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Every leg here is cut with a genuine double bevel — 5° off square and a 5° bevel at the same time — and the plan is direct that this is the one tricky cut in the whole build: mark the inside corner of each leg the moment it's cut, since with an angle this subtle it's easy to lose track of which way a leg should face. Attach the end apron and the wider base piece to each pair of legs identically, keeping both boards parallel to the ground rather than in line with the splayed legs, and flush with the top of the legs — build two matching end assemblies this way.
Attach the side aprons to connect the two ends the same way, then comes the one genuinely custom step: the diagonal cross supports are traced directly off your own assembled frame, not cut to a fixed length. Flip the bench over, rest a board against the underside of the top apron and the opposite base board, and trace the angle where it meets both — cut, test the fit, and adjust until it seats cleanly. The top and bottom angles are NOT the same, so keep track of which end goes where on each cross support.
Finally, mark the underside of the top 1-1/2" in from both ends and attach with screws and glue, leaving roughly a 1/2" overhang on the sides depending on your exact board width.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x2, 8 ft | 1 each |
| 1x3, 8 ft | 2 each |
| 1x2, 8 ft | 1 each |
| 1x12, 30 in | 1 each |
| Screws, 2" and 2-1/2", or pocket hole screws | 30 each |
| Wood glue | 3 oz |
| Wood filler | 2 oz |
| Sandpaper, 120 grit | 3 sheet |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Legs2x2, 8 ftBoth ends cut at 5° off square with a 5° bevel, ends parallel to each other. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/4" |
| End aprons1x3, 8 ftBoth ends cut at 5° off square, not parallel, short point to short point. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 7" |
| End bases1x3, 8 ftBoth ends cut at 5° off square, not parallel, short point to short point. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 9 1/4" |
| Side aprons1x3, 8 ftBoth ends cut at 5° off square, not parallel, short point to short point. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 24" |
| Cross supports1x2, 8 ftCut to fit by tracing the angle directly off the assembled frame; top and bottom angles differ. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 24" |
| Top1x12, 30 in | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 30" |
Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
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 →
Cut the four legs with the double bevel and mark the inside corner of each one immediately.
Predrill and attach an end apron and end base to each pair of legs, keeping both boards parallel to the ground and flush with the top of the legs. Build two matching ends.
Attach the side aprons to connect the two end assemblies the same way.
Flip the bench over. Mark the centers of the top and bottom aprons. Rest a board against the underside of the top apron and the opposite base, trace the angle, cut, and test-fit until it seats cleanly. Repeat for the second cross support, noting the top and bottom angles differ.
Mark the underside of the top 1-1/2" in from both ends and attach with screws and glue.
Fill any holes with wood filler, sand with 120 grit sandpaper, and apply primer and paint or stain and poly.
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