How to build an Old Style Park Bench

Introduction and material list

Introduction

The idea for this project came from a bench that I spotted in the zoo whilst on a trip to Melbourne, Australia (see picture to the right).
Although my version didn’t look nearly as old or as rustic as the original, it still turned out to be a mighty bench!

DimensionsAny of the three linear measurements, length, breadth and depth.

Ft and inch version

Overall the bench is nearly 60″ long, 35″ high and a little over 30″ deep.

MetricMillimeter measurements. version

Overall this bench is nearly 1500mm long, 875mm high, and a little over 750mm deep.

The woodTimber, lumber. The hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees sizes

The dimensions given throughout this project are the finished (actual) sizes.
There are three stock sizes used in this project. They are 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″, 1 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, and 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.

You will need

Ft and inch version

Wood
Nominal sizeThe rough-sawn size of a piece of lumber. Before the lumber is surfaced, planed or dressed. The nominal size is usually greater than the actual dimension. e.g. 100x50 (2 x 4) actually equals 90x45 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2").	Actual sizeThe finished (dressed) size as opposed to the nominal size of a piece of wood.	Used for	Total amount
2″ x 4″	1 1/2″x 3 1/2″	lower backrest railThe top and bottom frame member of a door or window (not the jamb). Cross member of panel doors or of a sash. Also the upper and lower member of a balustrade or staircase extending from one vertical support, such as a post, to another. The horizontal member of a fence., seat support, side rails	13ft
2″ x 6″	1 1/2″x 5 1/2″	rear rail, front rail, rear legs, arms, seat boards	37ft
4″ x 4″	3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″	front legs	40″

Metric version

Wood
Nominal size	Actual size	Used for	Total amount
100mm x 50mm	90mm x 45mm	lower backrest rail, seat support, side rails	4m
150mm x 50mm	145mm x 45mm	rear rail, front rail, rear legs, arms, seat boards	11m
100mm x 100mm	90mm x 90mm	front legs	1m

You will also need

Ft and inch version

-Two of 8″ long galvanizedCovered with a protective coating of zinc. lag screws (coachAre round headed bolts with square shoulders that resist rotation when located or driven into place. They can be called coach bolts or carriage bolts depending on which part of the world you live in. The head end of the bolt does not need a washer, but the other end of the bolt (the nut end) usually does. screws),
-fifty of 2″ wood screws,
-a handful of 4″ galvanized nails,
-a handful of 3″ galvanized nails,
-some exterior wood glue,
-and some type of decorative wrought iron or metal pattern for the infill at the back of the bench.

Metric version

– Two of 200mm long galvanized coach screws,
– fifty of 50mm wood screws,
– a handful of 100mm galvanized nails,
– a handful of 75mm galvanized nails,
– some exterior wood glue,
– and some type of decorative wrought iron or metal pattern for the infill at the back of the bench.