By: Max Beatty Scott Frowiss Adam Bonilla

Table of contents

iii

Table of contents Contents

Table of contents ............................................................................................................................ iii How to Use this Manual ............................................................................................................... 3 Picking your Wood ....................................................................................................................... 4 Making your Bench....................................................................................................................... 4 Preparing your wood for assembly ............................................................................................. 4 Bench Assembly ......................................................................................................................... 6 Staining your Bench...................................................................................................................... 9 Staining Softwood for a Darker Effect ................................................................................... 9 Staining Softwood for a Lighter Effect ................................................................................. 10 Staining Hardwood for a Darker Effect ................................................................................ 11 Staining Hardwood for a Lighter Effect ............................................................................... 12 Index ............................................................................................................................................. 14

v Introduction

How to Use this Manual

Creating a bench can be as simple, or as complicated as you make it. In this manual, we are going to show you how to make a simple bench. We will show you step by step instructions on how to first make the bench, then show you what you can do to the bench if you dont like the color, or the feel of the wood. Below is a list of materials you will need to create the bench, and a number of steps to take to build the bench. Once you have completed the bench, you can decide if you like the way your bench looks, or if you want to stain and finish it. If you decide you wish to stain and finish your bench, you can move on to the next part of the manual. This next part will give you detailed instructions on how spice up your bench in a way that suits you. Once you have completed these steps, you will have a bench that looks amazing for you to use in any way that suits your needs.

Building Your bench

Picking your Wood

Picking your wood is very important, because the wood you pick determines what your bench looks like when you are done sanding, and staining it. First, you might want to become familiar with different kinds of wood. Here are a few different kinds of wood: Softwoods Pine, Fir, and Cedar. Hard woods Oak, Beech, Ash, Elm, Birch, and Walnut.

If the wood you have chosen has uneven wood grain, or blotchy patterns to it, it is softwood. Staining softwood can enhance the natural beauty of the wood, since it will stain unevenly.

Making your Bench Preparing your wood for assembly

1. Begin with setting up your 2 saw horses ~3-4 feet apart and lay out a single 2x8 across the top. 2. Measure and mark your board at 45 and then 42 from that mark. 3. Ready your circular hand saw. Make sure blade is in good condition and set properly. Plug in and test saw for any wobble in the blade that would affect the cuts. Set depth on saw for just over the 2 mark.

Building Your bench Set the angle on your saw to the flat default. Refer to any saw troubleshooting problems in your saws operation manual. 4. With safety in mind make your first cut on the 45 line. 5. Repeat the cut on the 42 line. 6. Place 2 new 2x8 boards on the saw horses. 7. Mark and measure 2 lines 36 apart lines on your first 2x8 and mark the 36 point the other 8. At those markings use your square tool or protractor to mark a 22.5 degree angle with the previous line.

(Image courtesy of BirdandBlooms.com @ http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Backyard-Projects/Small-Garden-Projects/Simple-Garden-Bench/)

9. Cut the boards on your new measured angled lines. At this point you should have 2 boards ~36 long 1 with 2 angled ends and the other 2 with a flat end and an angled end. 10. Using one of the previous cuts as a guide mark an angled line across the flat end of the boards.

Building Your bench 11. Cut the 2 ends of the boards. 12. Now that you have 3 identical boards with angled ends. 13. With 1 of the 3 angled boards, find the middle of these 2 boards (which should be ~17 depending on the accuracy of your cuts and measurements.) On the left edge of each board mark the 17 point and repeat for the right edge. Draw a line connecting the 2 marked points. 14. Cut the board in half along the measured line. 15. Now you should have all your pieces cut and ready to be put together.

Bench Assembly

Building Your bench 1. Gather the pieces 1a 1b 2a and 2b. 2. Using piece 4a as a guide to keeping the feet of the bench flush overlap piece 1a and 2a and 1b and 2b so that their angled bottoms are flush on piece 4a and the legs are fully extended over each other and the opposite end doesnt protrude out past the #2 pieces.

(Image courtesy of BirdandBlooms.com @ http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Backyard-Projects/Small-Garden-Projects/Simple-Garden-Bench/)

3. Using 3 wood screws and your power drill, drill thru the overlapping segments in each corner (3 screws for each union) for the 1a 2a union and repeat for the 1b 2b union. 4. Now that you have your leg pieces assembled space them apart with the pieces 1a and 1b on the inside. Place the 42 piece 3 across the 2 legs atop the 1a and 1b pieces. 5. From the outside of pieces 2a and 2b screw your 3 screws into the ends of piece 3 using 3 screws on each end. (For added security you may also screw down thru piece 3 into the 1a and 1b pieces with 2 3 screws on each side.)

Building Your bench 6. With your seat in place the only reaming wood piece #4 will be your bench back. Lay piece 4 across the backside of pieces 2a and 2b. Screw your back onto the bench using 3 3 screws on each side.

