Building a Garden Bench
A garden bench is a perfect addition to any outdoor space, providing both comfort and aesthetic appeal. However, garden benches can be expensive, leading many people to consider building their own. Luckily, building a garden bench is a relatively easy project that can be completed in just one weekend. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at a specific garden bench design, its materials, and how it can be built.
Materials
Before beginning the construction process, it’s important to gather all of the necessary materials. For this specific design, the main material used is sapele, which is a type of wood that is commonly used in furniture making. Other materials required include:
– Three-quarter-inch material for the top and apron
– Eight-quarter material for the legs
– Titebond 3 wood glue
– Bead molding router bit
– Pocket hole screws
– Quarter-inch plywood
Once you have gathered all of your materials, it’s time to start building your garden bench.
Construction Process
The first step in building a garden bench is to mill your lumber down to size. If you are using old lumber, like in this specific design, it’s important to ensure that it is milled down to three quarters of an inch. Three-quarter-inch material should also be used for the top and apron, while eight-quarter material should be used for the legs.
After milling your lumber down to size, you can then proceed with building the bench. The first step in building the legs is to glue them together using Titebond 3 wood glue. Once the glue has dried, use a jointer to remove most of the excess wood glue. Then, square up the legs to a size of one inch and three-quarters.
Next, use a tapering jig to add a taper to the outside of the legs. Set the bottom of the tapering jig at one and the top at one inch and three-quarters. This will create a beautiful tapered look for the legs of the bench.
Once the legs are completed, it’s time to move on to the apron. The apron consists of four parts: two long and two short. Use a bead molding router bit to add a slight detail at the bottom of the apron. Be sure to set up a stop block to ensure uniformity in your cuts.
After you’ve cut the legs and apron to length and added the necessary details, it’s time to drill the pocket holes. By staggering your reference marks, you can avoid screws meeting in the leg. With pocket holes drilled in the aprons, attach one of the short aprons to the legs using screws and a piece of quarter-inch plywood as a shim or a guide.
Now that you have assembled the base of your garden bench, it’s time to cut and attach the brace. This should be centered on the apron and attached on each side with two pocket hole screws.
Before attaching the top of the bench, it’s important to seal the base with one coat of total boat’s Danish teak oil. This will help seal the wood, especially the end grain at the top of the legs. With the base sealed, cut your boards to length and pre-drill and countersink holes for the screws. Use a roundover bit in the router to add a slight roundover at the top and bottom of each board.
Once you have clamped the boards in place, use inch and a half exterior screws to attach them to the apron. Drill three thirty-seconds of an inch pilot holes into the apron for each screw to avoid splitting the wood or breaking a screw.
Conclusion
Building a garden bench is a fun and practical DIY project that can be completed in just one weekend. This project may seem daunting at first, but with the right tools and materials, anyone can build a beautiful garden bench. However, it’s important to consider the safety precautions, especially when using power tools.
This specific garden bench design utilizes sapele wood as its main material, tapered legs, and bead molding details at the bottom. The construction process involves milling the lumber down to size, building the legs, assembling the apron, and attaching the top. By following these steps, you can create a beautiful and functional garden bench that will bring enjoyment to any outdoor space.