The iconic bench, if ever there was one. Actually I can think of a few iconic benches, but this is certainly one of them! And believe me when I say this will be an easy build. No tricky cuts or fancy things, just cut and drill, then put together like a stacking tree for kiddos.
As with all of our plans, you are building at your own risk and you should have a firm understanding of building in general before you attempt many of our plans (some are easy as pie and perfect for beginners). With that, go forth, have fun, take lots of pictures and share them in a showcase on the site or on social media with the hashtag #builtTDCtuff and we will share our faves! Be sure to tag @thedesignconfidential on Instagram / FB and @thedesconf on Twitter / Pinterest. If you are a blogger and you post about your build, don’t forget to include a link to your post on your showcase here. Don’t forget… for all of our newer plans, clicking on the images will let them expand to enormous sizes with much greater clarity. The older plans may need updating so please let us know if you need one fixed!
- Tape Measure
- Saw – Jig Saw, Circular, Table, or Miter Saw
- Drill
- Multi-Square and Carpenter’s Square
- Sander
- Kreg Jig – if you build frequently, invest in this one.
- Nail Gun – optional
- Router with Patterning bit – or bit set – optional
- 8 – 2×2 at 8′
- 6 – 1/2” 17” long threaded rod and 1/2″ nuts (or, 16-1/2” long threaded rod + twice the depth of one nut)
- 2 – 1/2” 14” long threaded rod and 1/2″ nuts (or, 13-1/2” long threaded rod + twice the depth of one nut)
- 16 – 1/2” nuts
- 1/2″ Spade Bit
- Countersink Drill Bit
- Pocket Hole Plugs – Paint Grade, Pine, Oak – optional
- Clamps
- Safety Gear
- Wood Filler
- Wood Glue
- Sanding Supplies
- Paste Wax
- Finishing Supplies
- 2 – 2×2 at 55” – Front and Back
- 5 – 2×2 at 38” – Centers
- 8 – 2×2 at 10” – Ends
- 18 – 2×2 at 19” – Stands
Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.
Cut all the pieces for the Bench. At the end of each piece, drill a 1/2” hole that is centered 3/4” from each end. “Round out” each end by cutting the corners at a 3/4” radius. Drill additional 1/2” holes on noted pieces, centered.
Lay down the Back piece. Insert the longer Threaded Rod into each hole and thread a Nut onto the back side of each Rod. Install the pieces as shown. The 1/2” drilled hole at the bottom of each Stand will take the shorter Threaded Rod.
Continue to install pieces as shown.
Keep installing!
Install the Front piece.
Finally, thread a Nut on the front of each Threaded Rod to secure everything into place.
Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School
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