DIY bench: drawings with dimensions, photos. How to make a bench with a wooden backrest with your own hands.
A light garden bench will be useful for you to relax in the country; on the bench you can sit in the garden and relax in the shade of the trees. Wooden benches will harmoniously decorate your relaxation area summer cottage, and if the bench is also made with your own hands, it will become a source of pride for the owner.
Materials for making a bench:
- Boards with a section of 20 x 100 mm or similar size.
- Screws.
- Varnish or paint.
Tools:
- Hacksaw.
- Plane.
- Tape measure, square, pencil.
- A screwdriver or a shaped screwdriver.
- Drill with a drill with a diameter of 2 mm (the diameter of the drill should be less than the diameter of the screws).
Bench assembly diagram.
- - legs.
- - frame.
- - backrest supports.
- — seat slats.
- — backrest strips.
How to make a bench with a back.
The pictures provide detailed drawings with dimensions for making a garden bench.
Let's start making a garden bench, and start with making the legs for the bench.
Mark the cut lines on the board and use a hacksaw to cut off the leg blanks. Smooth the ends of the legs with sandpaper.
Assembling the sides of the bench.
We attach the upper support to the front and rear legs. Align the legs with the support, drill holes and secure them with screws. Let's make two sidewalls.
Assembling the bench seat frame.
We saw off the blanks for the seat frame. We combine the frame blanks, drill holes and screw in the screws.
Assembling the frame and sides.
Now you need to connect the sides of the bench and the seat frame.
The back of the bench.
We saw off 3 supports for the back.
We install and secure the seat back supports as shown in the figure.
Install the slats to the seat frame, making sure you place them at equal distances, drill holes and secure the slats with screws.
Now secure the slats to the backrest supports.
Attaching armrests.
Place the armrests on the sides of the bench, drill holes in the armrests and secure them with screws.
The screw heads can be hidden by covering them with wood putty and then allowing the putty to dry for several hours. Sand the hardened putty with sandpaper, then apply several coats of paint or varnish to the bench to improve it. appearance benches.
How to make a bench photo.
A mandatory attribute of any summer cottage is a comfortable bench, which is made with your own hands from wood for the garden.
And it performs not so much aesthetic functions as practical ones.
A properly installed bench will provide an excellent opportunity to relax after hard work and at the same time admire the result of your labors.
You can daydream alone or hang out with friends.
Which you can do with your own hands is the optimal solution for decorating your dacha. But not always ready-made options for a country garden, sold in stores, can satisfy the owner’s wishes.
And only an exclusive creation, created with your own hands, can change the landscape design around the dacha and make your vacation more comfortable. Some projects can be seen in the photo.
Many ideas can be implemented around dacha spaces.
Where should construction begin?
It’s not difficult to make a bench with your own hands for a garden, terrace or even a bathhouse. The main thing is to know exactly for what purposes the garden bench will be built and clearly imagine the finished result.
Well, have some knowledge, which will be discussed later.
The photo below shows examples of garden benches.
Having decided to make a wooden bench on their own, some (especially beginners) craftsmen make a serious mistake.
Of course, you really want to quickly see your creation, around which you can plant flowers, but without preparatory work its creation is indispensable.
Therefore, do not rush to pick up boards, nails and a hammer, but be patient and carry out the initial work.
Preparatory work to create the image
The first step is to make a drawing of the product. If you have no work experience, do not try to create drawings of a complex structure (for example, a bench around a tree), but start with simple options.
The development of a sketch includes the following points: the appearance of the product (whether the bench will be simple or complex) and the choice of sizes.
When calculating the length and width of the bench that you will make with your own hands, take into account the existing standard parameters:
- Height – 400-500 mm;
- Width – 500-550 mm;
- Back height – 350-500 mm.
This will make the work much easier, and the product will be reliable and convenient, practical for any garden.
If there are shaped elements around the structure, they are all first drawn in the form of templates on thick cardboard.
Preparing tools for work
Kit necessary tools To build a wooden bench, usually every man has one.
For work you will need:
- Hand saw;
- Plane;
- Hammer and nails (it is better to use a screwdriver and self-tapping screws);
- Wood sanding machine (replaced with regular sandpaper);
- Level, tape measure, pencil.
