There's nothing like an old-fashioned wooden bench to bring back memories. While travelling around Canada, I see them everywhere, proving that they fill all sorts of needs and they last almost forever. I've even seen reproduction benches tagged at $150 and up, though you've got to wonder who buys them, considering how easy they are to build. My version of this old classic keeps to the original virtues of simplicity and strength; the qualities that make this pine bench so popular.
Constructions
Since chair height is typically 18", I made my bench the same height. Start by cutting two legs to length, then, in the centre of each one, mark a point 5" up from the bottom. This is where you'll be drilling a 1¼"-diameter hole that accents the top of each leg cutout. Before you drill, draw two lines beginning from the point you just marked down to the bottom of each leg, 2¼" from each side. This outlines the all-important V-shaped leg cutouts.
I used a Forstner bit (which creates a flat-bottomed hole) to drill the hole at the top of each leg cutout. Put a piece of waste wood under the bench legs as you drill to prevent ugly fuzz from developing around the bottom edges of the holes.
You can use a band saw, jigsaw or handsaw to cut the angled sides of the leg cutouts. (If you opt for a jigsaw, apply only light pressure in order to keep the blade from wandering out of square. If your jigsaw features orbital blade action, turn it to full power, since the leg stock is thick.)
The tops of the legs need notches called shoulders (see illustration, page 52). These make the bench more rigid by offering greater support to the aprons, which hold the entire bench together and give it stability. Two quick cuts takes care of each one. The legs are now done, though you may opt to sand and round over the outer edges.
The seat on my bench is made of a 12"-wide piece of ¾"-thick pine. To create the handle cutouts on the bench seat, begin with two 1½"-diameter holes, removing the wood between them with a couple of jigsaw cuts. Rounding the edges of these holes makes them nicer to grab.
The aprons are next. Cut two aprons, nipping the bottoms of the corners off at a 45-degree angle for aesthetics.
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