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Garden Bench made easy and junked up just right!

We enjoy making and building things for our home.  So this website is perfect, because my hope is to inspire you too.

This is my second bench I’ve made where we buried the legs for sturdiness.  I tried to find pictures of the first one, but it was way before blogging was invented. 🙁

Garden Bench

Normally I start a DIY project with not enough wood!

This time was different. 😀

Stay tuned for more DIY projects with leftover 2 by 4’s.

The area we wanted to place the bench is at a curve of rocks.  We live in the mountains so we have a forest rocky yard.  No soft green grass.  I decided to make the bench curved.  At first I planned to make a straight bench top and then jigsaw it into a gentle curve.  Too much work!  So scratching that plan, I made the bench with 30 degree angled sides.  I started with the top.  Cutting the 2 by4’s to the length and enough boards to make the depth I wanted.

Next I cut the base, or underneath pieces.  Above is the back.

Then I added brace pieces to connect the front and back.  The top is to be screwed on this with about inch over hang on the front and back.  The sides have a 3 inch over hang.

Then I turned the bench upside down and screwed on 8 legs.  The legs are 26 inches long.  Remember we plan on burying the legs.  I sprayed the ends of the legs with rubber sealing spray.  This with help the legs weather well.

Now for the fun part.  First I aged the wood using my favorite technique. It’s basically useing black tea bags and painting the wood.  Let dry.  Then paint with white vinegar that has been sitting for at least 24 hours with steel wool pads.   You can read more here.

Then I went DIY crazy added old organ parts around the base.

    

You can see more “old organ parts” posts by click the photos above.

The bench sits great among the trees.

I was in “inspiration” mode when nailing and gluing on the junk from the old organ and didn’t take photos.  But there are no rules when apply junk!  Just do it!

Of course I had to add an old spilt spindle.  Click here to see the other half of the spindle.

Thank you so much for reading along.  I hope I’ve inspire you to grab some 2 by 4’s.