7.
(Image courtesy of BirdandBlooms.com @ http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Backyard-Projects/Small-Garden-Projects/SimpleGarden-Bench/)

Staining Your Bench

Staining your Bench

Staining Softwood for a Darker Effect
This part of the manual will give detailed instructions on sanding, and staining softwood. If you decide you would like to use hardwood to make your bench, please move on to the next part of the manual. If the wood is rougher, the bench will absorb more stain, and your bench will become darker. You may want to experiment with the different levels of sanding, and how many coats you should apply. Just pick up a left over piece of wood you are not going to use, sand it down with a lower grit, and apply a few coats of stain. Softwood has an uneven grain, so if you choose to stain the wood without conditioning it first with a pre-stain, it will enhance the natural beauty of the wood. If you do not want your wood to stain unevenly, you can condition it with a pre-stain. When you stain the wood, be sure to remember that the longer you wait, the darker it will be. If you are not sure how fast the wood will absorb the stain, wipe off the stain immediately after you apply it. This will help you gauge how fast the wood is absorbing the stain. Here are the steps you need to take in order to get a darker effect when staining your softwood: Wipe down the wood with any type of cloth to ensure the wood is free of any debris. Remove any blemishes and scuffs by sanding the wood with a lower grit number (60 to 80). Sand down the wood using a higher grit number (100 to120). Wipe down the wood with a damp cloth. To prevent uneven staining, place a pre-stain on the wood to condition it. Stir the stain well.

Staining Your Bench Apply the stain to the wood using a brush, rag, clean cloth, or sponge. Go with the grain, working in one continuous movement across the wood. Wait between 5 and 15 minutes for the wood to absorb the stain. After staining the bench, wait between 6 and 8 hours for it to dry.

Staining Softwood for a Lighter Effect

To stain softwood for a lighter effect, you need to use a higher grit number when sanding the wood. After sanding the wood down with a grit number of about 100 or 120, you need to use a higher grit number, about 200, to sand down the wood. This will give the wood a smoother feel to it, and the wood will not absorb as much stain. The wood will have a lighter effect to it when you are done staining it. Here are the steps you need to take in order to get a lighter effect when staining your softwood: Wipe down the wood with any type of cloth to ensure the wood is free of any debris. Remove any blemishes and scuffs by sanding the wood with a lower grit number (60 to 80). Sand down the wood using a higher grit number (100 to 120) Sand down the wood further using a higher grit number (200). Wipe down the wood with a damp cloth. To prevent uneven staining, apply a pre-stain on the wood to condition it. Stir the stain well. Apply the stain using a brush, rag, clean cloth, or sponge. Go with the grain, working in one continuous movement across the wood. Wait between 5 and 15 minutes for the wood to absorb the stain.

Staining Your Bench After staining the bench, wait between 6 and 8 hours for it to dry.

Staining Hardwood for a Darker Effect

Softwood has uneven and blotchy patterns to it, and hardwood is just the opposite. It has a consistent flow or pattern to the grain. Simply choose whichever stain you want, and apply it to the wood. There isnt any need to apply a pre-stain, since the wood has an even gain. Hardwood, such as birch, will require more staining than softwood, but the result of the extra staining will be a beautiful bench. Here are the steps you need to take in order to get a darker effect when staining your hardwood: Wipe down the wood with any type of cloth, to ensure that the wood is free of any debris. Remove any blemishes and scuffs by sanding the wood with a lower grit number (60 to 80). Sand down the wood using a higher grit number (100 to 120). Wipe down the wood with a damp cloth. Stir the stain well. Apply the stain with a brush, rag, clean cloth, or sponge. Go with the grain, working in one continuous movement across the wood. Wait between 5 and 15 minutes for the wood to absorb the stain. After staining the bench, wait between 6 and 8 hours for it to dry.

Staining Your Bench

Staining Hardwood for a Lighter Effect

Hardwood has an even grain, so you do not need to apply a pre-stain to condition the wood. It will stain evenly, and beautifully. When staining hardwood for a lighter effect, you need to sand down the wood even more after using the lower grit number (100 to 120). This will make the wood very smooth, and it will absorb less stain. You do not need to apply multiple coats of stain when staining hardwood for a lighter effect. Here are the steps you need to take in order to get a lighter effect when staining your hardwood: Wipe down the wood with any type of cloth to ensure that the wood is free of any debris. Remove any blemishes and scuffs by sanding the wood with a lower grit number (60 to 80). Sand down the wood using a higher grit number (100 to 120). Sand down the wood further using a higher grit number (200). Wipe down the wood with a damp cloth. Stir the stain well. Apply the stain with a brush, rag, clean cloth, or sponge. Go with the grain, working in one continuous movement across the wood. Wait between 5 and 15 minutes for the wood to absorb the stain. After staining the bench, wait between 6 and 8 hours for it to dry.

Staining Your Bench

Index

Index
angle, 7 angled, 7, 8, 9 blemishes, 11, 12, 13, 14 Cut, 7, 8 drill, 9 grain, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 grit, 11, 12, 13, 14 hardwood, 11, 13, 14 mark, 6, 7, 8 screws, 9, 10 softwood, 6, 11, 12, 13 stain, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 staining, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15