Outdoor Sitting Bench

Watch our latest video : "From Old Firehouse to Woodworking Wonderland | Shop Tour 2024"
• From Old Firehouse to ... -~-
It's the perfect time of year for making outdoor projects, like this simple and elegant outdoor sitting bench!
Download FREE PLANS for this project:
thewoodwhispere...
SUBSCRIBE!
www.youtube.com...
CHECK OUT OUR SHOP TOURS
www.thewoodwhis...
GET INSPIRED BY OUR VIEWER PROJECT LIBRARY
www.thewoodwhis...
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP
Android: bit.ly/1MQ4ks1 or iOS: bit.ly/177u4An
WIN FREE TOOLS!
thewoodwhispere...
DETAILED PROJECT COURSES
thewoodwhispere...
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF MARC'S SHOP
www.thewoodwhis...
SUPPORT OUR FREE VIDEOS
thewoodwhispere...
CONNECT WITH US!
Use our contact form: thewoodwhispere...
Twitter: / woodwhisperer
Facebook: / thewoodwhisperer
Pinterest: / woodwhisperer

[@AprilWilkerson]

Beautiful Marc. I'm glad you're putting out so many videos here recently, I really learn a lot from you. I love that Zelda shirt too.

[@woodwhisperer]

April Wilkerson Thanks April. I've got some time between big Guild projects right now and a baby on the way. Trying to make the most of it. :)

[@martinberry574]

Beautiful bench Marc.

[@mcremona]

Marc, will you be bottling this "Spag Flair"? I'd like to preorder the mega pack. I love design details you added to the bench. They're small but they really add a lot!

[@woodwhisperer]

Just a few dabs behind your ears and the ladies will go nuts!!

[@DentargPL]

Finally I've got my version of that project finished. Thanks for inspiration. It's for inside purposes (bench for sitting when you putting your shoes on + some simple shoe storage). I used only circular saw, hand drill, orbital sander and hand saw to make it. 158 dowels were used. I have to make some jigs to make it square (no jointer, no plainer, no drillpress, etc). It's oil finished, to let you put wet shoes on the shelf, plus I like half-matt (satiny) finish it gives. Lumber used is dimentional pine (wood cost around 30$) plus ~15$ other stuff (finish, dowels, bracket, screws). I wanted not to use any metal parts, but ended up with top screwed using some brackets. It went out quite good, it's square, sturdy, got some gaps and not everything is flat, but it's my first project. Image: pics.it64.com/bench.jpg

[@guilebarbosa]

Nice!

[@clarue8042]

good job

[@clarue8042]

how has it held up over the last 9 months

[@DentargPL]

Good. Stiil sturdy. Finnish holds up. It's used everyday when kinds put on their shoes. Also when older ppl want to put their shoes (plus the storage capacity). So it's very very useful.

[@tompritch56]

Thanks Marc. My son just purchased your bookshelf project plans and is very excited to build. He also enjoys your instructions on your videos.

[@derekhall7347]

Thanks for the video Marc, you are a gifted instructor. I've learned a lot from you over the years and appreciate the effort you put into your content.

[@DerrickWPritchard]

Beautiful, I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge, thank you & look forward to more projects.

[@CindyL4261]

A beautiful bench! Definitely putting this one on my "To Do" list. Thanks for another detailed and inspiring video!

[@matt_williams1015]

Great bench, and I like how you showed two versions in one video. But I have to admit, I paused the video to search for the BaZnGa t-shirt, you have some cool t-shirts.

[@MarcoViani215]

You Mark are the best woodworking teacher on-line. I always wait your new videos and they never disappoint me!

[@mattriddlle100]

Awesome video Mark! Just as always, you see something that you like and replicate it in your own way, with your own style and "spag flair".

[@TheShavingWoodWorkshop]

Beautiful, the small details make all the difference.

