How to Build a Rustic Outdoor Bench

The rough, rustic qualities in natural bark-covered logs and branches and rough-hewn wood inspire creativity in furniture-making. Whether you are a novice or an expert woodworker and furniture craftsman, creating rustic work produces unique items. Rustic furniture makes attractive garden accessories or eclectic pieces for a contemporary interior. Turn a bulky log into a sturdy, attractive bench with a few tools and a little time over the weekend.

Maple log at least 3 feet long
Rip saw, optional
Hand saw
Power sander
Various grades of sandpaper, 80 grit through 320 grit
80-inch length of ash or a sapling tree, 2 inches in diameter
Woodworking chisel
Tape measure
Power drill with 1 1/2-inch router bit
Carpenter's glue
Rubber mallet
Tung oil or light varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Tear the log in half with a rip saw, and cut one piece down to 3 feet long. Optionally, have this done at a lumber yard.
- 2
  Sand the slab with the power sander, using 80-grit, then 100, 120, up to 220-grit sand paper. Finish sanding by hand with the 320-grit paper, bringing out the natural beauty and grain of the wood.
- 3
  Shape the edges of the sanded slab with the drawknife. Soften and smooth the edges, working with the grain of the wood, not cutting against it.
- 4
  Cut the ash or sapling tree into 4 pieces that are 20 inches long.
- 5
  Use the drawknife and woodworking chisel to trim one end of each leg into a 1 1/2-inch spindle, a tapered end to insert into routed holes that you'll drill
- 6
  Turn the slab onto the side that will be the bottom, and measure and mark 3 inches in from each side to place the legs.
- 7
  Use the power drill and router bit to drill a 2 1/2-inch depression for the legs to fit into at each leg mark on the slab.
- 8
  Cover the spindle ends of the legs with carpenter's glue and insert them into the leg holes. Tap them with the rubber mallet for a tight fit. Let glue dry for a day.
- 9
  Apply tung oil if the bench is for outdoor use or light varnish if for indoor use and let dry thoroughly.

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