Planter Bench

1) Cut the parts listed in the table below.

Quantity Description Thickness Width Length

4 Frame Rail 1 ½” 1 ½” 22 ½”
4 Frame Stile 1 ½” 1 ½” 9 ¾”
2 Front Leg ¾” 3 ½” 16”
1 Front Rail ¾” 7 ½” 20”
4 Side Leg ¾” 2 ¾” 16”
2 Side Rail ¾” 7 ½” 4 ¼”
2 Back Leg ¾” 3 ½” 28”
3 Back Slats ¾” 3 ½” 19 ½”
1 Back Support ¾” 1 ½” 26”
2 Seat Front/Back ¾” 3 ½” 28”
2 Seat Middle ¾” 3 ½” 2 ¾”

2) Cut off the corners of the tops of the back legs and back slats as shown in the diagram
below.

3) Cut bevels on the ends of the back support as shown in the diagram below.
4) (Optional) Cut out hearts in the front rail.
a) Use the template to trace the hearts on the front rail.
b) Drill starter holes in the middle of the hearts.
c) Use the jig saw to cut out the hearts.

5) Assemble 2 frames.
d) Drill 2 pocket holes in both ends of each of the Frame Rails.
e) Assemble the frames as shown below using glue and 2 ½” pocket hole screws.
f) Ensure that the planter box fits in the opening.

6) Drill 2 pocket holes in the back of both ends of the front rail and both side rails.

7) Drill 4 pocket holes in the back of one side of all of the side legs.

8) Assemble 2 sides as shown below using glue and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws. Make sure
that the rail connects to the edge of the side legs that does NOT have the pocket holes.

9) Assemble the front as shown below using glue and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws.
10) Attach the back legs to each of the sides using glue and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws.
Refer to the diagram below. Make sure the two assemblies are “mirrors” of each
other.

11) Attach the sides to the front using glue and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws.

12) Use the template and the diagram below to draw the cutout from the back seat board.

13) Use the template and the diagram below to draw the cutout from the front seat board.
14) Lay the seat top pieces upside down on the table. Set the one of the frames on top of
the seat pieces. The cutouts from the front and back seat pieces and the end of the
middle seat pieces should align with the inside of the frame. There should be a 1/4'”
gap between the middle seat pieces and the front and back seat pieces. The seat
boards should stick out from the front and sides of the frame by ½” and be even with
the back of the frame. Once aligned, attach the frame to the seat pieces using glue and
2” flat head wood screws. Refer to the diagram below for reference. Again, ensure the
planter box fits in the opening.

15) Attach the seat assembly to the leg assembly using glue and 2” screws by screwing
through the frame into the leg assembly. Some of the screws will need to be driven at
a slight angle to allow the drill to avoid the structure to drive the screws.

16) Attach the second frame so that the bottom of the frame is flush with the bottom of
the front and side rails. Use glues and 2” screws to screw through the frame into the
leg assembly. Again, some of the screws will need to be driven at a slight angle.

17) Attach the back slats using glue and 1 ¼” screws. Drive 2 screws from the back into
each of the frames. The middle slat should be added first ensuring that it is centered
between the two back legs and perpendicular to the seat top. The space between the
center slat and back legs should be about 8 ¼”. Center the remaining 2 slats on either
side of the center slat in the same manner. The space between all of the slats should
be about 2 3/8”.

18) Attach the back support to the back slats using glue and 1 ¼” screws. The support
should be placed 3” below the top of the back slats and centered side-to-side. There
should be about a ½” space beyond the end of the back support. Drive 2 screws from
the back through the back support into each back slat.

19) Add the planter box, soil, some flowers, and enjoy!
 Cost
Description Cost
1”x4” Green Treated Lumber (20’ total) 5.70
1”x8” Green Treated Lumber (6’ total) 4.17
2”x2” Green Treated Lumber (12’ total) 3.66
Planter 6.97
Screws 7.50
Miscellaneous 2.00

TOTAL $30.00