How to Build Kid Workbenches

Cut four pieces of 2-by-4-inch lumber 36 inches long with your saw. Cut four pieces 17 inches long and four more pieces 24 inches long. Cut two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood, 36 inches long by 18 inches wide.

Create two rectangles, 36 inches by 20 inches, using the four 36-inch and four 17-inch pieces of lumber. Stand your two-by-fours on edge on a flat, sturdy surface. Set the two long pieces parallel to each other and 17 inches apart. Set one 17-inch piece between the longer pieces at each end. Do this for both rectangles.

Drill pilot holes in each corner of the rectangle, going through the long two-by-four into the end of the short piece. Countersink the holes with the countersink bit. Attach the corners by driving two screws through the pilot holes from the long piece and into the end of the shorter piece, using your drill and screwdriver bit. Repeat the procedure for each corner on both rectangular frames.

Set one of the frames on a flat, sturdy surface. This will be your bench-top frame. Stand one 24-inch two-by-four on end in each corner of the frame, with the longer side of the two-by-four positioned against the inside of the short frame piece. These are the bench legs. Clamp the legs in place with C clamps or quick clamps. Attach each leg with at least three screws.

Mark the legs with a carpenter's square and pencil, 12 inches from the bottom end. This marks the height of your bench shelf. Slide the remaining rectangle down over the legs until it lines up with the 12-inch mark. This is the shelf frame. Clamp the frame in place. Attach it to the legs by driving at least two screws in each corner.

Turn the bench frame over. Place one of your pieces of plywood on top of the top frame. Position it flush at all four edges. Drill pilot holes every eight to 10 inches through the plywood and into the edge of the two-by-four frame. Countersink the pilot holes, then drive screws to secure the top in place.

Mark a square 3 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches on each corner of the other plywood piece. Make two cuts with a jigsaw to remove the corners. This is your shelf top. Set the top on the shelf frame, with the legs fitting into the cut-away corners. Screw down the shelf as you did with the bench top.