If any of the above is missing, then you need to buy it or borrow it from friends.
At the same time, pay attention to the fact that the tool is of good quality, otherwise a wooden bench made for a summer house or garden will quickly break.
A short video will tell you how to choose it.
Consider one more nuance: the selected wood must be well dried, otherwise over time the parts will become distorted and the structure will become unsuitable for use.
This is especially true if the bench is placed in a bathhouse.
Details that make up the bench
The main components of a wooden garden bench are:
- Front and rear legs;
- Beams running across;
- Beam running along;
- Rails for seat and back.
The moment is extremely important. During manufacturing, it is necessary to strictly take into account the dimensions; the drawings will definitely come in handy.
Even the slightest discrepancy will lead to reworking not only one part, but also the entire structure.
The video below shows how to make garden wooden benches with your own hands.
Wooden parts must not have structural defects such as cracks or knots.
If it is not possible to find wood without them, then you should carefully treat the defective area and around it.
Manufacturing of parts and trial fitting
First of all, we saw the boards. Considering that the resulting wooden bench width will be 140 mm, we will need to make:
- 5 boards 1500 mm long;
- 2 boards 360 mm each;
- 2 boards 520 mm each. They will be used for bars that will connect the legs and seats;
- 2 boards 720 mm each. It is necessary to make a cut on them, since the boards will simultaneously hold both the legs of the bench and its back.
Examples of such wooden parts can be seen in the photo below. Dimensions can be changed according to your drawing or sketch. A corner bench with a backrest looks great, around which you can then plant flowers.
After the boards are ready, you should make a trial fit of the structural parts. It will be immediately clear where there are shortcomings and inconsistencies; correcting them at this moment is easy. The boards are planed and sanded.
The edges are processed. Your DIY bench is starting to take shape.
How to properly assemble a bench made of wood?
Having prepared the above parts, you can begin to assemble the garden product into a single whole. The process will require maximum attention.
In addition, you should remember that you can connect wooden parts in different ways. The most common elements for connection are:
- Nails or screws;
- Bolts, washers and nuts;
- Wooden chops.
The choice of a specific type will depend on the load on the bench during operation. For example, if it is intended for a child, it will be enough to use screws or nails.
Heavier loads will require bolts and nuts. If you plan to place the bench in a bathhouse, then it is necessary to disguise the metal joints and the space around them.
Connecting parts using bolts
For this type of connection, you will need a drill and a drill bit, the diameter of which should be slightly larger than the diameter of the bolts.
In this case, they will easily fit into the prepared holes. If the diameter of the bolt head and nut is slightly smaller than the hole size, use special washers.
The caps of the connecting elements can be easily hidden from view. Using a special crown, a small recess is drilled in the place where the bolt passes through the wood.
It turns out to be a kind of niche into which the puck falls. The main thing is to choose the desired depth of the niche.
Then it is sealed with a mixture of small shavings and PVA glue. You can watch a video on the topic and study the work process in more detail.
These steps will help give your wooden garden bench an aesthetic appearance. In the photo it is impossible to see the places where there are connecting elements.
Assembly order
Having prepared all the necessary parts for the future garden bench, drilled the holes, you can begin assembly.
It is performed as follows:
- First of all, the base is assembled, which consists of legs, the crossbar running lengthwise is screwed on;
- Cross bars are attached;
- The beams are screwed in, the purpose of which is to strengthen the structure and add strength to it;
- The boards intended for the seat are attached last with your own hands.
On final stage To make a garden bench with your own hands, special wooden plugs are made.
They can be made with a jigsaw, or with an ordinary small hacksaw.
To do this, a small round beam is sawed crosswise into pieces, the thickness of which should be equal to the depth of the recess in which the bolt and washer are placed.
The standard diameter sizes of such plugs are 15, 20, 22, 24, 30, 32, 35 mm. They are attached to PVA or sealant that does not allow moisture to pass through.
Increasing the service life of the bench
Well, your creation for the garden is ready. But the process is not over, as some more steps need to be done.
The photo shows that the corner bench with a backrest is located on the street, as in most areas.
