How to Build an Antique Bench

Measure 45 inches from one end of the board and cut the board on the chop saw. Repeat for a second board of the identical length. Measure 17 inches from one end of the remaining board and cut. Repeat for a second board of the identical length.

Set up the fence on a table saw and rip-cut lengthwise one of the 45 inch long boards. Rip it right down the center so as to end up with 2 boards identical in width. Measure in 4 inches from each end along the same edge of the boards that have just been ripped.

Measure 1 inch down from the opposite edge. Lay the metal square on each board end and connect the 1 inch mark and the 4 inch mark and draw a diagonal line. Do this 4 times. On each board one edge will measure 45 inches. The opposite edge of the same board will measure 37 inches. Saw along the pencil lines with the chop saw.

Lay one of the 1 by 12 by 17 inch boards flat on the table. Locate the middle of the 12 inch wide board using the tape measure. Mark 1 inch off on either side of the center mark of the board. From the center mark measure up 2 1/2 inches and make a mark. Connect the two 1 inch marks to the 2 1/2 inch mark with the metal square and draw two lines creating an upside down V. Cut along the lines with a handsaw. Repeat for the second matching board.

Set the 1 by 12 by 45 inch board on one long edge. Prop the board up if necessary. Lay the 45 inch length of the angled cut board against the top facing edge of the 12 inch wide board. The top edge of the side board should be flush with the face of the 12 inch wide board. Hammer in a nail 1 inch in from the end of the angle cut board. Pound a nail in every two inches the full length of the board. Repeat for the 2nd angle cut board on the opposite side.

Lay the bench seat face down on the work surface. Insert the two 17 inch boards between the two side boards with their top edges flush against the bench seat. Line up each of the 17 inch boards so each edge is lined up with the bottom of the angle cut boards-4 inches in from the end of the bench. The end of the boards with the upside down V cuts are facing up.

Set the metal square against the face of the 17 inch high board and the seat of the bench to insure both boards are at a perfect right angle to one another. Pound two nails into each side style directly into the edge of the 17 high board. Repeat for the other 17 inch board.

Set the bench on the floor. From the top of the bench pound 4 nails straight down through the seat of the bench into the top edge of each of the 17 boards.