Woodworking question

Just an amateur woodworker with a few basic tools, and I'm planning to build a simple bench, similar to this:
101810.jpg
The legs and frame will be assembled with dowels and glued, but I'm undecided as to how I should attach the boards on the top. Suggestions?

Comments

  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,474
    Screws and wood plugs. If you do not want them seen
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    What are you using for the top? Indoor or outdoor? Trex, azek, wood, PT...?

    Azek has a great decking screw with plugs that work/look nice.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    Blind dowels and wood glue. If the design doesn't call for a center support board running front to back, you might want to consider adding one.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    F1nut wrote: »
    Blind dowels and wood glue. If the design doesn't call for a center support board running front to back, you might want to consider adding one.
    That's what I'll do - thanks! Yes, I definitely planned for a center support.
  • deucekazoo
    deucekazoo Posts: 146
    Check out the Kreg pocket hole jig. I have used it a lot and it works great.
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    deucekazoo wrote: »
    Check out the Kreg pocket hole jig. I have used it a lot and it works great.

    Ditto
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    deucekazoo wrote: »
    Check out the Kreg pocket hole jig. I have used it a lot and it works great.

    This.

    It will save you A LOT of time and effort when used effectively.
  • vcwatkins
    vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
    Beautiful.
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  • scubalab
    scubalab Posts: 3,101
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,707
    Pretty!
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  • deucekazoo
    deucekazoo Posts: 146
    Looks very good! You going natural or are you going to kill it with stain?
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,308
    that looks fantastic! better than the model photo you posted.

    Would you mind posting some details on your build? I mess around with building stuff periodically, but nothing this nice yet. Curious as to lumber type/dimensions/source, etc., and whether purchased in this finish, or whether you had to modify/clean it up. Very nice work.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    Ed, that looks great!
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    Thanks guys. I appreciate the compliments.

    As far as finish goes, we're leaning toward natural with a clear coat. Here's the deal. I made this for my son and his (now) wife for their wedding. The bench served as a guest book of sorts, and all the guests wrote messages and signed the top surface. Everybody was pleased with the result. I found some Indian ink pens to use for this, which I think shouldn't fade, but stain is out of the question for the seat. We've tossed around the idea of staining the legs and frame for a two-tone look, but I'm not sure. I'll probably stain a few scraps to see what it looks like.

    msg - I used 1x8 poplar boards and ripped them to produce 2-1/2" boards. It's a 4-foot bench and is about 17" high and 16" deep.
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,124
    What a wonderful idea and congrats to your son and his new wife
    Nice job
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    As far as finish goes, we're leaning toward natural with a clear coat.

    Keep in mind there will likely be a nice upholstered cushion on that bench in the not too distant future.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    I would look into this stuff for a clear finish:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OBT0XM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    I've used it a couple of times and it has worked really well.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    No offense, but wax is an extremely poor finish. Actually, it's really not a finish, it's a polish.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    F1nut wrote: »
    No offense, but wax is an extremely poor finish. Actually, it's really not a finish, it's a polish.

    I've used it a few times, with very good results. I like the idea that it's easy to apply, very easily repaired and you have a lot of control over the final look.

    If he built a kitchen table, wax would never cross my mind. But for a piece like this, I don't see any reason it should be overlooked.