies. The bench was originally designed by conservationist Aldo Leopold for his Wisconsin home in the 1930s. The bench is a simple but sturdy design, and it has become a popular choice in public parks and gardens. The bench is an excellent addition to any yard, and it can be made with little to no experience using wood working tools.