Park Benches (From Scrap Lumber or 2x4's)

This is a bench design that I developed building park benches from discarded scraps at construction sites.

Here are some rough estimates if you're going to purchase wood to build a bench.
5 Planks - I usually shoot for five (5) 2x4's cut to somewhere around 4 feet each

2 Front Legs -  two (2) 2x4's cut to about 15.5 inches each
2 Back Legs -  two (2) 2x4's cut to about 32.5 inches each

2 Supports - two (2) 2x4's cut to about 19 inches

2 back supports - two (2) 2x4 scraps cut to 5 inches each

Screws - it's nice to have a bunch of 2.5 inch screws and some really long deck screws to hold up the back legs
You could use nails.

Paint - I always buy mistint paint. Most paint stores keep paint that they've botched for another client and they try to sell it for cheap. Look for some ultra high gloss outdoor stuff. I try to avoid the solvents and the oil based - personal preferences.

A level - unless you really trust your eyes
A saw - you could do it by hand if you really needed too (also you may try to charm a Home Depot employee to make your cuts)
A drill - with a screw bit for all of these screws or a hammer if you opted for nails
A tape measure - unless you REALLY trust those eyes of yours

All of the benches I built were different, since I was using found materials I needed to change the plan around depending on what I could get my hands on. Obviously those back legs could be lower and you could use the planks from pallets to get yourself a loveseat design that might be a bit lighter. If you follow the above measurements you can build this small loveseat bench using four (4) 8ft 2x4's. With the screws and paint, you should be able to do this for less than $30. If you use recycled lumber it will be even cheaper, and maybe even more interesting!

Using the dimensions in the last step you can make all of the straight cuts to your boards. I always have a "no cuts/even cuts" rule when working with these things and I try to use as much of the found wood as possible.

If for any reason you don't have the means to make diagonal cuts, don't worry about it, I think the design looks great with all straight lines, rigid and square.

I chose to make diagonal cuts on both of the hind legs so that the top supports are at a bit of an angle. Very unscientifically, I made a mark at 1.5 inches at the top of each back leg and then I measured 10 inches down each leg and I made another mark. Then, I drew a line between each mark and cut down the line.

Save the scraps!

As I mentioned, and as may be clear, this is a not a very scientific process for me. That said the front legs are built with engineering in mind and the back legs, eh, not so much.

I build the front legs so that all of the weight from the support and planks will be held up by the 15.5in 2x4's.
So, put the 19in 2x4 flush against the edge of the 15.5in 2x4 and fasten them with some long woodscrews or nails.

You should have two L shapes now, about 17 (15.5+the 2x4 that you just put on top) inches on the short side and 19 inches on the longer side.

Legs and supports!

Lean your back legs up against something nice and strong. Stand your front legs and supports upright and make sure they're level. That is where everyone will sit after all. I drill pilot holes before dropping some extra long screws through the back legs and into the supports.

If I know the Instructable community at all, we will see some designs in the comments which are much stronger than this.

I can assure you that some nice long deck screws through the back legs into the supports will hold around 300lbs - but I should emphasize, things have been very unscientific with these benches!

I'm really into symmetry with these things, I like the back legs on the inside. Try it however you like! 

Again with the symmetry. I measure about 5inches to the edge of the plank and I fasten them down with a couple screws.
Since I use such wacky material I sometimes add more screws hoping that things will straighten out. If you use some nice stuff you can probably use just a couple of screws or nails.

I do three planks as the seat spacing the planks with whatever I can find. My mother suggests using a CD case or a couple of CD cases for the spacers, the jewel cases. (What's a CD?)

You could sit on this! (Be careful, it's still really wobbly!)

You can now measure from the edge of the bench seat to find the proper place to fasten the back or you can just use the seat planks as a guide and make some quick marks on the 2x4 to know where those back legs will fasten to the back supports for your bench. Make your marks and attach the top plank. This is also a good time for a level or your trusty eyes!

Then after you attach the top bring your spacers back and fasten another support on the back. It's a bit stronger with two planks as the back support and I like the look of it this way.

I like to take those 2 triangle slivers from the back leg and tack them on as a designy support for your front legs. They might not do much, but it means nothing went to waste!

Then on the back, I take each 5 inch 2x4 and I put in 4 or 5 screws to add a bit of support to those back legs. Sometimes I'll cut a 60 degree piece out of these back supports if I'm feeling really designy. It's harder to use these tiny triangles though, I hope you have something in mind.

This is a nice bench you have. Perhaps it's made from scrap lumber and a lot of love. Perhaps it's painstakingly crafted by shopping at two different Home Depot locations because the employees are only allowed to make a few cuts for free and you're building on the cheap. Either way, the construction is all taken care of now we just have to hide the rough cuts and any other blemishes.

Now you're ready for paint! I like to buy a nice thick outdoor latex or acrylic from the mistint rack in the best and brightest color they have, then I glob it on in a few coats with the spirit of the amateur.

I placed my benches back into the city where I live, always looking for a place where this thing might be of use, or may spark up an interesting or unexpected conversation. I hope you find a nice home for the one you're building!