Skinny bench using reclaimed timber

[marliemakesit]

Pocket hole joinery gives an old tabletop a new life as a sturdy rustic bench.

• The project
• Tools and materials
• Steps
• More furniture inspiration for your home

The project

This D.I.Y. skinny bench is perfect for the end of a bed or a hallway. I made it using salvaged timber from an old tabletop we found on a junk pile. One board made the benchtop and another board ripped into lengths made the legs. 

Tools and materials

Here's what you'll need:

• Timber of choice
• Mitre saw
• Drill driver
• Kreg pocket hole jig
• 8 x 64mm Kreg pocket hole screws
• 4 x 38mm Kreg pocket hole screws (or regular wood screws)
• Measuring tape
• Rafter square
• Sandpaper.

For reference my bench is 1200mm long, 200mm wide and 500mm high.

Steps

Step 1

Using the mitre saw cut four legs at a 10-degree matching angle on both ends. My legs are 450mm long.

Step 2

Use the pocket hole jig and bit to drill two holes into each leg. Make sure you drill the holes into what will be the back side or inward-facing side of the board.

Step 3

Decide where you want the legs to attach to the top. We came in the width of two boards from the end (100mm) and the width of one board from the edge (50mm).

Step 4

Attach the legs to the underside of the benchtop using 64mm pocket hole screws.

Step 5

Decide where you would like your leg supports to sit, and holding the support up to the legs mark the 10-degree angle cuts on both ends. Make the cuts using your mitre saw. 

Step 6

Drill pilot holes through each end of the support at roughly a 45-degree angle then attach to the legs using 38mm pocket hole screws or suitable wood screws.

Step 7

Give everything a good sand. I started with a rough 80 grit and finished with 180 grit to make it nice and smooth.

I hope this inspires you to give it a go. You can make this bench in any size you like and even adapt it to make a stool or pot stand.

More furniture inspiration for your home

Bunnings Workshop member softwareburnout made a hardwood outdoor table big enough to seat a crowd.

With less space to work with, Workshop member MarcL created this rustic outdoor table and stools using recycled materials.

There are also plenty of great ideas in our Top 10 most popular outdoor furniture projects and Top 10 most popular indoor furniture projects.

Let us know if you need a hand with your own project. Start a discussion and tell us what you need.

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @marliemakesit 

That is a nice looking bench! And strangely I have a couple of benches I need to make from reclaimed timber Perfect timing for stumbling across. 

I was concerned on how strong/wobbly the legs would be on the ones I intended to make but I like the style and the way yours has been put together.

Dave

[marliemakesit]

Hi @Dave-1 ,

Glad you like it! It is very sturdy thanks to the pocket hole joinery. I used two pocket holes in each leg. I sit on it all the time to take shoes on and off!