[@lxfxmstr]

Really excellent video. Showing the evolution of the design with embellishments to the basic plan was a really nice feature. Discussing alternative build methods, while demonstrating the minimum tool approach, was very much appreciated. The explanations given during the finish coating were clear and candid. A very open-minded teaching approach to walking us through the build. I even like the length - long enough to show all the key steps and techniques, without making the viewer watch entire or repetitive processes. One of your best videos and one of my favorites. Oh, and I really like the bench too. ;-)

[@woodwhisperer]

Mike Fuchs Thanks very much Mike!

[@JoshGarrisiDadMakesThings]

great video, Marc. Thanks for all the details, the extra methods for doing things, and even the thought processes your went through. Top notch.

[@Finewoodworkingofsc]

Marc, great looking bench. Thanks for the information concerning the outdoor finish.

[@happyhillsfarm8567]

What sizes dominos would you suggest to use to be able to support a good amount of weight, potentially a couple plus size people?

[@Wordsnwood]

Right... I need to file away that epoxy finish into my box of ideas. Looks great! Turned out great, Mark. Your wife is a good sport for playing along in that opening sequence. Take good care of her! :-)

[@woodwhisperer]

wordsnwood You should have seen just how many F-bombs were dropped getting that shot. ;)

[@DavidColley_SouthernGrain]

Great vid Marc. I appreciate your use of, and instructions for those of us with, limited tool availability. Although most of us wish we had a Festool Domino, most of us don't - so I really appreciate it... Oh, and the bench is awesome.

[@MikeKapotsy]

Marc, I love how the bench turned out. I just happen to have a bunch of Honduran Mahogany that will work nicely for that. I think I'll build one too!

[@lewisclark5694]

This is one awesome vid, Marc. I am in the middle if making this version of your bench with its subtle curves. I ended up buying a mortise machine (Powermatic 701 bench top) for the mortises. I already had one of those tenon jigs that has been sitting in my workshop and put it to work immediately after getting my mortise machine. In retrospect, your router based mortises are probably a cleaner cut, but my hand held router skills are lacking in comparison to yours (older age, haha). Mine is being made out of birch and will be indoors. Now, I owe you! I will buy one of your product design vids on your website. You are simply, hands down, the best teaching over all woodworking instructor out there. Thanks again, Greg. BTW, your beautiful wife walking into her 'lady parts' doctor's office scene was classic funny! Lol.

[@GlassImpressions]

Great project Marc. As always, excellent craftsmanship!

[@McGinnsWoodShop]

Great project! Love the insight on outdoor woods and finishes! You always inspire and feed me so much information! Thanks man! NOM NOM!

[@woodwhisperer]

McGinn's WoodShop slow down you'll get a tummy ache! ;)

[@RenaissanceWW]

I finally got around to watching this and loved this video. Great approach to build it "vanilla" then fancy it up. It is startling how such tiny changes make such a huge difference in look and posterior comfort.

[@ianwilson7637]

Seriously, who would click thumbs down on this and for what reason? Anyway, beautiful job on the bench. That Mahogany looks about as good as, if not better than, Teak. I have some Sapele and was wondering how well it would hold up outside. It seems pretty close to the Mahogany you are using here.

[@carpinteriamaderayvida6545]

Great job Marc! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us. Personally, your videos have been very inspiring and helpful to me. My girl and I run a woodworking shop in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and we are always taking ideas, tips and suggestions from everywhere.

[@theivtcho]

4:28 When your legs don't work like they used to before... Very nice project! Love your videos! I'm not a woodworker myself but I really enjoy watching woodworking videos, yours especially! Keep it up, Mark!

[@EthanDickerDesign]

Gets home from work. Sets down at desk. Goes to KZbin. Clicks Marc's Video. Hits like. Watches video.

[@Shopbuilt]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.

[@fernandoizelli7598]

Marc, the bench turned out great! Also, loved your strategy for routing the mortise! Sure I'm gonna use this method from now on. And amazing Link tshirt btw.

[@AndreaArzensek]

There's more than meets the eye on this absolutely wonderful and ''simple'' mahogany bench! Beautiful work Marc!

[@BradleyMakesThings]

Hey Marc! Really enjoyed this one. Learned a lot, appreciated the minimal-tools approach, and just overall found this to be a really good video! Trying to talk myself into the festool router because I just went green, but I have a porter cable 691 I haven't even really broken in yet, haha. Hard to justify buying when I have an almost new one on the shelf!

