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Splayed Leg X Bench

A small bench with legs that splay out on a gentle 5° double bevel and an X-brace base. A compound-miter exercise in a one-board build.

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L	Material	✓
Legs Ends parallel, cut at a 5° angle off square AND a 5° bevel (double bevel).	4	1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/4"	2x2	☐
End aprons (short) Both ends 5° off square, not parallel, short point to short point.	2	3/4" × 2 1/2" × 7"	1x3	☐
End aprons (mid) Both ends 5° off square, not parallel.	2	3/4" × 2 1/2" × 9 1/4"	1x3	☐
Side aprons Both ends 5° off square, not parallel.	2	3/4" × 2 1/2" × 24"	1x3	☐
Stretchers Approximate — cut the 1x2 in half.	2	3/4" × 1 1/2" × 48"	1x2	☐
Top	1	3/4" × 11 1/4" × 30"	1x12	☐

Item	Qty	✓
2x2, 8 ft (Pine) Legs.	1 each	☐
1x3, 8 ft (Pine) Aprons and cross supports.	2 each	☐
1x2, 8 ft (Pine) Stretchers — cut in half.	1 each	☐
1x4, 8 ft (Pine)	1 each	☐
1x12, 30" (Pine) Top.	1 each	☐
Screws, 2" and 2-1/2" Or pocket hole screws.	1 box	☐
Wood glue	4 oz	☐
Wood filler and finish	1 kit	☐

Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.

Drill / Driver
Drill Bit Set
Countersink bit if you're not using pocket holes.
Miter Saw
A compound miter saw set to 5° is what makes the double-bevel legs repeatable.
Pencil
Random Orbit Sander
Safety Glasses
Speed Square
Tape Measure
Hearing Protection — optional
Level — optional

1. Cut the legs at a double bevel
Tools: Miter Saw, Pencil. Materials: 2x2, 8 ft
Cut the four legs at a 5° double bevel — the saw angled 5° off square and tilted 5° for the bevel. As soon as each leg is cut, mark its inside corner. With a 5° double bevel it's genuinely hard to tell which end and face is which once you start assembling, and mismarked legs splay the wrong way.
2. Build the end assemblies
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Screws, 2" and 2-1/2", Wood glue
Mark the placement of the end aprons and predrill (pocket holes or countersunk screws and glue). Center the aprons on the legs as shown. Build both ends.
3. Add the side aprons
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Screws, 2" and 2-1/2", Wood glue
Attach the side aprons to the two end assemblies. They're cut at 5° off square with ends not parallel; the measurement given is short point to short point. This ties the base into a rigid frame.
4. Add the cross supports
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, Screws, 2" and 2-1/2"
Add the cross stretchers between the aprons. Doing this as its own step means you can lengthen the bench later by simply changing these — and it keeps the base square if you nudge the aprons in or out.
5. Attach the top and finish
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: 1x12, 30", Screws, 2" and 2-1/2", Wood filler and finish