Building a Garden Bench: Mastering Angled Joinery
There’s something special about a handmade piece of furniture. It’s more than just a functional item, it’s a personalized work of art, crafted by the hands of its maker. When it comes to woodworking, some projects may seem daunting at first, but with the right techniques, tools, and patience, anything is possible. One such project that may intimidate some woodworkers is a garden bench with angled joinery. However, as demonstrated by the experts at Woodsmith Plans, these angles don’t have to be a challenge; in fact, they can add beauty and character to the final product.
One of the first things that one may notice about this particular garden bench is its angles. The top of the bench has edges and ends cut at an angle, and the legs sit at an angle to the floor, with even the stretcher on the end cut at an angle. It’s these little details that make a piece of furniture stand out and elevate it from a simple design to a work of art.
Despite the intricate angles, building this bench is easier than one might assume. To start with, the legs need to be cut to their final width, with the bevel cut at the top and bottom edges. These bevels allow the legs to sit at the correct angle for the bench. An auxiliary fence is used with the miter gauge to cut a bevel on one end of each leg, and then a stop block is attached to the end of the miter gauge fence to ensure all legs are precisely the same length. Once the legs are cut to length, the next step involves cutting a dado on the inside edges of all the legs, which is angled to match the angle at the top of the legs.
One aspect that can add complexity to this project is the fact that the dedos are cut at mirror images to each other due to the legs being tilted when the bench is complete. However, these angles can be easily marked out using a bevel gauge and then cut using a dado blade on a table saw. Once the dado cuts are made in the legs, it’s time for a little bit of dry assembly to ensure the joints will fit together as expected before gluing.
The stretcher that connects the legs together also has shallow dedos angled in the same way that the leg dedos were cut. These angled dedos interlock with the dados that were previously cut into the legs. To reinforce the joint and add extra strength, dowels are used, passing through the holes drilled in the stretcher and into the legs. Daunting as drilling these holes may seem at first, it’s made easier with the use of dowel centers to ensure precise hole placement.
The base of the bench is now sturdy, and the next step is to add the seat. The mortises are conveniently created using a plunge router, with a template that has a rectangular opening. The false Tenon’s that will fill the mortises are then made using the table saw, starting with a long blank and cutting a bevel on each face before cutting the tenon to the final length. Finally, the false Tenon’s are glued in place before attaching the top of the bench.
This garden bench with angled joinery may appear intimidating at first, but with careful planning, precise cuts, and attention to detail, it can be completed with ease. Whether a woodworker is a seasoned veteran or just starting out, this project has lessons to teach about precise joinery, working with angles, and creating a functional piece of art that will last for years to come.
In conclusion, this garden bench with its angled joinery is a beautiful project that challenges woodworkers to put their skills to the test. With patience, attention to detail, and expert techniques, this bench can be built with ease. From the angled legs to the false Tenon’s, this bench allows for ample opportunity to showcase skills and craftsmanship, resulting in a striking piece of furniture that will become a focal point in any garden or outdoor space.