NotchLoading plan…
Loading plan…
Each leg end is its own small truss assembly built from angled 4x4 pieces — there are many ways to join thick 4x4 stock, and pocket holes hidden underneath are one of the cleanest, keeping every fastener out of sight on a piece meant to look solid from every angle. Build two identical leg ends, then attach the bottom stretcher between them.
The side aprons are 2x4s positioned to read as full 4x4s from the outside — the trick that makes this bench look far chunkier and heavier than its actual lumber cost. Drill 1-1/2" pocket holes facing upward on the inside of the aprons before attaching them, since those holes are what the benchtop screws into in the next step — drilling them after the aprons are already installed is much harder to reach.
Build the breadboard-ended top as its own assembly first, with 1-1/2" pocket holes and 2-1/2" pocket hole screws, before attaching it to the base — building the top flat on a bench is far easier than fitting boards to an already-standing frame.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 4x4, 8 ft | 2 each |
| 2x4, 6 ft or 12 ft | 2 each |
| 2x8, 6 ft or 12 ft | 2 each |
| 2x10, 3 ft (breadboard ends) | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2" | 40 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Primer and paint, or stain and poly | 1 set |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Leg top pieces4x4, 8 ft | 2 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 13 1/2" |
| Leg diagonal pieces4x4, 8 ftLong point to long point, both ends cut at 10° off square, parallel. | 4 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 13 1/4" |
| Leg feet4x4, 8 ftLong point to long point, both ends cut at 10° off square, not parallel. | 2 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 8" |
| Bottom stretcher4x4, 8 ft | 1 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 65" |
| Side aprons2x4, 6 ft or 12 ft | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 65" |
| Bench top boards2x8, 6 ft or 12 ft | 2 | 1 1/2" × 7 1/4" × 68 1/2" |
| Breadboard ends2x10, 3 ft (breadboard ends) | 2 | 1 1/2" × 9 1/4" × 14 1/2" |
Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
2 boards
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Build two leg ends from the leg top and diagonal pieces, using a Kreg Jig to hide the joints underneath if desired.
Attach the bottom stretcher between the two leg ends.
Add the side aprons, drilling 1-1/2" pocket holes facing upward on the inside before attaching, for use in the next step.
Build the bench top with the breadboard ends using 1-1/2" pocket holes and 2-1/2" pocket hole screws, then attach to the base.
Sand all surfaces and apply primer and paint, or stain and poly.
No reviews yet
Sign in to review this plan or share your build.
No reviews yet. Be the first to build this.