This was my first attempt at making a version of a backless garden bench. I styled it after a picture of some that I saw online. The construction was pretty simple and the ergonomic seating is quite comfortable. Most of the joinery was done using pocket holes. I did some moderate round over routing on most of the pieces to give everything a smoother edge and to add a little character. To be as efficient with the material as possible, I made the top rails out of a 1×4x8 cedar board cut in half with each piece ripped in half (thus getting 4 strips out of each board). Total cost of the 2 benches ended up being less than $50. I sprayed them down with a cedar tinted wood protector as well to give it some added color and protection from the elements. Ended up being a nice little addition to the driveway.
8 comments so far
Drew
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322 posts in 862 days
#1 posted 561 days ago
Nice job!! I really like these. You did really good for the first attempt at a backless bench. Makes it easier to complete without having to worry about that silly back. LOL!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
-- Drew -- "I cut it twice and it's still too short!"- Rock-n H Woodshop - Moore, OK
live4ever
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981 posts in 1181 days
#2 posted 561 days ago
I like the ergonomic shaping! Nice job!
-- Optimists are usually disappointed. Pessimists are either right or pleasantly surprised. I tend to be a disappointed pessimist.
WoodisBeautiful
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27 posts in 1088 days
#3 posted 561 days ago
Very nice. I built a couple of these 2 years ago and have had nothing but compliments on them. I’m sure you’ll get alot of the same.
fred4999
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107 posts in 1655 days
#4 posted 561 days ago
Great work, I like the rounded edges and the curved seat.
-- Fred, Georgia
Ken90712
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12676 posts in 1360 days
#5 posted 561 days ago
Boy those look comfy! Great job!
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
helluvawreck
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10474 posts in 1038 days
#6 posted 561 days ago
These are nice looking and will enhance most any garden.
-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau
Brad_Nailor
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2450 posts in 2128 days
#7 posted 561 days ago
These are really nice! Great work. I really like the stopped round overs …really classes up the piece. You cant beat the materiel price and cedar is a great outdoor wood. I am definitely stealing this idea! A set of these would look amazing in Mahogany..
-- http://www.facebook.com/pages/DSO-Designs/297237806954248
Kelen
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268 posts in 563 days
#8 posted 561 days ago
Thanks for all the compliments everyone.
David, I’m a big fan of the stopped round over effect, it really does just give it an extra element of detail. I’ve found myself using that effect on lots of my projects. I agree, a set of these in mahogany would look awesome!
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