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How to Make Outdoor Furniture: The Backless Bench

A backless bench is one of the simplest outdoor furniture products to make at home. The backless bench we're going to do build uses common lumberyard materials and can be completed in one weekend without a problem. This outdoor furniture project will work on improving your skill with measurements, squaring, and cutting.

Things You'll Need

Wood: All dimensions are finished. Buy your wood slightly oversized to allow for planing, jointing, cutting, and sanding.
Tools: Hand or Power Saw and a Drill or Drill Press
Material: You'll need an assortment of wood screws between 2" to 2 1/2" in length. Either ½ or 5/8 in dowels.
Waterproof Glue

Instructions

- 1
  Cut eight slats to finished dimensions of 1-½ x 3-½ x 48. Cut ten spacers ¾ x 1 ½ x 3 ½. Assemble six of the eight slats with glue and screws to the spacers. Spacers are located three inches from the end of the slats and all aligned with the bottom of the slats. Set the assembly and the other two slats for later.
- 2
  Cut two side rails to finished dimensions of 1 ½ x 1 ½ x 35 inches. Be sure that both pieces are straight, square, and identical. Drill a 5/8 inch hole one inch deep precisely centered in each end. Cut your 5/8 dowels to no more than 1 1/2" long. Place a dowel in each hole at ¾ of an inch deep. Set these aside for later assembly.
- 3
  Cut four end rails to finished dimensions of 1 ½ x 1 ½ x 12 3/4 inches. Be sure that all four pieces are straight, square, and identical. Drill a 5/8 inch hole one inch deep precisely centered in each end. Cut your 5/8 dowels to no more than 1 1/2" long. Place a dowel in each hole at ¾ of an inch deep. Set these aside for later assembly.
- 4
  Cut four legs to finished dimensions of 1 ½ x 3 ½ x 16 3/4 inches. Be sure that all four pieces are straight, square, and identical. Notch the top of the outside face of each leg ¾ inch deep by 1 ½ inches wide.
- 5
  Align two of the end rails to two of the legs with the notches facing out. The top edge of the upper rail will line up with the bottom of the notch. The face will be flush outside edge. The second end rail is positioned eight inches below the first end rail. Carefully measure and drill dowel holes in the legs to receive the end rails. Use a medium setting glue and square the assembly. Repeat the process for the other end.
- 6
  Attach the two side rails level with the bottom end rails. Carefully measure and drill dowel holes in the legs to receive the side rails.
- 7
  Once the glued assembly is dry, retrieve the to and extra slats from step one. Place the assembled seat centered on top of the end rails. Place the single slat in the notch centered and even with the seat assembly. Glue and screw the single slat through and tie it together. Repeat for the other side.
- 8
  Sand the entire bench paying special attention to easing the edges. Then use polyurethane or spar varnish to finish the project. This is a piece of outdoor furniture that will last several years. Enjoy your backless bench.

Furniture Making