This garden bench cost less than $20 to make

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[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

I waited patiently to see if you would notice the pocket holes on the outside....This is one reason why this is my favorite woodworking channel. You make mistakes like everyone else and you don't hide it.

[@mrleverage2006]

I was wondering the same thing. I wanted to shout Steve turn the end boards around!!!!!!!

[@TNBushcrafter]

Same here....that's when ya wish this was a livestream. lol

[@sheriboito7080]

Me to @@TNBushcrafter

[@blakehuntington8349]

I LOVE that you left in the hiccups. It makes me feel so much more okay with being a Mere Mortal. I don’t end up feeling like a doofus when I make the mistakes like you did, like I would when I inevitably compare my work and skills to those of some of the other popular channels on here. Thanks so much for making this hobby approachable!

[@bobsage4963]

I came here to say this :)

[@kevola5739]

@@bobsage4963 - I came here to say I've done this :(

[@gnothisauton2116]

Yea! It is very admirable that he shows and discusses his mistakes. Everybody makes them but not everyone would admit it. Bravo!

[@bbondsie2]

I completely agree. So often when making something things go wrong or I make a mistake and it's often pretty vexing and feels like I'm a complete dumbo. It's hard to remember to cut myself some slack and remember that mistakes are part of the project process

[@kevola5739]

@@bbondsie2 - Sometimes mistakes lead to creative redesign that never occurred to you. Then people ask “ How did you ever think of that?” The repairs become accent points to your plain project. Been there, done that.

[@blaugrana-jw3dd]

These long format project videos with narrating are so good. Keep doing them

[@philmininni5981]

I can't recommend strongly enough how much I appreciate what you do. I have taken all three of your woodworking courses and highly recommend it for all of you wanting to try woodworking. I have learned so much and I now consider myself a intermediate woodworker. I am retired and approaching 73 years young. Woodworking is meditation for me. Thank you Steve.

[@MatthewSatcher-fx9cf]

I learned woodworking because of your KZbin videos and your Weekend Woodworking course. Thank you for making more project videos. I just finished the table with tapered legs from a few months back, and now I'm going to work on this next. You are a legend.

[@SteveRamsey]

Thank you Matthew! 👍👊

[@pakde8002]

That's a really generous contribution. You're awesome 👍

[@phrebh]

Nearly 2 million subscribers. Still has to make more than one trip to the store for a simple project. That's the definition of relatable. :)

[@mathewcampbell8479]

And mere mortal

[@RichardBronosky]

Let this blow your mind: It is by being relatable that you get 2 million subscribers. 🤯 And, there is no spoon.

[@v-dub1317]

I’m lovin’ this bench and planning to make a couple for the front porch. But let’s talk about that ratchet end you used to raise your router!!! Is that in your build plans? What a great idea, I love it.

[@haroldmack1704]

I relate to him having the same saw blade swirl imprinted on his fence like mine has 😅

[@julesl7679]

Truth...happens to all of us even the experts.

[@stevenlengyel9701]

Yes, woodworking is meditation and satisfaction

[@simonmarcoux5879]

As a weekend workshop member, I can't thank you enough for the helping community over the years. Hands down, you are the single reason why so many people become independent with tools and DIY. In a time where outsourcing a job become extremely costly, you are more relevant than ever. Thank you Steve!

[@davidchisholm4031]

Instead of salt to try to hold glue ups still, I've had a lot of success with hammering a couple of panel pins or brads halfway in, then clipping them off close to the surface on one of the surfaces to be glued. This then gives you some sharp points to hold the glued surfaces in place while clamping, and you'll never see it once assembled.

[@jrkorman]

One of the better tips I've come across, and it works well also!

[@timarmstrong2338]

You have no idea how good you make me feel knowing that people like you still make mistakes. You give hope to all of us who lose focus once in a while or get distracted with one thing and mess up another. Thank you for letting us see that we are all mere mortals.

[@surajithkm]

I like the way it's written by @ Timaarmstrong. Its simple but a great philosophy.

[@gcicary]

I just made this bench as one of my first projects. Turned out great, I painted it chive green and left the seat natural. I made it for my wifes vegtable garden and she loves it. Thank for the great step by step instructions as well as the plans. I really enjoy your down to earth approach. I noticed right away in the video that you had the pocket holes on the wrong side and damn if I didn't do the same thing myself! I noticed it while the glue was still pretty wet, so no big deal, but funny since I was feeling a bit smug noticing it right away in your video, oh well, I guess I am just a mere mortal as well!

[@TheWoodenHobbyist]

I’m so happy you’re doing more build videos. I made my very first box from watching one of your older box making videos and now I own a woodworking business. You’ve influenced a lot of people man.