[@woodwhisperer]

BradleyMakes Agreed. The Festool routers are fantastic but I also wouldn't get one until the need presents itself.

[@silsanrubi]

Preciosa!!! Me gustaria que hubiera subtitulos en español, saludos desde México.

[@jlf1430]

Really great work. Best of luck with your new upcoming addition!!!

[@beginnerwoodworker3222]

I love the little extra touches. They are very slight but they add a lot! It makes a big difference.

[@RicardoJunqueira]

What a GORGEOUS bench! Thank you for creating and sharing this video with us!

[@JorgeAraujo]

Great project, the bench looks really nice... I like the matte epifanes finish for outdoor, so much better than glossy... doesn't look like plastic at least in the video.

[@woodwhisperer]

Jorge Araujo That was my first time using the matte product. Gotta say I'm super happy with it. If this finish holds up well, I think I found my new "go-to" finish for outdoor projects.

[@rroades]

This is beautiful, and that perfect balance of simple and Spag Flair

[@pj_fetscher]

This video had at least 15 pieces of flair. You can't get this many likes by just doing the bare minimum. Great job man!

[@auronforever]

seriously, I hope that I can one day make something that looks this nice.

[@PjHalbert]

Nice work... especially on the Larry David reference.

[@garycollins8061]

Awesome project.. I need to build a few of these for my daughters ballet studio.. I plan on making 3 - 18x60 and 1 - 18x72. Do you recommend using bigger apron or thicker stock? I was leaning towards making them 1x4 instead. As for the legs thickness, should I use a thicker size? I could see lots of children sitting on them at once. want to ensure the material could handle the weight over time. I will be using a Domino 500 for tenons. Leaning towards the 8mmx50mm

[@tooljunkie555]

Been wanting to build this one for a long time! That being sd,i think have my 1st spring project lined up..thanks for the inspiration marc!🍻gonna go with mahogany also i love that golden color!

[@LZACCARO]

Marc, as always your videos are awesome. You teach detail by detail . I liked it. Congrats and thank you. L.ZACCARO

[@JBtz09]

Lol, now why didn't I find this video before I built 6 of these 🙄 Built them all out of scrap Sipo we actually throw away at work. Kept them simple, and used dominos, and used some falloff, also from scraps and made the dominos from Mahogany. Never thought of NOT gluing the top down till now. But oh well. I just went with Teak oil for the finish. So I too will see how they hold up. But thanks for the idea and everyone loved them that got them. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@mac11b1]

Awesome video. As always great attention to detail. Just one question. What was the counter sink bit you used. I recently broke mine. Keep up the great work.

[@woodwhisperer]

mac11b1 That's actually a Festool branded bit. Works well, but probably not worth the asking price. Just look for a decent countersink with a stop collar and you should be good to go.

[@mightaliphon5556]

I'm from Mauritius. I just started wood works and your works inspired me a lot. Professionalism and little details counts. keep the good job. I will keep you posted. how can I have private communication from you?

[@brandonfesser1893]

Beautiful work! I'd love to try building one, but even your off-cuts are worth more than I can afford. Very inspiring, though. Maybe someday...

[@ChrisSmith-yx1iu]

The Wood Whisperer them dog hole clamps. Did you make those or buy them i'm sure you have a video on it and i'm going to look , but if you can add any additional info like preferred spacing between dog holes , size , I have been thinking of using this idea for a while and am curious .. thanks for the vids man! hey one more question , im in AZ so where in the east valley are the good lumber yards ? or West valley if its a bitching deal..lol

[@kenzpenz]

Very nice indeed. It looks elegant and expensive. Not sure I could make one like it, but sure was fun to watch. .....Ken...Marina CA

[@dan__________________]

Nice! I'm going to try making one as well. Has anyone else made one with only 10BF of stock? Seems like you would need more like four 6" wide 8' long boards.