This means she will be subjected to such natural phenomena, like precipitation. Moisture will render the tree unusable much faster.
Accordingly, it is necessary to protect it in order to prolong its operation for the maximum period.
Antiseptic treatment
As an antiseptic, it is better to choose an impregnation that has the property of penetration.
It contains various additives based on acrylic and resin, mixed with a special composition.
This whole mixture perfectly protects the wood from rotting and the harmful effects of insects.
Agree, this is quite important in the garden. And if the bench should be placed in a bathhouse, this will protect it from excess moisture.
Painting a bench in a summer cottage
After impregnation, a self-made wooden bench with a back must be coated with a varnish composition intended for outdoor use.
He tolerates it very well temperature indicators, atmospheric phenomena and other negative impacts. Ideal option to the bathhouse.
Regular paint should be used immediately after the impregnation procedure. After it has completely dried, the product must again be varnished. The procedure is simple and does not take much time.
See the photo of the bench covered with varnish here.
Impregnation and painting work must be carried out wearing protective equipment, such as goggles and gloves. The composition of mixtures and paints contains substances that can be harmful to health if they come into contact with the skin or eyes.
To sum up the above, we can safely say that making garden benches from wood yourself will not be a problem.
They can be rectangular, just straight, angular, or in the form of a sofa. Whatever you want, your imagination is not limited by anything, you can make a real dacha masterpiece for your dacha.
In the photo you can see design options for garden benches, and a detailed video will make the manufacturing process even clearer.
Arrangement personal plot carried out using various methods: canopies and gazebos are installed, paths are laid, flower beds and flower beds are laid out. The final nuance is garden furniture. A DIY garden bench with a backrest is suitable for arranging a small recreation area: drawings and diagrams of beautiful structures, as well as recommendations for their creation, can be found in this article.
Types of designs and photos of garden benches
The modern range of garden furniture is quite extensive. Product classification is carried out based on the following characteristics:
- characteristics;
- material;
- functionality.
Photos of DIY garden benches, their functional side
The functional features of furniture are valued along with their practicality and durability. All products are divided into two large groups:
- benches used exclusively for sitting;
- multifunctional benches (the product can perform several functions - be a bench, rocking chair or table).
Many owners of their personal plots install swing benches. Materials used to create them different types, and the structures themselves can be given an interesting shape. To make such a bench convenient to use, you definitely need to build a canopy over it. It will provide protection from the sun and precipitation.
Benches with a backrest that have a stationary type of placement are popular for making with your own hands. Most often they are made of concrete or brick, and a special place is selected for installation. Such products are not afraid of the influence of the sun and moisture.
There are folding benches with small dimensions and a mobile design. They will come in handy if the dacha plot is rarely used. During the absence of the owners, folding benches are put away in the garage for storage or in the house.
Photos of do-it-yourself country benches made of wood and metal
Metal products have the highest strength characteristics. They are reliable, durable and can be used throughout the year. Metal structures are unpretentious in terms of maintenance. It is enough to periodically coat their surface with an anti-corrosion agent, which will protect the benches from the harmful effects of moisture.
A bench made entirely of metal will have a very massive appearance, which is why modern designs are made using forged patterns. It should be remembered that for this you need to acquire a welding machine.
Most of the owners of suburban areas who decide to make a bench for their dacha with their own hands prefer wood. This material becomes the basis for creating benches with beautiful design, excellent performance characteristics and warm texture. Regardless of the design of the garden or yard, wooden products can always be harmoniously integrated into the landscape.
For protection purposes, the surface of the product must be coated with a varnish or paint. This will prevent damage to the wood caused by insects, fungi, mold, as well as moisture and sun. The use of varnish composition as finishing will help preserve the natural grain of the wood.
Photos of do-it-yourself stone benches
If you prefer practical options for benches, you should pay attention to products made of stone. This type of material is low cost and long periods operation, and the structures are durable, reliable and aesthetically attractive.
Stone belongs to the category of materials of natural origin. Despite this, the designs of such benches will not always be able to support any design and style of the garden. The site must have stone elements as an addition. The benches look especially advantageous against the backdrop of a residential building, partly made of stone.
