Bench materials and assembly
1 of 2Photo 1: Cut the angles
Starting at one end of a 10-ft. board, make
the same 22-1/2-degree cut five times to
create the four legs.
2 of 2Photo 2: Assemble the legs
Clamp the seat and back to the workbench as a stop, then predrill, glue and
screw the rear legs to the front legs.
Need outdoor seating in a hurry? This
simple bench, based on author and
ecologist Aldo Leopold's classic design,
can be constructed in a couple of hours.
All it takes is two boards and 18 screws,
for a cost of less than $25.
Cut the legs from a 2x8 x 10-ft. piece of
rot-resistant wood (Photo 1). Cut the seat
and backrest from an 8-ft. 2x8.
Lay out and assemble the sides as
mirror images, using the seat and
back pieces for alignment (Photo 2).
Join the legs with three 2-1/2-in.
deck screws and construction adhesive.
Predrill all the screw holes
with a countersink bit to avoid splitting
the wood. Finally, set the sides
up parallel to each other and glue
and screw the seat and back into
place. Finish the bench with a coat
of exterior oil or stain.
A Cutting List is available in Additional Information below.