[@charlenecg]

Hi, I am refinishing an exterior wood door, and would like to know what type of oil finish you would recommend. I don't mind maintaining it, but would rather not have to strip off a peeling finish again anytime soon. Thanks! Charlene

[@toysoldier46552]

Nice looking bench, now if only I had some walnut laying around hmmm, may have to go "visit" my father in law lol. I have found that that matte finish is nice looking outside and it does help, but Thompson's water seal is better for my environment here in the North I still have to use oil based finishes and stains before hand. And my mortise and tenons suck, that is just one skill I never got good at, or I am just in a huge rush all of the time, either way, I tend to dowel a lot of projects.

[@stevemcentyre1570]

Very nice Marc. I think this is one of your better projects. Simple yet elegant. I bet the curvature in the seat slats make it comfy. I use the same trick with epoxy for the but ends of the fishing rods I made.

[@LucS0042]

Would there be a good non-screw method of attaching the top to the base without using screws and cleats? Some fancy joinery perhaps? I can't think of anything cleaver there...

[@mb97355]

Gorgeous bench. The finish really interests me because I have an old sailboat that I'm reviving and the teak needs attention. I'm going to look into using CPES to see if it's feasible as long-term finish. Thanks for the tip.

[@jacobwilson8151]

I tried building this exact bench a few months ago. It ended up costing me around $200 because one of the boards I had split across the grain with my bare hands after planing it. Next time I'm using cedar. Great design though.

[@richardbrown295]

Plz my apologies if that comment seemed as if I was trying to make offensive I love ur videos as I have said I never know how much I loved woodworking b4 I seen ur videos just that I wish I could afford to buy the membership

[@DentargPL]

I think dowels would need the smallest set of tools. I'm going to build something like that (but for inside purposes, and additional shelf) using circular saw (or hand saw) and a drill. For sure mortise and tenon is better to keep things square but I miss almost all the tools you got.

[@ccouchois]

Hey there! Thanks for the inspiration, video, and specs to build this. Just finished making one for my front porch and the family loves it.

[@BuffaloCountertopsandCrafts]

beautiful looking bench I don't do much mortise and tenons but this is one I would like to try

[@kamyarghofrani]

Using a mat or reflective finish will not effect the amount of UV absorbed. A mat object scatters light, and reflect the rays in different directions, but the total amount of light reflected will be the same as a reflective object.

[@tito136]

Nice! You use LootCrate too! I'm sure a fair portion of your audience would take advantage of an affiliate coupon code, just sayin'.

[@jmartinez4460]

Wow that turned out amazing. I have a question on finishing. I have Spanish cedar front and rear door to my house. I have to refinish the doors every ur or every other yr at the least. What would u recommend to better seal and protect the wood? Thx

[@shunwong9197]

I've sat on too many hardwood chairs and benches with sharp edges that dig into the underside of the my lower thighs just behind the knees. I can see that this bench has those sharp edges will do exactly the same and will be uncomfortable for this reason.

[@-_AjB_-]

Sorry, I asked the question midway through the vid. Before you said.. " Before you ask ...?"

[@juliegravel7776]

kool looking bench, tried downloading the plans but when printing they cut off the right side. :( is there a way to get them emailed maybe?

[@bretmaples]

Dude, I love you projects they are very inspiring to me. Being a novice I watch your channel a lot to learn new things. I also love the T-shirts you wear. Zelda is by far my favorite one as of yet.

[@redtool6452]

good job i like it but i have suggestion for u can you do silent videos and shorter like that you can have other viewers from other countries who can´t understand english by the im from morocco

[@michaelgovers8036]

Hello Marc and thank you for sharing your work, it really is on a different level. Greetings from Ireland :)

[@Engstreet]

I think you should always mention how long it took you to finish each project

[@rutgerhoutdijk3547]

Hey Marc, what did you pay for all the materials? And how does that compare with buying a stock bench?

[@Bloodsweatsawdust]

I can vouch for the high gloss finish of the regular Epifanes. I'll definitely look into their Matte product.

[@scottryker4888]

*goes to local lumber yard for black walnut, sees price, hangs head and goes back to home Depot...*

[@joevandeventer883]

Very nice. Thanks for the build video.