[@dennisstahlman135]

Nice project Steve !🤔👍🏻😃 It’s funny how as you were attacking the legs I was mentally yelling at you “the one leg is backwards !!!” Lol 😂 Also as you were staining it I thought that a lighter top would look good.

[@TheDesignerXD]

Same!

[@j.d.1488]

Man just found your channel. Retired and newbie woodworking hobbyist. After watching it so reassuring to see how your shop is more like most homeowners shops would be. Great channel glad to subscribe.

[@johnryan1211]

Steve, you are like a fine wine that keeps getting better with time. Thanks for posting, this mere mortal appreciates you and your videos. I really like the design of the bench.👍👍👍👍👍

[@markgriffin9818]

I’m so pleased to see you back in the longer format video. When the thumbnail popped up it felt like a message from an old friend! Great project idea and thanks for leaving the boo-boos in, mere mortals indeed!

[@swampybman7741]

1) Garden beautiful! 2) Bubbles wonderful to meet! 3) All the "other" work we need to do to accomplish our project 4) Waiting to allow glue to preset! 5) 6) Over the top looks! I'm gonna do this ! Thanks Steve! Another winner!

[@ezdupree]

Recommendation for attaching the long stretchers. You couldn't clamp across them because they were opposing angles and the stretchers were pulling up, but they were at the same angle as the leg they were attached to, so you could have just clamped them to the leg right next to them for the clamping force to be parallel. Wouldn't have had to drill holes and screw them in. Love your vids and keep it up.

[@jagovandermost636]

Had the same idea about the clamping

[@jeremyspecce]

I mean, yeah, it seems really obvious to me. 🤷🏻‍♂️ sometimes when you’re in the moment you get stuck on an idea and can’t see something that is so obvious to a casual observer.

[@eugenemaze]

Couldn’t the front stretcher be attached with pocket holes from the inside side stretcher?

[@macker33]

28:52 " I think the harshest element on outdoor furniture is the sun", hello from ireland.

[@baseball4697]

Gotta love senior moments … such is life!

[@efox2001]

You could use the pocket holes to secure the frame to the workbench during the glue up. Secure one of the long stringers and then each leg assembly. Then the other long stringer could be clamped in place without needing to be screwed down. The geometry would hold everything in place and the surfaces would be coplanar.

[@kyoopihd]

16:00 "Bigger problem" xD I noticed that right away back at 13:33 and watched with bated breath!

[@jaycrouch1336]

THANK YOU STEVE!!!! I watch so many woodworking videos and feel so inadequate. Seeing this video and the same mistakes I would make, or have made, affirmed me and has given me renewed hope in my ability.

[@MingusMangus]

Hey Steve! Just wanted to say thank you so much for leaving in all your oversights and mistakes. It really does make it less intimidating for novices like me to see that even the pros dont always get it right the first time.

[@jeraldgooch6438]

Thank you! I had a rough week with my woodworking. Getting back into it after a long time off, well, let’s just say that mistakes were made. Seeing that even respected pros like you can have head jams as well made me feel a bit better. I really appreciate your laid back approach and the whole “mere mortal” thing.

[@jal7748]

Thank you for showing the mistakes and then finding the solution. I am new to woodworking and I see vids of people assembling everything first try perfectly then there is me making 10 million mistakes hoping to make it turn out good. Seeing you make mistakes and then finding the solution made me feel less discourage about the mistakes I make and finding the solution. Great video! I love these project ones!

[@jeffreyallen2778]

Thank you for all you do. I love that you leave in those little mess ups. Makes us feel better when we do it ourselves. I like that you mentioned using dowels to join. I have learned a lot from your channel.

[@alanneal9016]

You make it easy the way you explain things Steve and don’t go mad with measuring every inch I get lost with all the measurements in some of the other videos out there keep up the great videos 👍 brilliant

[@DoingItCheap]

Just a thought...... I am guessing salt was suggested to make the glue joint less slippery. But salt dissolves. Maybe try a sprinkle of sand ? If I get a chance to try it, I will follow up with you. I have been a subscriber for years. You motivated me to start my own channel. Thank you for the plethora of information you have shared with us.🙂

[@WOThms]

You slide the boards through the table saw blade as though you’re shooting pool. Very relaxed looking. Nice job. Thanks for sharing your work.

[@Sebastopolmark]

GREAT project Steve. A relatively simple project that yields a lot of satisfaction when completed. Yes woodworking is meditation (when things go right) but when I screw up, I am IMMEDIATELY snapped out of my zen moment. Carpe Diem! !! !!!

