Materials: 2x4 lumber
2 pine boards
screws
drill
spade bit
decorative trim
circular saw
table saw
pencil
tape measure
chisel
sandpaper
small wooden dowel
wood glue
handsaw
block plane (optional)
Steps: 1. The bench is made up of just a few parts--the top, side legs and the side support braces plus decorative trim on the sides. Put together the top support (2x4s cut to length and screwed together). Instead of attaching the top of the legs directly to the bottom of the top support, first notch out the shape of the board using a circular saw to make the legs sturdier (figure A).
2. Cut out the grooves for the side support by laying a 2 x 4 across the legs and drawing pencil marks across for the placement and angle of the support. Set the table saw blade at the height of the 2 x 4 and the miter gauge at 60 degrees, and then run the legs through to remove small portions of the notch by making several passes within the penciled guidelines (figure B). Remove the extra lumber with a chisel until the groove is smooth. 3. Attach the legs to the top support using long screws.
4. Slide the side support into the notches cut out of the legs. Use a spade bit to drill pilot holes larger than the screw head, and then drive each screw in. Apply glue to a small piece of dowel and put one over each screw. Wipe excess glue, and then use a hand saw to cut it flush once dry (figure C). Lightly sand them until smooth. 5. Cut two pine boards to length for the seat. Soften the edges using a block plane or 120-grit sandpaper. Attach the boards to the top from underneath after drilling pilot holes for screws.
6. Cut decorative trim with mitered edges to fit around the top of the bench. Sand the entire piece and stain or paint as desired.
Media
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2004/02/25/rxr1612_2figA_notchedcorner_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2004/02/25/rxr1612_2figB_tablesaw_notches_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2004/02/25/rxr1612_2figC_cuttingdowel_e.jpg",350,450))
