DIY Wood Park Bench

Making Parts

• 1

  Cut two rectangles from 3/4-inch cabinet grade plywood 36 inches by 22 inches, using a table saw. Measure up from the right hand corner of one of the 22-inch ends with a tape measure 18 inches and make a mark at the edge with a pencil. Use a carpenter's square to draw a line in from the edge 16 inches.

• 2

  Measure in 3 inches from the top left corner, opposite the corner you measured from in the last step. Mark the point at the top edge. Draw a diagonal straight line from the mark you just made to the end of the line from the last step. Repeat these marks on the other rectangle.

• 3

  Cut along the lines with a jigsaw to create the bench ends.

• 4

  Cut two pieces of cedar 2-by-4 lumber 17 inches long using the miter saw. Cut two pieces 21 inches long, with a 22 1/2 degree miter at either end, both cut with the saw right of center to create an oblong parallelogram, with the board standing on edge.

Assembly

• 5

  Draw a line parallel to the bottom of each side piece, 16 inches up from the bottom. Apply wood glue to one long edge of the two 17-inch 2-by-4 pieces and position them along the bottom of the line with the front end flush with the front of the side piece. Clamp them in place with quick clamps.

• 6

  Drive four 3-inch treated deck screws through the plywood into the edge of the 2-by-4, evenly spaced along its edge, on each side piece.

• 7

  Apply glue to one long edge of each of the miter-cut 2-by-4s and position them parallel to the diagonal cut, with the top end flush with the top back corner of the side piece. Drive screws through the plywood to anchor it in place, one every 8 inches, as you did for the seat braces.

• 8

  Cut 9 pieces of 1-by-4 cedar lumber 36 inches long. Attach them between the sides, with four spaced evenly along the seat braces, with the ends flush against the inside of the side pieces. Drive two 1 5/8-inch treated deck screws through each end of each piece, into the 2-by-4 brace.

• 9

  Space five pieces evenly up the back of the bench, starting with the first one flush with the top of the bench sides. Drive two 1 5/8-inch screws through each one into the 2-by-4 brace. Sand the bench smooth with 150-grit sandpaper on a random orbit sander.