[@vincepopo7497]

What a nice simple bench, I definitely see one just like that in my future.

[@ElliottMcCrory]

Well done. Your unique take with this video is to use regular speed to show how slow most of the process really is. For me, those slow, thoughtful moments in the workshop are the best.

[@damonherman6882]

Your human im a beginner and feel so comforted that you had it the wrong way round. Thanks for leaving it in Steve

[@theopauw2830]

Good tip on using the foam brush to finish between the top slats. I recently spent way too much time rebuilding and refinishing an outdoor wooden table that I got for cheap. It was really well built but the gaps between the slats were too tight so the previous owners never bothered painting in there when they repainted the rest of it. Hence it got water in and started warping. I could still use the slats - just cut them all a little thinner on the table saw. But another year outside and it would have been gone.

[@baldmanbuildsit6122]

I love how you show the oops along the way. I got really into watching your channel specifically for that reason, it shows you are the same as the rest of us mere mortals! It’s great to hear that catchy jingle again!!

[@ommousa]

Hii🙋🏻‍♀️I was looking for your account and finally found you. I have been following you for a long time and admire all your videos and wonderful works. I am from Iraq. I follow you.

[@CurtisMassey]

I've said it on other videos you've made, but I too really appreciate that you leave in the problems you have. You're a much better woodworker than I, so seeing that you also make mistakes helps me to feel better about myself. I know we all make mistakes, but it's so easy to be overly self-critical. Thanks and great vid!

[@Giich]

Yoooo uncle Steve missed that kind of videos a lot, thank you

[@Phthisis09]

My father and grandfather both woodworked, and they passed when i was 10. I always wanted to get into woodworking and i found your videos 10 years ago. They helped me start and be able to start without being scared of not having every tool or thing i need. You are a legend Steve! Thank you

[@scurvydog]

Friendly tip from an old geezer. Whenever you have a project that has wood in contact with the ground, use a 50/50 mix of water and TB3 brushed on to the surface. I have had to reapply the mix every 3-5 years but I have yet had to replace any wood. Keep on rockin'.

[@chrisu5090]

Nice timing, just applied it to a Kwila bench I am finishing. Thanks😊

[@johnford7847]

Nice. And I too appreciate seeing your errors and corrections. Shows me that I can do it too.

[@1954JDR]

Steve, you remind me so much of the master cabinet maker I apprenticed under at Colonial Williamsburg. Unlike my Washington co-workers who spent their vacations at the beach, I spent mine at Colonial Williamsburg learning how to be wood worker.

[@ryantait08]

This was a winner. I finished one of these and have 2 more in-progress. Thanks for the vid!

[@robertmccullough1634]

Thanks for this project. Used it to make a new bench for wok cooking. It has a burner part at one end plus a place where you can pull the wok off the heat for a bit while things cook down or you add ingredients at the other end. .

[@JonnyDIY]

Came out great Steve 👍 I find when I'm filming projects I make more mistakes for sure! Focus is a little more divided. Backyard looks great, I've been redoing my fence 8 or 16ft at a time around the property the last few weeks

[@reggiek6730]

Thanks for showing mistakes too. It eases my mind since I make plenty. 😊

[@daviddura1172]

felt good to be part of this video.... label shop I have worked at since 1979 (yup same employer 44 years) prints those red on gold foil laminated INCRA labels....I was thinking, when you had the clamp squeeze up problem, why not temporarily screw the bench down to your table top in the pocket holes .... GREAT BUILD, AND REASSURING TO ALL OF US THAT ALSO MAKE MISTAKES

[@tomcotter2714]

Thanks for being "Mere Mortal" and showing us your mistake - and recovery. Great looking bench.

[@christopherjohnson5961]

Loved that tranquil garden sequence Steve. Great, simple design!

[@bilbothejust]

Great project - thanks Steve. Your weekend course has really helped me tackle a lot of different things. Cabinet doors, concealed hinges, router strategies. Please keep doing them!!

[@blakehuntington8349]

Also, I’ve never seen that tip about punching holes in the can to let the paint drain back in 😮

[@toddshinn4955]

Thank you, Steve! Nice to see project videos again.

[@billparrish4385]

I really like the simple, elegant design of this bench, Steve, especially those 10-degree 'Goldilocks angles' (i.e., 'just right'). I'm getting ready to make a version of it, with spring mowing season imminent. Our previous 'old man resting while mowing' bench is no more, and my plan is to put it together using left-over pallet wood for the leg assembly, and probably some thinner stock for the seat, to cut down on weight. I'll be accounting for cupping in the seat pieces by orienting their end grain into 'smiles' (growth ring curves pointed down), causing any curved surfaces to point up and shed the water, not catch or pool it.

