Challenging Bench Plans to Build
Hey there! Are you up for a challenge? I definitely am! I came across these awesome DIY furniture plans for a curved seat bench and I think it’s totally doable. It might test your skills a bit, but that’s all part of the fun, right? The bench has a really cool curved seat and back, and it would look great around a round table. You can use plywood or 1x material in planks to make the seat. Honestly, I think you could probably build this bench in just one weekend!
I have included a printable template for the back pieces in the DIY furniture plans to build the curved seat bench. This is new for me, so please bear with me while I get all of the kinks worked out! The printed sheets have registration marks on them so that the pages can be matched up and taped together with ease. The back pieces can be cut from 1x for 3/4″ wide pieces or 2x stock for 1-1/2″ wide pieces (whichever you feel comfortable with as the back). If using a bandsaw, the pieces can be stacked so that multiples are cut out at once, and 4 pieces should fit on one 1×8 or 2×8 at 3′ long.
Materials:
- 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)
- 2″ screws
- 1-1/4″ brad nails (or 1-1/2″ screws to secure the seat)
- Edge banding, optional
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper (100, 150, 220 grits)
- Finishing supplies (primer & paint, or stain, sealer)
Lumber:
- 1 – 1×8 at 8′ or 1 – 2×8 at 6′ (for the back pieces)
- 4 – 2×4 at 8′
- 1 – 4′ x 8′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood or 5 – 1×6 at 6′ (for the seat)
Cut List:
- 3 – 2×4 at 17-1/4″ – Front Legs
- 3 – 2×4 at 13″ – Side Stretchers
- 3 – 2×4 at 32″ – Back Legs
- 4 – 2×4 at 23-5/8″ – Front & Back Stretchers
- 3 – 1×8 at 36″ – Back OR
- 2 – 2×8 at 36″ – Back
- 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 22″ x 51″ – Seat OR
- 5 – 1×6 at 51″ – Seat
Step One
Cut the pieces for the front legs, the back legs, and the side stretchers. Cut an angle in each side of each leg as shown using a jigsaw, a bandsaw, or a tapering jig on the table saw.
Set the pocket hole jig for 1-1/2″ material and drill pocket holes in each end of the stretcher pieces. Secure the stretchers to the front and back legs using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws. On at least two of the assemblies, the pocket holes will face opposite of the remaining assembly so that no pocket holes will be visible on either side.
Step Two
Cut the pieces for the front and back stretchers. A 14° angle will be cut on one side (where the stretchers will be attached to the center leg) and a 15° angle will be cut on the other side (where the stretchers will attach to the outer legs). Stand the leg assemblies on a flat surface, then position the stretchers as they will be secured to the legs. Mark the position of the pocket holes, staggering them so they won’t interfere with the adjoining piece, especially at the center leg. Secure the stretchers to the legs using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.
The back stretchers will be flush with the ends of the side stretchers. The front stretchers will be positioned 1-1/2″ back from the front edge of the legs.
Step Three
Print the template for the back pieces. Line up the registration marks and tape the sheets together. It may be easier to transfer the template to a scrap piece of 1/4″ plywood, using the plywood piece as the template. There should be enough room to trace four back pieces on a 1×8 or 2×8 piece of material.
Cut out the back pieces using a jigsaw or a bandsaw. If using a bandsaw, the pieces can be stacked (secured by screws) then cut. The holes made by the screws can later be filled.
Pre-drill the holes in the ends of the back pieces to prevent splitting before securing the pieces to the back legs. Secure the back pieces to the legs using glue and 2″ screws.
Step Four
Cut the piece for the seat. If using planks for the seat, secure the planks to each other by drilling a series of pocket holes along one long edge of each piece and securing with 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Draw the curves on the seat material according to the drawing, maintaining the 2″ at the sides (for the legs and 1/2″ overhang).
Secure the seat to the frame using glue and 1-1/2″ screws or 1-1/4″ brad nails.
Finish as desired.
If anyone tackles this bench before I get a chance to do so, please let me know how the templates work out. I am planning on including templates for future plans. Here’s are other fabulous DIY furniture plans for a bench to build…
Have any questions about the DIY furniture plans to build a curved seat bench? Leave a comment below!
Originally posted 2015-04-01 08:00:05.
