completed-bench

Garden Bench Project

ByMark
completed-bench
Completed Garden Bench

I found the plans for this project on Minwax’s website. This looked like a neat little project that would beautify our yard so off to Kettle Moraine Hardwoods I went. White oak was selected for the bench parts and the entire thing was assembled with dowel joints. I really like dowel joints because, if they are done correctly, they are as strong or stronger than mortise and tenon joints, easier to machine (if you have a Dowelmax jig), and they align perfectly. Titebond III waterproof glue was used as the adhesive because the bench will live outdoors.

I made mdf patterns for some of the parts so I could easily trace the configuration without having to do multiple layout work.  The pictures tell the story about how the project proceeded.  The bench was finished with clear Thompson’s Water Seal so as it ages, it takes on a gray weathered look.  Pay particular attention to the doweling pictures because the Dowelmax jig is an amazing device.

 

rough-lumber-before-milling
Rough lumber before milling
milling-first-surface
Milling the first surface before planing to thickness (no my hand isn’t over the cutting head)
thickness-planing
Planing to thickness
dust-collection
Dust collection is essential when jointing and planing
patterns
MDF patterns for tracing
jointing-edge
Edge jointing before ripping operation
resawing-lumber
Band sawing thick lumber so less planing is required
project-pieces-cut
Project pieces cut and labeled
gluing-for-thickness
Some pieces were glued to achieve proper thickness
sanding-curved-profile
Oscillating drum sander for smoothing band saw cuts

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drilling-using-dowelmax
Drilling using the Dowelmax jig
dowelmax
Closeup of the Dowelmax jig
cross-members-showing-dowel-holes
Components drilled and ready for doweling
back-rails-with-dowels
Dowels in place ready for mating part
back-rest-glue-up
Each back slat had two dowels in each end
glueing-front-and-back
Gluing front to back

Arms were attached using stainless steel screws. The project turned out real nice and we now have a beautiful garden bench that is functional and comfortable gracing our back yard.

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