A good ensemble will be made of stone:
- steps;
- paths;
- bodies of water;
- gabions;
- flower beds.
Supports for fences, gazebos and canopies can be made partially or completely from stone. If at least one of these elements is present on the site, stone benches will always come into place. However, it should be remembered that such products do not have a back.
Photos of DIY garden benches: successful homemade products made from plastic and other materials
Plastic products have a number of advantages, which include:
- simplicity and light weight of the design, so transporting the material does not cause difficulties, and the bench itself can be moved from one place to another;
- efficiency;
- a wide selection of colors, which allows you to produce a product that will subsequently fit well into the garden design;
- practicality (folding-type structures can be easily disassembled and stored in the trunk and also easily assembled on site).
Combined combinations of materials of different texture, texture, color and origin are used not only for decorative purposes. The most common option is a combination of stone and wood.
Structures made of wood and complemented with stone or metal elements look original. In such projects, wood creates a soft and beautiful texture, while stone and metal provide strength.
Examples and technologies for creating garden benches with your own hands
The designs of benches and benches have some distinctive features. Construction of a shop – the simplest way organize a seating area in the garden. The product does not have a back and, unlike a bench, has a simple external design.
A do-it-yourself wooden bench with a back can have a more complex decorative design:
- non-standard shape;
- armrests;
- structure decorated with carved and forged elements.
Simple ideas for creating garden benches
To revive the design of a simple bench, it is not necessary to come up with a complex drawing and rack your brains to create additional accessories for the garden. It is enough to use two wooden boxes and several boards.
The boxes in this case will serve as supports. After making the benches, you can fill them with soil and organize a small flower bed. A seat is made from boards, which is installed between the drawers. The material must be sanded well with sandpaper, all irregularities and burrs must be removed.
Rice. 1-1. Diagram of a bench with wooden flower boxes: 1 - arrangement of the bench and calculation of materials: A - logs (2x4 boards 17 1/2" long - 6 pcs., 2x4 boards 20 1/2" long - 4 pcs.); B - bottom of the box (3/4 plywood 20 1/2” x 20 1/2” - 2 pcs.); C - trims (1x4 boards 23 1/2” long - 16 pcs.); D - side slats (1x6 boards 25” long - 32 pcs.); E - trims for cladding the top (2x4 boards 45” long - 8 pcs.); F - seat frame (2x4 boards 63” long - 2 pcs., 2x4 boards 17 1/2” long - 2 pcs.); G - cross planks (1x2 boards 17 1/2” long - 5 pcs.); H - seat (1x4 boards 60” long - 5 pcs.); 2 - side lining; 3 - installation of the walls of the flower box; 4 - installation dimensions of the box walls; 5 - diagram of the bottom of the flower box
Wood structures have a certain disadvantage. The material itself requires constant care, and in this case the tree also comes into contact with the soil, and it is necessary to water the plants periodically. To make the bench more practical, wooden drawers can be replaced with concrete or stone cabinets. You can make concrete flower beds yourself or purchase them in a store.
For the seat, you should use treated boards or half a rounded log. The choice of raw materials depends on the style of the garden or patio design. It is recommended to secure the seat with metal corners, fixed to concrete using dowels, and to wood using through bolts or self-tapping screws.
Flowerpots with dwarf trees or ornamental bushes can be used as supports. The only, but very important requirement is that the container must be very durable. A hole is cut into the seat in the shape of a flowerpot in the place where the legs of benches are usually located. The size of the hole should be sufficient to create conditions for the plant to grow and care for it, however, it should not exceed the size of the container. Essentially, a board seat is placed on top of the planters and is held in place by gravity and the weight of the occupants.
Making garden benches from wood with your own hands in ethno style
Ethnic and rustic design styles are often used in interior design. Country house, cottage or dacha is a great place to create an eco-friendly and natural corner suitable for a family holiday. This design can be continued in the garden. To do this, it is enough to make a bench with a backrest with your own hands from logs (Fig. 1) and other natural materials.
Technology for making a country bench with your own hands from a log
To form a seat, just saw the tree trunk lengthwise. This can be done exactly in the middle (in the diameter zone) or by moving the saw closer to the edge (in the middle diameter zone). The back is made from a thinner tree trunk, or you can cut it closer to the edge. As a result, this element must be thinner and lighter than the seat part.