[@curbshooter]

Bold move Cotton. Both at one time!! I love your build videos.

[@joanbusby3213]

Great project! Love the paint job on your drills!!

[@sebastianlaubach6862]

Thank you for this video in classic style, like when you started!

[@jayjohnson3090]

Very nice.. I enjoyed watching you work!! Thank you for describing and showing mistakes that can happen and recommendations. I believe I learned more (I am a newbie DIYer) from your video than from others that I watched where the world is a perfect place and everything will work out just fine....NOT!!! LOL.. Again....Thank you for showing the unedited version of what really could happen with projects.

[@FatherOfTheParty]

I've made the same mistake so many times that when you were cutting all those bench slats I said to myself. "I would check the first one to make sure I've set my stop block correctly." Nice project!

[@pteddie6965]

Steve, I love this bench. I'm always excited when I see that you have posted a project video. There's something about how you do your explanations that I find easy to follow. Have a good weekend. Thanks for the video.

[@marcuspullan1142]

Thanks, Steve! Appreciate your videos. As soon as I get the cast off my hand, I’m going to take your course. I may splurge and use cedar instead of 2x4

[@wayneyadams]

18:00 Glue up the legs on one side at time. Turn the assembly 90 degrees to the way you show it on the video and slide it to the edge of your workbench. Clamp the centerpiece (leg assembly) vertically to the bench so it can't slide up when you tighten the clamps on the cross boards. Use the same procedure to glue the other leg assembly.

[@gsp911]

Everyone makes mistakes, they just don't get cut out here. No perfectly polished video product, just a DIY video with everything. 👌 I love this channel.

[@lisaweigand524]

Looks great! Funny because I just recently did the same thing on my second Harmony bench, that is having the screws show out instead of in. Unfortunately I couldn’t simply pull them off and turn them around. Leaving them to show didn’t feel very harmonious to me, so I ended up putting on 4 more boards to cover them. If I had a planer I could have slimmed down their thickness. I still like how it turned out!

[@RichardBronosky]

11:13 Your work piece IS the best protractor! Any time I'm working with angles, I first cut a piece of scrap, label it "JIG 10⁰" (so I don't throw it away, but am not tempted to horde every piece of angled scrap on my shop) then use these "simple jigs" instead of measuring devices. ☮️❤️🌈

[@Philipk65]

Nice project Steve and looks nice. I do like that you include your little stuff ups and how you fix them, brings a genuine and realistic quality to your videos.

[@jayherde0]

Gotta put in the odd thought ... Instead of capping those screws with a piece of dowel, you could have let the glue dry .. Then removed the screws and finished drilling the holes for dowels? ... Would it be worth doing? ... 'Because I could' is good enough for me 😉 Glad you came back up on my feed.

[@ollie54able]

sSteve you have some very astute followers... I totally agree I totally agree with blaugrana and their comment about the longer videos and Blake Huntington's comment about leaving in the "blunders/hiccups". Very real for the majority of us 'non-professional' DIYers or fully equipped shop workers. THANK YOU!!! Keeps me inspired to feel ok about making some of these projects. Keep up the fun inspirational video ideas.

[@BeauSeverson]

I love these videos so much. I absolutely love seeing the mistakes left in and the problem solving on the fly to fix them as someone with a lot of experience. Sometimes not being as good if I hit a problem like that further into a project it really can hit me with a desire to just give up on it or try a fix I'm not sure of that can lead to more mistakes. Every mistake is a learning experience.

[@MrsJax304]

Glad to see you back on here

[@TheTeaDubz]

Nice video, Steve. I purchased the weekend woodworker course and I am working on getting my shop set up after I get home from Hawaii. I'm most of the way done with the workbench and the table saw stand and once those are done I'm starting the first project and I can't wait!

[@jercubsfan]

Loved hearing that throwback music!

[@ronswoodshack]

Great to see a long format project video. Awesome build! Thank you for the content.

[@thekiwinomad]

Great video Steve. I'm really enjoying the simple line and clean design of these recent projects. Showcasing the material for what it is. Great work 👍

[@LevelUpYourFandom]

Hey Steve, 15:30 - a little trick i use sometime is to put some salt in the glue joint for things like this, and it will help grip the two pieces of wood to prevent them sliding on the glue so much. i use it all the time and its great. just regular table salt, or some slightly coarser salt works great

[@markb8954]

He addressed this….said he can never get that little trick to work.

[@travisgreen3533]

Nice bench. I think of us who are woodworking mortals enjoy the problems you correct. it happens to the best woodworkers, but you admit it. Sometimes the corrections lead to a better solution to the part of the project that had to be corrected. At least, that is my excuse. Thanks for the fun. Take care.

