How To Make A Wood Storage Bench
With the right plans, materials, and equipment, you can construct a
Wooden Storage Bench, as shown here.
Materials:
• 3/4" x 4' x 8' Oak (or other hardwood) Plywood: One Piece for the
four Sides, Bottom and Top Panels
• 2" x 2" x 8' Solid Oak Material: One piece for the four, Corner
Posts
• 3/4" x 3" x 12' Solid Oak Material: One piece for the Four Legs and
Finishing Edges
• Kreg Screws; 1/4 lb.
• 1 1/2" Wood Screws; 1/4 lb.
• Two Hinges
• One Spring-loaded Lid Support
• Sandpaper
• Wood Filler and Glue
• Satin Finish Polyurethane Poly
Step 1: Cut the Box Pieces - Determine the desired size of the bench
• Select the 3/4" Plywood Panel; Rip one piece to 15 3/8" (1/8"
shorter than the Corner Posts to allow for 1/8" Edging Material);
crosscut the Front, Back, and two Side pieces per the
measurements above
• Select the 2" x 2" x 8' Solid Oak Material; cut four pieces @ 15
1/2" for the Corner Posts; using a table saw, trim the four posts to
1 1/2" square, as shown above
• Select the 3/4" Plywood Panel; cut two pieces @ 25" x 12" for the
Top and Bottom Panels
• Select the 3/4" x 3" Oak Material; Rip 170" to one inch; crosscut
four pieces (45 degrees at each end, see above) @ 27" and four
pieces @ 14" for the Top and Bottom Panel edging
• Select the 3/4" x 3" Oak Material; Rip 68" to 1/8" for the Base
Edging Material; crosscut two pieces @ 22" and two pieces @ 9"
Step 2: Assemble the Box Pieces - Select the Front, Back, Sides, and
the Bottom Panels
• Use the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig System ; drill the
holes along the interior edges of the Front, Back, and two Side
Panels; sand all pieces, as shown above
• Select the two Side Panels, four posts, 1/8" Spacers, and two
clamps; attach the two Sides to the Posts (two Posts per side)
using clamps with Kreg screws (Note: allign the bottom edges;
leave a 1/8" Post extention at the top edge for edging material);
use a 1/8" piece of material as a spacer on the exterior side for a
1/8" reveal
• Select Front, Back, and two Side Assemblies; using the Kreg
screws, attach the Front and Back Panels to the Corner Posts;
allign the bottom edges
• Select the 3/4" Top and Bottom plywood Panels and edging
pieces; with glue and finishing nails, attach the 3/4" x 1" edging
material to finish the edges of the Top and Bottom Panels
• Select the Bottom Panel; Center and attach it with wood screws
(counter sink the screws), as shown above
• Select the 3/4" x 1/8" Edging Material; using glue and a nailer,
attach the edging to the top edges of the Base
Step 3: Make and Attach the Legs - Select the 3/4" x 3" Solid Oak
Material
• Rip the stock to 2" x 45"
• Using a "Spacing Block" clamped to the Miter Saw, crosscut eight
pieces to 5"; a 45 degree angle on one edge, as shown above
• Select the eight blocks, draw a similar pattern and cut a template
for all eight pieces, as shown above
• Select the two of the eight pieces, using a Corner Jig, glue, and 1
1/2" screws/brads, connect the two pieces to form the legs; build
all four legs, as shown above
• Using the Kreg System, attach all four legs, as shown above
Step 4: Attach the Top Cover - Select the Top Cover
• Select the hinges and attach them to complete the chest
Step 5: Finish the Storage Bench - Select the Finishing Materials
• Use Wood Filler for all holes
• Complete all sanding
• Apply a minimum of three coats of poly
