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A trestle bench with built-up legs, breadboard-end top, and an optional iron-pipe stretcher for the industrial look. The square legs are the hard part.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg pieces (beveled) Both ends beveled 10° off square, ends parallel. | 8 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 17 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| End aprons | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 13 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Stretcher | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Spacers | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 8 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Leg feet caps Longest point; one end beveled 10° off square. | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 2 7/8" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Aprons Short point to short point; both ends 10° off square, NOT parallel. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 52 1/4" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Side rails | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 64" | 2x2 | ☐ |
| Breadboard ends | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Top boards | 3 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 57" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x6, 6 ft (Pine) Top boards. | 3 each | ☐ |
| 1x4, 6 ft (Pine) End aprons and breadboard ends. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x3, 8 ft (Pine) Built-up leg pieces, stretcher, spacers. | 3 each | ☐ |
| 2x4, 10 ft (Whitewood/SPF) Aprons — the main supports. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 2x2, 8 ft (Whitewood) Side rails. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Iron pipe, 1" dia x 60" Optional industrial stretcher. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Wood screws, 2-1/2" | 16 each | ☐ |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" | 80 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Speed Square. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
The hardest part of this bench is getting the legs built square. Construct each leg with glue and 1-1/4" finish nails, and check for square by measuring the diagonals — equal diagonals mean the leg is true. A racked leg here shows up in every joint above it.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Working again from the bottom upward, sandwich the remaining leg pieces onto the legs, building them up to full thickness.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x4, 10 ft, Wood screws, 2-1/2", Wood glue
Measure 3/4" in from the leg faces and attach the 2x4 aprons with 2-1/2" screws and glue. These are the main structural supports of the bench.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x2, 8 ft, Wood screws, 2-1/2", Wood glue
Attach the 2x2 side rails as shown, tying the leg assemblies together along the length.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x6, 6 ft, 1x4, 6 ft, Finish nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Build the top from the 1x6 boards and add the breadboard ends — straightforward at this point. Cut the breadboard ends to fit for the tightest joint.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Iron pipe, 1" dia x 60", Wood screws, 2-1/2"
Attach the top to the base. Sand and finish. For the industrial version, add the 1"-diameter, 60"-long iron pipe as a stretcher between the legs — a hardware-store part, not a woodworking one.