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X Arbor with Bench
This X Arbor with Bench is the perfect accent to you garden or back yard escape.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time
- 3.8–7.3 hours
- Cost
- $$
Cut list
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legs | 4 | 1" × 3" × 80" | — | ☐ |
| Rails | 6 | 1" × 3" × 16" | — | ☐ |
| Seat supports | 5 | 1" × 3" × 16" | — | ☐ |
| Top supports and seat aprons | 7 | 1" × 3" × 41" | — | ☐ |
| Long x pieces | 4 | 1" × 2" × 30 1/2" | — | ☐ |
| Short x pieces | 8 | 1" × 2" × 15" | — | ☐ |
| Top rafters | 7 | 1" × 1" × 28" | — | ☐ |
| Bench seat boards | 2 | 1" × 9" × 41" | — | ☐ |
| Lower Rafters | 2 | 1" × 5" × 60" | — | ☐ |
Materials
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Board, 2x4 96" | 10 board | ☐ |
| Board, 2x3 96" | 3 board | ☐ |
| Board, 2x2 96" | 3 board | ☐ |
| Board, 2x10 96" | 1 board | ☐ |
| Board, 2x6 72" | 2 board | ☐ |
| 2 1/2'' pocket hole screws | 200 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools
- Drill / Driver
- Impact Driver
- Jigsaw
- Miter Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Random Orbit Sander
- Bar / Pipe Clamps — optional
- Combination Square — optional
Instructions
1. Build Sides
Take the two 80'' 2x4 legs and attach them together with the three 16'' 2x4 rails as shown, using 1 1/2'' pocket holes and 2 1/2'' pocket hole screws.
2. Attach long x boards
- Attach the two long 2x3 X pieces as shown in-between the rails on each side. An easy way to do this is to lay your 2x3 piece under the opening and trace where to cut the ends onto the board. I have provided the angles in the image for cutting on your miter saw.
- Drill 1 1/2'' pocket holes and attach with 2 1/2'' pocket hole screws on each angled cut and attach them to the legs and rails.
3. Attach small x boards
Attach small 2x3 x boards to complete the x pattern using the images shown. Drill 1 1/2'' pocket holes and attach with 2 1/2'' pocket hole screws.
4. Attach top supports and seat aprons
Connect the two sides together with the 41'' 2x4 top support and seat apron boards with 1 1/2'' pocket holes and 2 1/2'' pocket hole screws.
5. Add seat supports
Add the 16'' 2x4 seat supports as shown with 1 1/2'' pocket holes and with 2 1/2'' pocket hole screws.
6. Add Seat
Add 41'' 2x10 seat boards to seat support with 2 1/2 screws.
7. Add Seat back boards
Add the 41'' 2x4 seat back boards as shown with 1 1/2'' pocket holes and with 2 1/2'' pocket hole screws.
8. Attach 2x6 Rafters
Attach bottom 60'' 2x6 rafters to legs and top support boards with 2 1/2'' screws.
9. Add top rafters
Attach top 28'' 2x2 top rafters as shown. Fill pocket holes and screw holes and finish as desired.
