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Farmhouse Bench - No Pocket Holes Version

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Submitted by Ana White on Tue, 06/04/2019 - 13:26
Difficulty
Starter Projects
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This farmhouse bench is easy to build and is rustic and substantial.  It is designed to match our Farmhouse Table Plans. 

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No Pocket Hole Plans
farmhouse table with matching bench

Reader submitted photo by  EHAYS216 

We love this sturdy and substantial farmhouse bench.  Designed to be built using standard off the shelf lumber, just the way farmhouse furniture has been built for hundreds of years.

Build it to match our farmhouse table plans, or use it as a stand alone piece on the end of a bed, or in your entryway.

Farmhouse Bench Plans

Dimensions
dimensions image for farmhouse bench
Dimensions are shown above

Preparation

Shopping List

4 – 2x4s, stud length or 8 foot length

2 – 1x4s, 8 foot length

1 – 1×2, 8 foot length

2 1/2″ screws

2″ screws 

Common Materials
Elmer's Wood Glue
Elmer's Wood Filler
120 grit sandpaper
primer
wood conditioner
paint
Cut List

8 – 2x4s @ 16 1/2″ (Legs)

2 – 1×4 @ 2 1/4″ (Spacers)

2 – 1×4 @ 6″ (End Aprons)

2 – 2×4 @ 12″ (Stretchers)

2 – 1×4 @ 61″ (Side Aprons)

2 – 1×4 @ 9 1/2″ (Inner Aprons)

5 – 1×2 @ 9 1/2″ (Supports)

4 – 2×4 @ 65″ (Bench Seat Boards)

2 – 1×4 @ 14″ (Breadboard Ends)

 

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Circular Saw
Power Sander
Drill Bit Set
General Instructions

The Farmhouse Bench is designed to work with this Farmhouse Table, but there is no reason you could not modify the dimensions or use it as a coffee table or outdoor bench. If you plan to build the Farmhouse Table, starting with the bench will give you a chance to test out your skills on a smaller version. For those of you who have a pocket hole system, you can use the pocket holes to build your bench seat separate. You can also fasten your aprons directly to the legs without spacers.

Instructions

Step 1

Legs The notches and stretchers on the legs is optional. Notch out your legs (for full instructions see the Farmhouse Table post) and laminate your legs together in pairs of 2 with glue and 2 1/2″ screws. Then take note of the placement of the spacers and attach to the insides of the legs. This will differ depending on the leg. Attach with 2″ screws and glue.

Step 2

End Aprons Attach end aprons to the spacers as shown above. Use glue and 2″ screws.

Step 3

Stretcher The stretcher gets attached in the same method. Screws and glue.

Step 4

Bench Frame Build the bench frame, keeping the 1×2 supports flush to the top. Easy method is to flip it all over and keep the supports flush to the bottom :)

Step 5

Step 6

Seat Boards Find the center of the supports and begin attaching seat boards from the underside. Work with the boards to minimize gaps as you go. Attach all seat boards. If you have a pocket hole system, you would build your bench seat separate, and then attach.

Step 7

Breadboard Ends If you have a pocket hole system, you would attach the breadboard ends directly to the seat boards in step 6. Otherwise, attach to leg bases.

Step 8

Finishing If you are staining, be very careful to not let glue dry on the project, as these areas will not take stain. Fill holes with wood filler, sand and paint or stain as desired.

Project Type
Bench
Room
dining room
entry way
Style
Farmhouse Furniture
Rustic Furniture Plans

Comments

Don (not verified)

Wed, 02/02/2011 - 05:19

I just finished the build of my bench last night. I still need to sand and finish it. It's awesome. Really nice and sturdy, and it was only an evening project to get it built.

Jason already noted a couple of the corrections, but I thought I'd compile them into a single note here based on my experience last night.

* First of all, you're going to need another 8' 2x4. There are a couple of errors in the cut list requiring additional 2x4 stock.

* The first two cut list items (Legs & Spacers) need doubled. As shown it only gets you two legs since each leg is actually made of two piece glued together.

* The Breadboard Ends should actually be 2x4 not 1x4 so that they match up with the Bench Seat Board thickness.

* The notch video is here - http://ana-white.com/2009/11/how-to-notch-out-boards.html

The is a great and easy project and easy to modify to fit your particular space. Have fun. Hope these tips help.http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs068.snc6/167894_491619…

FurryMoses

Sat, 01/31/2015 - 14:41

Thanks for the corrections, though I think they ought to state the final numbers... ie not just "double this/that". Because we now don't know whether the cutting list has been updated/corrected and your corrections are now wrong

ChristyIreland (not verified)

Fri, 02/11/2011 - 10:26

Whitney, I'm so glad you up-loaded your photo. I really like the way you finished it. I think I want mine the same. Thanks for the picture.

britcollins (not verified)

Wed, 02/23/2011 - 09:26

Is there any way to find out what stain Kristen used on her bench and table? I love the color!

Jaimi (not verified)

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 06:56

On Kristen's blog she said she used a "gel stain by Varathane called Early American and two coats of wipe on high gloss polyurethane on the rest of the table and bench (not the top). "