[@edmacfarlane9483]

Beautiful bench i think these would look good either side of a matching table. Wish i had a set of workshop tools like yours to make one!

[@kellywalker818]

Mark, now that it has almost 2 years since you completed this project, how is the finish holding up to the elements?

[@margaritistakiskailos]

Great project! I learned a lot from you! You are a great teacher for someone like me who I am hobbyist!!! Keep up the great work!

[@rickcimino743]

Marc: would it offend the wood gods to put low profile plastic feet on the bottoms of the legs to keep them off the ground?

[@mauro334]

High quality, perfect finish and great design... You work like an Italian "artigiano".

[@jagros4672]

Marc- great workmanship - fine furniture quality for outdoors! Here's a tip I've used on outdoor furniture to prevent water stains and capillary wetting of the feet. I make a small block of HDPE (from a kitchen cutting board) for each leg and attach with a countersunk stainless steel screw from the bottom. These are almost invisible and keep the end grain dry.Also prevents scratching pavers if chairs etc are dragged.

[@TomKaren94]

Marc, whenever I see you using the planes, I realize how many different talents there are within woodworking. It isn't just measuring, cutting and banging things together. There's so much detail work that requires 'feel,' 'eye,' and experience. Great project. You've inspired me!

[@HonestDoubter]

This one was one of my favorites. It is something I can do in my shop and feel like I would have a great chance of success. Thanks!

[@JustMakeIt]

The Wood Whisperer This actually came at a good time for me. I'm restoring a cast iron and wood bench for my mother in-law and replacing the mystery wood slats with quarter sawn white oak. The job doesn't get much more straight forward than this, but it's the finish that has me scratching my head. Given that white oak already has weather resistant properties, would it be necessary to go with the same epoxy finish and would that still accentuate the grain? Before seeing this, I planned on just using a tung/spar/mineral spirits mixture possibly coated with one last bit of spar for good measure. I know there's no perfect solution, but I'm trying to get a good mix of look and feel with durability. Thanks for the video!

[@woodwhisperer]

Just Make It I mentioned to someone else that I lost some faith in white oak outdoors. So I don't really consider it a great outdoor wood. As such, I'd highly recommend a good protective finish like this. There are other finishes that would work just fine and the one you're considering will certainly work, but it might require a little more regular maintenance depending on the situation. What I'm going for with this finish is absolutely minimal maintenance. We'll see how it goes.

[@JustMakeIt]

The Wood Whisperer Well, I've already got the wood so we'll see how it goes! That being said, I'll take your recommendation and see what I can get locally. I'm sure LV will have it or something similar. One more question and I promise I'll leave you alone! Will this epoxy pop the grain or can/should I use an oil prior to the epoxy to do so? Thank you for the quick reply!

[@woodwhisperer]

The epoxy is essentially looks much like an oil based poly. So it can certainly enhance the grain. If you have a figured wood and you're really looking to pop the grain, you might look into dyes. I'd skip the oil. But everyone has different opinions on what looks good so id try on scraps first.

[@gunterannee7844]

the bench looks awesome in the clean style but These strange squarehead screws are here Not availible.

[@Seagrams]

rockin bench man, would sit on it anytime.

[@andrewhannah3826]

Hi Marc, I have just recently subscribed to your channel, which I think is great, I have just watched your video and what a great bench, I'm from the UK and when spring arrives I will definitely be building this. Keep up the good work.

[@meanders9221]

Hey Marc, where did you learn about Smith's CPES? I never see it in stores. Thanks for that tip to apply the first coat of varnish before the second coat of epoxy has cured thus bonding them together, never heard of that before. Just finished an entry door with three coats of stain/sealer, 5 coats of Epifanes high gloss, and 2 coats of Epifanes matte, no epoxy (though I have used epoxy on the bottoms of chair legs). Always looking for better outdoor finishing techniques, have to try this on my next outdoor project.

