How to Replace a Kitchen Bench

Replace your kitchen bench with one you build yourself and save money. Not only do you save money, you also gain a sense of pride in your kitchen furniture. The first thing you need to consider is the dimensions of the existing bench as well as the material from which it was built. A little experience with a variable speed drill is about the extent of woodworking knowledge needed to complete this project with confidence.

2 pieces of 14 by 17 by 3/4-inch plywood
Framing square
Variable speed drill
1/8-inch drill bit
Countersink bit
3 pieces of 1 by 4 by 36 1/2-inch lumber
Wood glue
1 1/4-inch drywall screws
1 piece of 40 by 16 by 3/4-inch plywood
Veneer edge band
Iron
Wood block
Sanding block w/100-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Put the 17-inch plywood (legs) on a worktable. Make marks from one long edge at 8 1/8 and 8 7/8-inches. Next, make a mark 3/4-inch from one 14-inch edge (becomes the top of the leg). Place the framing square on the marks and draw lines on the material.
- 2
  Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes from the top of the leg at 1 3/4, 3 1/4, 7 3/4 and 9 1/4-inches. Next, drill two pilot holes across the top of the leg at 6 1/4 and 7 3/4-inches. Drill countersink holes on top of the pilot holes.
- 3
  Measure from the long edge of one 36 1/2-inch piece of lumber (stabilizers) and make several marks at 1 3/8 and 2 1/8-inches. Place the framing square on the marks and draw lines down the length of the material. Drill pilot holes and countersink holes between the lines as you did before.
- 4
  Apply glue to one long edge of a different stabilizer. Center the piece with the pilot holes on the glue and secure it with the drywall screws. This is the top stabilizer. Put some glue on the ends of this stabilizer and secure it between the legs at the top with drywall screws.
- 5
  Make a mark from the bottom of the leg and between the lines at 6 3/4-inches. Run a bead of glue on the ends of the remaining stabilizer and secure the bottom edge of it on that mark with the drywall screws.
- 6
  Set the 40-inch piece of plywood (bench top) on the worktable. Measure from one long edge and make several marks at 7 1/4 and 9 3/4-inches. Place the framing square on the marks and draw lines down the length of the material. Make a mark between the lines at 1-inch from each of the ends of the bench top.
- 7
  Spread some glue between the lines. Place the leg assembly on the glue and secure it with the drywall screws. Next, cut two strips of the edge band 42-inches (bench top), two strips 18-inches (bench top) and four 17-inches long (legs).
- 8
  Hold a 42-inch strip against one edge and apply a hot iron to activate the glue. When finished, rub the veneer with a block of wood to force the glue into the pores of the plywood. Break the ends over the corners of the plywood and sand the long edges with a sanding block to fit the thickness of the bench top. Repeat this with the remaining edges of the plywood top and legs.

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