How to Build a Wooden Bench for a Kitchen Table

Wooden benches go well in a country kitchen and provide seating for a large number of people at an affordable price. They are sturdy and appeal to children and adults alike. Perhaps best of all, they do not require any fancy construction techniques; even the most inexperienced woodworker is capable of building a strong, good-looking bench. This bench has a rustic design and requires only five pieces of standard-size lumber, available at most home supply centers. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Build the Basic Structure

1

Apply glue to the end of one of the short 2 x 12 bench legs, and butt it against the bottom of the long 2 x 12 bench seat so that there are 4 inches between the leg and the end of the bench. Drive three nails through the top of the bench seat and into the end of the bench leg.

2

Repeat Step 2 with the other bench leg on the other end of the bench seat.

3

Wipe off any excess glue with a damp cloth. This completes the basic structure of the bench.

Prepare the Seat Reinforcements

4

Lay one 1 x 4 on a flat surface. Pick one corner, and measure 4 inches from that corner along the long edge of the board. Mark this point with the pencil.

5

Measure 2 inches from the same corner along the short edge of the board, and mark this point also.

6

Draw a line connecting the two points. Cut the triangular shape from the board.

7

Move to the other end of the 1 x 4. Use the corner on the same long edge of the board, and repeat the first three steps. When finished, your 1 x 4 will have one long straight edge and one edge with a triangular piece cut from each end.

8

Repeat all four steps with the other 1 x 4. This completes the two bench seat reinforcements.

Final Assembly

9

Lay the bench structure on one side. Spread a layer of glue along the full length of the edge of the seat and along the legs where they connect to the bench.

10

Position one of the 1 x 4s on the layer of glue. The long straight edge of the 1 x 4 should be level with the top of the bench seat, the ends of the 1 x 4 should be even with the ends of the seat, and the corners on the bottom edges of the 1 x 4 should align with the edge of the bench legs.

11

Attach the 1 x 4 to the bench using 27 nails. Drive one nail through it into the seat at each end, and one nail through it into each leg; these four nails will keep it in place. Drive the remaining 23 nails through the 1 x 4 and into the seat at roughly 4-inch intervals. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp cloth.

12

Turn the bench over and repeat these steps with the other 1 x 4.

13

Set all the nailheads just below the surface of the wood, and fill the holes with wood putty.

14

After all the glue and putty is dry, sand the bench lightly. Finish as desired.

15

Add the four furniture glides to the bottoms of the legs, and your bench is complete.