[@ErieRadio]

When the stretchers started to slip off the legs when you went to clamp both sides at about the 15:30 mark of the video…. You could have tried wrapping a ratchet strap around the entire thing. I’ve used ratchet straps in place of clamps when I needed a circumferential constricting type of force and… I was surprised… they worked. LOL Nice project. I love that you left in the “hiccups”… we all have them. Good video! Good project. Fun channel.

[@mattybob58]

Steve, I always look forward to Fridays with the hope of seeing a new video of your’s pop up. Been a viewer/subscriber for years but for some reason just never commented until now. Thank you for helping reignite a passion my grandfather first put in me as a kid.

[@southtxblues]

Good project! I made a similar bench, but with a back, so it had a lot more slats about 1/4" apart. I laid all the slats on edge and put the finish on before attaching them, leaving any necessary glue space bare. Trying to get finish on between them after attaching them would have produced a lot of drips and runs, causing a need to constantly turn the bench upside down to deal with them. I, too, used pocket screws and glue to attach all the parts.

[@ianpearse4480]

Lovely quick fix to a problem. Nice.

[@mavision6525]

Another great video. These simple project videos are what helped build your channel. This will be my next project. Keep it up.

[@williamperreault7707]

On glueing the long side boards, if you place a clamp (top to bottom) that covers both sides of the joint, the end board that is attached to the legs and the end of the board you are glueing at an angle. Now when you clamp the boards on an angle the clamps on the other boards stop them from shifting.

[@InclusiveDriving]

Awesome how you show how you tidy as you go along!

[@robertkavanagh7251]

Always easier to see options when someone else is doing the work. The inside of each leg is parallel to the outside of each spreader. Use a 6" c-clamp on each corner, re-ensuring that the overall still remains square.

[@timothycreasy2161]

That turned out nice. I was surprised when I heard the theme song !! I missed hearing that bro

[@chrisengland5523]

At 15:40, when the clamp causes the wood to move, instead of trying to use one clamp to hold both sides at the same time, he could have used a clamp on each side, with one side of the clamp inside the double end pieces, clamping on the legs themselves. This has the advantage that the leg also slopes at 10 degrees, so it's parallel to the side piece, therefore there'd be no tendency to cause it to slip. (A narrow clamp would be needed to get in-between the two end pieces.)

[@robertkerby2581]

Great design and build project. Well done!

[@frankcastello9320]

I think I'll use this as a template to make a step stool! Looks great!

[@garymiller5937]

Nice bench, Steve. I'm glad to see you back in the shop! I've missed your project videos 😊.

[@marcmagus0]

For attaching the stretchers to the legs, could you have used a pocket screw running from the leg to the stretchers or does the bevel cause a problem there? Looks like a spot where another concealed pocket screw might work, although the dowel pin is a great solution. Love that you're still leaving your mistakes in and laughing about them all these years later.

[@SilverFox-1212]

Another tip for the day I learned awhile back. When you are drilling a hole, especially to put a dowel in, if you first switch your drill to go in reverse until your bit is a little bit below the surface of the wood then switch back to forward you eliminate the little bit of wood that is kicked up and makes for a smoother rim on your hole.

[@ardichico205]

Great JOb Steve !!! i watched every second !!! Woodshop was my Favorite Class in High School. Thanks for Sharing your Garden Bench with the World. Will try to catch some more of your Work 😁😁😁😁😁😁🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@screamsofthedead]

Here I am at 15:48 staring at the pocket screw holes thinking "Steve is going to teach us about mistakes today." lol

[@jamesrowe3706]

I still use "management" which came from that lockdown video painting the planter boxes!

[@MCsCreations]

Really beautiful work, Steve! 😃 Thanks a LOT for all the tips!!! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@matrickwurse4271]

I was screaming when I saw you had the leg turned wrong side out. Only because I have done that before too. Well done and thanks for sharing

[@handiman5001]

Great project Steve, I may build 1 or 2 this summer if I get my hip done

[@cbalan777]

2:55 I was wondering what was happening to those thin strips you were cutting off. Thank you for showing that part.

[@SeanBlader]

I put a construction staple in there to keep the pieces from sliding during glue up. I break it off the strip of staples, and just lay it over, then when you clamp it down the clamp compresses the staple in there and keeps the two pieces from slipping. Doesn't even cost a cent to have it in there. @13:36 OMG that whole glue up I was watching hoping he'd turn around the closer set of legs so the pocket holes were on the correct side.

[@rangewh]

Nice garden bench thanks for the plans.