DIY ProjectsBuild This Adorable Bench

Build This Adorable Bench

You can build this adorable bench and table in a very short time and with minimal effort and tools. It is a simple design that first came from Aldo Leopold, or at least some version of it did.

Build This Adorable Bench
Photo by Jacob Fox

According to the Aldo Leopold Foundation, ” Our most common question is, “what is the OFFICIAL design that Leopold used? Can you send me plans for it?” Actually, there is no one “correct” bench design. Aldo never wrote down the plans for them, so everyone that has developed plans just bases them on an existing bench. None of the original benches built by Aldo were still around by the time the bench idea caught on. No wood preservative means they all eventually decayed– Aldo’s daughter Nina told us the benches at the Leopold Shack are about 3rd or 4th generation. They don’t last forever! So we have photos to go on, but that’s about it. Even with photos, it’s difficult to determine a universal design since Aldo just used scrap wood or whatever he had available as materials, and not all his benches were identical. So, this is an activity that deinitely allows room for you to be creative! Some folks modify the angle of the back rest. Some like the benches to be wider to accomodate two adults comfortably. It’s up to you.”  This beautiful blue one is from Better Homes and Gardens and I just love the color and the style. To build them you will need.

What you’ll need:

Pine lumber:

  • 8 foot length — 2×6

  • 10 foot length — 2×8

  • 10 foot length — 2×10

Hardware:

  • 6 — 3/8×3-1⁄2-inch carriage bolts

  • 6 — 3/8-inch washers

  • 6 — 3/8-inch nuts

  • 20 — #14×3-1⁄2-inch wood screws

  • 2 sets of sawhorses

  • Tape measure

  • Straightedge ruler

  • Pencil

  • Eye and ear protection

  • Adjustable bar clamps: 2 — 24-inch, and 3 — 12-inch

  • Circular saw

  • 100-grit sanding block or sponge

  • Light blue self-priming exterior paint

  • Paintbrush

  • Dark blue spray paint

  • Fresh ferns and foliage

  • Newspaper

  • Power drill

Drill bits:

    • 3/8-inch spade or straight bit, 1/8-inch straight bit

    • Hammer

    • Screwdriver bits to fit wood screws and carriage bolts

    • 9/16-inch wrench or adjustable wrench

You can find all of the instructions on BHG page and while these can be built from inexpensive pine, you could also invest in some water resistant wood and they would last much longer.

Read more>>>>>>      http://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/projects/leopold-bench/#page=1

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Paige Raymond
Paige Raymond
Raised in rural Montana and educated in Mechanical Engineering and Sustainable Development, Paige Raymond combines a practical mindset with a passion for self-reliance and sustainability. With expertise ranging from mechanical solutions and food preservation to emergency preparedness and renewable energy, Paige is a proud author with more than 5000 published articles.

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