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The entire bench comes down to one joint done right: each pair of 2x2 legs is cut at a 35° compound angle, then one leg in every pair gets notched so the two cross and interlock, rather than simply overlapping and getting screwed through. Cutting the notch is genuinely fussy — a series of shallow saw kerfs every 1/4" across the overlap, then a chisel to clear the waste between them — but it's what lets the X sit flush and take a screw straight through the center without one leg standing proud of the other.
Every leg gets notched as a mirror image of its pair, which is why the plan insists on cutting all four to the same compound angle before doing any notching: two mirrored legs make one clean X, and a leg cut to the wrong hand ruins the fit no amount of chiseling can fix.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine, 2x2, 10 ft | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 8 ft | 2 each |
| Pine, 1x2, 10 ft | 1 each |
| Brad nails or staples, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Wood screws, 2-1/2", self-tapping | 4 each |
| Wood glue | 2 oz |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| LegsPine 2x2Both ends cut at 35° off square, long point to short point, ends parallel; notch each leg to mirror its pair. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 19 1/4" |
| Top crosspiecePine 2x2 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 12 3/8" |
| Frame sidesPine 1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 29" |
| Shelf boards, shortPine 1x4Cut three from each of two 8 ft boards. | 6 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 12" |
| Shelf boards, longPine 1x4Cut two from each remaining board length. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 29 1/2" |
Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
3 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 →
Using a compound miter saw, cut the legs at 35° off square, both ends parallel to each other, measuring long point to short point. Set a pair of legs as they'll cross and mark the overlap. Notch out the overlap with the circular saw set to 3/4" depth, making a series of cuts every 1/4" across the marked area, then clear the waste with a chisel. Notch each leg as a mirror image of its pair, so two legs together form a clean X.
Attach the top crosspiece to each leg set with 2-1/2" wood screws. Add a brad nail or staple and glue at the overlapping center of each X for extra hold.
Attach the frame sides to the leg sets with glue and 1-1/4" brad nails to form the bench frame.
Place the shelf boards on the frame sides with equal overhang and about 1" spacing between boards — cutting a 1" spacer block makes this quick and consistent. Nail at an angle through the boards into the frame with glue and 1-1/4" brads or staples.
Sand every surface smooth and apply your finish of choice.
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