[@woodwhisperer]

Michael Anderson I think I first heard about the stuff years ago on a forum. I was intrigued and decided to try it out. Turns out there are some really great products out there in the marine/boating world that the average furniture-maker might not be aware of. And for outdoor projects, we can use all the help we can get. :)

[@daveinpa5948]

Excellent video as usual mark. Wanted to thank you as i recently bought an outdoor table from pottery barn and decided (to my wife's annoyance) to make some custom benches to go with it. Your design matches the Chatham collection perfectly! Not looking forward to 34 mortises times 4 benches but should look great when done.

[@m93sek]

'matt finish' say that to Matthias Wandel...

[@rmyukon]

This is my second woodworking project. My first project was a cabinet for our small laundry room. This bench project took a lot of patience, of which I have very little. But I managed to complete it. When it came time to cut the curve in the slats, I had to borrow a band saw. However, the band saw I borrowed was not capable of making the cut. It was a pretty old, cheap Craftsman that only had a single speed. And, the blade may not have been sharp enough. I'm not sure if that type of cut requires a faster speed, a different type/thickness of blade or both. Anyway, I lined up all of the slats side by side and clamped them all together and used a belt sander to start the curve. Then I used a manual block plane to shave off more out of the center. Once I got tired of doing all of that, I used a finishing sander to smooth out everything. I really wish the band saw would have worked for me. Thanks for the inspiration and the plans. This turned out a lot better with the details of the video than I could have ever made it without the instructions. I will be doing another one of these at some point.

[@idleford]

Mr. Mark what happened to your Incra table saw fence? I was looking thru your old videos and in ep. 30 you talked about how awesome it was. Looks like you might still be using the Very Super Cool Tools fence? Just thought I would ask. :)

[@woodwhisperer]

idleford This happened: www.thewoodwhisperer.com/articles/impressions-incra-ls32-ts-table-saw-fence-system/ :)

[@SnowOwlCNY]

Marc, The bench looks great and the design details add a nice touch to it. Thank You.

[@Kevin-wo3kp]

Great Video - as always! It's at least a year since I saw your last vid - and Wow! - Great Tattoos! All the best to you and your lady wife for your forthcoming bundle of joy! (Just wait 'til you're Grandparents!)

[@dschlic1able]

I am in the beginning stages of building an outdoor patio cart. It based on a cart plan from Woodsmith TV. Thw wood is white oak. Woodsmithbrecommends a penatrating oal/varnish finish. I have used this type of finish on some yellow pine projects that are stored outside. So far they look great, but have less then a year outside. The wood looks like it has an oil type finish (not visible film on the surface), but repels water like a film finish. Do you have any long term experience with this type of finish?

[@woodwhisperer]

Donald Schlicht I do. In my area, that type of finish didn't do well past a year. And really, it isn't meant to. Something like Teak Oil, for example, is probably best applied on a yearly basis to maintain the project. The thing with these outdoor finishes is you really need to do preventative maintenance. If you wait until you see a problem, damage is already done. So if it's been a year, wait for a nice weekend and do a little re-application of the oil.

[@magrildz]

Hahahaha loved the T-shirt, Marc! But, what about changing this catchphrase for a more... Woodworkey one? Like buh-binga? Hahahahaha xD. Cheers!

[@GrahamAldrich1975]

Great work but I gave it a thumbs up due to the Larry David reference at 21:38 :-)

[@Torsan1977]

Great video! Am I the only one seeing the obvious material choice for an Outdoor Sitting Bench - OSB? No, just trolling! Love this project! :)

[@ShawnBlairME]

Love it! Marc. Thanks for putting this one out. I'd love to do one of these at some point, but I've got some bench refinishing to do first. I've been wondering what I'll use for the finish.

[@janjensen4461]

Really really nice. And thanks for the good details of showing how it's done. Just realized that I can to mortice on my CNC router, so thanks for that👏👏👏

[@LucS0042]

Hi Marc, looks good! I wonder if you've ever done something like this where the grain on the legs run the same way as the top cross bars. I know it would involve a lot more cutting and gluing, but would look very interesting, imo.

[@Thrive426]

Love your craftsmanship and love your tools even more! The only question i have is I too live in Arizona and am having a hard time finding decent wood for furniture making, who is your go to retailer for fine wood? Thanks in advance, I truly learned a lot.