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A 54" bench made entirely from 1x boards — notched legs, an X cross-brace, and a single 1x12 seat. Light, cheap, and quick.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg pieces (notched) Notch out per step 1. | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 17 1/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| End aprons / side stretchers | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 11 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Leg completion pieces | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/4" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Aprons and stretcher | 3 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 45" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Cross supports Cut to fit; lay out angles with a square first. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 25 3/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Top | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 54" | 1x12 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x3, 8 ft (Pine) Legs, aprons, stretcher, cross supports. | 4 each | ☐ |
| 1x2, 8 ft (Pine) Completes the built-up legs. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x12, at least 54" (Pine) The seat. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Wood screws, 1-1/4" | 30 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 4 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Jigsaw, Pencil. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft
Mark the 1x3 leg parts for their notches as shown and cut them out with a jigsaw. These notches let the leg pieces interlock into a built-up leg.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Wood screws, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Attach the end aprons/stretchers (B) to the 1x3 leg pieces (A) as shown to form each end assembly.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, Wood screws, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Fasten the 1x2 leg pieces (C) to the rest of each leg, keeping the outside corner flush. This builds each leg up to full thickness from thin stock.
Tools: Miter Saw, Speed Square. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft
Cut the cross supports to fit. Use your square to lay out the angle cuts and mark the board before cutting — measure the actual span between the legs, since the overall long-point-to-long-point length depends on how your legs came together.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Wood screws, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Fasten the long aprons and stretcher between the leg assemblies, then fasten the X cross supports in place. The cross-brace is what keeps the bench from racking side to side.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: 1x12, at least 54", Wood screws, 1-1/4"
Fasten the 1x12 top to the bench. To hide the screws, predrill up through the aprons and drive into the underside of the top so nothing shows on the seat; otherwise screw from above and fill. Sand and finish.