Landscape Timber Bench

6' x 20" x 22"

Materials List:

7-8' Landscape Timbers

22-6" 60d Spikes

This project should take under an hour to complete. The total cost of materials will very depending on where you get your supplies. I got my timbers from Lowes and Home Depot for $1.97 each. Got the spikes from HD for $.18 each. So in total i have under $20 in it.

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Click on the pics for larger images.

Cut 5 landscape timbers to 6 ft (72"). These will be your top pieces. With the cutoffs cut four of them to 13" these will be the center legs, and set the fifth one aside.

Lay all five top pieces side by side and measure the width. Should be around 20" but all landscape timbers are different so you may be wider or thinner, mine equals 18", and subtract 1". Now cut four pieces to that length for mine I will be using 17" for a measurement. These will be the tops and bottoms of your legs.

For the top pieces I just cut 45° angles about 3/4" from the edge on both sides.

For the bottoms I cut a 45° about 3/4" from the bottom on both sides.

Next you will want to find center of your top and bottom pieces. Then measure out 1 1/2" on both sides of center and drill two holes slightly smaller than the diameter of you spikes about 1 1/2" from that.

Next line your marks up with the edge of your 13" piece and drive a spike through the holes into the leg.

Now its time to attach the top. Take one of the legs and find center, and just like before measure out 1 1/2" on both sides for a total of 3". Now do the same with the other leg.

Now set your first top piece on. This should be as straight as possible for the first piece. Line up the center marks with the edges of your timber. For the offset i measure in 5" for the position of the leg. Once everything is lined up drill a hole to drive the spike in. Then do the other leg.

Now add another top piece on both sides of your center piece. Here is where I sort of square up my legs. Make sure your ends are even and then clamp the timbers together. Measure 5" for both pieces and your leg should now be square. Drill two holes and nail the pieces to the leg. Do the same for the other side.

Finish with the last two top pieces following the same process except you can skip measuring as it should be 5" when you flush up your ends. If it is not then your legs are not square.

Next were going to make the leg braces. Take the left over 24" piece from earlier and cut another one to 24". Then cut 2 angles on them. One being approximately 55° and on the other end approximately 36°. These angles may vary and they do not have to be perfect. I have cut several different angles and they all look very pleasing.

Flip your bench over onto its top. Then line up your braces in the middle gap of your legs. Remember when we measured that 3" between the legs? This is what it was for.

For the end that attaches to the top of the bench i just used a framing nailer and threw a few nails in it.

For the end that attaches to the legs i drilled holes and used spikes keeping with the theme i think it looks better than a bolt sticking through. Nail a spike into both sides or use your bolt.

Well that is it. Your bench is now a bench. Should last for years. I throw a coat of waterproofing on it because i like the yellow tint it gives it. Makes it look nice to me.