DIY Wood Garage Benches

The Legs

• 1

  Cut four 30-inch lengths of lumber, followed by four 20-inch lengths of lumber.

• 2

  On two of the 30-inch pieces, measure and mark a line down the center of the 4-inch-wide sides. Drill through the wood along this line at two points: 1 inch in from the end and 3 inches in from the end, using a ¼-inch bit. These pieces will form two of the legs of the bench.

• 3

  Screw in a 2.5-inch screw through each of the holes you've made, going in from the unmarked side. Stop when the tip of each screw protrudes from the wood.

• 4

  Hold the sawed end of one of the 20-inch lengths of lumber against the piece where you've inserted the screws. The 2-inch-wide edge should be flush with the top of the leg and it should be centered on the line you̵7;ve drawn. Drive the screws home into this piece to make the top of the legs, then repeat on the other sawed end of the 20-inch length, using the other leg, so you now have an inverted U shape.

• 5

  At the other end of each leg, measure up 4 inches from the end of the wood on the inside of the U and draw a line across the width of each leg.

• 6

  Drill two holes through each leg at a point that's ¾ of an inch above the line you've drawn. Insert screws through the holes from the unmarked side of the wood until the points just protrude from the marked side. Fit one of the remaining two 20-inch lengths of wood between the legs, and align its 4-inch width on the lines you've drawn, so that the sawed ends are against the drilled holes with the screws partially inserted.

• 7

  Drive the screws home into this piece from both legs for the bottom bracing of the legs. Repeat with the rest of the wood you̵7;ve cut to make the other set of legs for the garage bench.

Completing The Bench

• 8

  Cut two 75-inch lengths of 2-by-4-inch lumber to make the bench supports. Draw a line across the width of each piece that's 6 inches in from one end of the lumber, then a second line 2 inches beyond that. Measure and mark points along both these lines, the first 1 inch in from the long edge of the wood, the second 2 inches below that; these points are where you̵7;ll drill through to attach the bench supports to the legs. Repeat at the other end of each piece.

• 9

  Stand the legs on their side so that they each sit between the marks you̵7;ve made on the bench support. Adjust so that the top edge of the support is flush with the top of the legs, then screw through the holes you̵7;ve drilled to secure the support to the legs. Repeat with the other support on the other side and stand the bench frame upright.

• 10

  Lay the solid core door on top of the bench frame so that there̵7;s an equal overhang on each side and at the ends. Drill through the door and into the frame on all sides, allowing 4 inches between each hole, then screw in place to hold the door firm.