The legs can be made from leftover logs. They are connected to the seat part using metal pins. This is done like this:
The fasteners are driven in using a sledgehammer or hammer. Since wood is a fairly soft material in structure, hammer blows can damage its surface. To avoid this, you need to place an unnecessary board under the instrument.
Pins provide reliable connection all the details. To strengthen the fixation, you can install 2-3 pins.
Ethno style in garden benches with backrest: additional ideas
In ethno style, you can create a design with a non-standard design. A highlight could be, for example, making a bench using curved branches of different diameters. Before assembling the product, these branches are processed and sanded. In other words, the bark is removed from them, and then the surface is sanded with sandpaper. An unedged board should be used to assemble the seat. It is processed in a similar way.
Various versions of wooden benches created in ethno style
If you have a wicker fence at your summer cottage, you can use the same design option with some modifications. Short seat boards can be replaced with long ones by placing them lengthwise. The back is formed according to the principle of weaving from branches of medium thickness that bend well.
To make a wicker back, you do not need to have any special skills. You may not end up with a very neat result, but that's not necessary. The back should be simple and unobtrusive; rough weaving will only increase its decorative properties. The branches can be placed tightly or, conversely, you can leave gaps between them so that your bench can “breathe.”
Bench as an alternative to a bench for a do-it-yourself garden
Despite the absence of a back, this diagram (Fig. 3-1) for making a bench looks quite attractive due to the characteristics of the material from which it will be made. The design itself has a very simple structure, so anyone can handle the technology of its creation.
For the legs you will need a rounded beam. If you have logs with a small diameter, you can save on purchasing material and trim them yourself. The original appearance of the bench is obtained due to the fact that the bars are stacked one on top of the other and fixed. The result is beautiful supports for the product.
Calculation of parameters and required materials
The height of the bench can be adjusted to suit your needs. This indicator also depends on the diameter of the timber that will be used in the work. To calculate the amount of material, you need to determine how many bars will be stacked one on top of the other to form the required height of one of the legs.
Size chart:
In our case, we will need 5 bars, the length of which is 0.45 m. Calculation formula: 5x0.45 = 2.25 m. Based on this, for the construction of two supports we will need 4.5 m of timber (2.25x2). The seat will consist of five boards 1.2 m long. To make it, the following amount of material will be required: 5x1.2 = 6 m.
Initial stage: preparation of material
First, prepare the boards for the seat. The material is cut into the required number of boards of appropriate length and processed. Sharp corners should be rounded. To do this, use the capabilities of a router or grinder. If you do not have such a tool at hand, it will be enough to sand the edges with sandpaper.
Sanding with sandpaper is a long and labor-intensive process. To make your work easier, you can order the material to be sanded at a sawmill. After the boards are prepared, they need to be opened with a varnishing compound. It can be a completely transparent varnish or a composition with a tint (the choice of topcoat is up to you).
The bars intended to form the legs of the bench are placed tightly next to each other so that their edges form a straight line. Using a pencil and a square, mark the areas where the fasteners will be installed. The lines should be distributed along the entire length in increments of 7-10 cm.
Assembling a wooden structure: installing fasteners
Metal pins will be used as fasteners. An alternative replacement for them can be dowels made of wood. For installation of fasteners, holes are made, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the pins, and the depth is half the length of the pin.
To fix the parts, the fasteners will be driven into one of the bars, and the next element will be pushed through the hole on top of it.
The pin connection is also used in the process of creating, according to the drawings, a bench for a summer house with your own hands made of wood, the design of which is equipped with a backrest. A high-quality result can only be achieved if all the holes are located strictly above each other. As a result, all parts should form an even edge line when assembled.
After drawing the marking lines, you need to measure the distance from the edge, which should be the same. It is recommended to create a template for these purposes. It is enough to take a piece of strip, the width of which is 1.5 cm. It will serve as a kind of limiter. In other words, the holes will be separated from the edge by a distance equal to the width of this strip. Place the template exactly along the edge line and mark the intersections with the existing perpendicular markings.
The installation of the pins should be carried out in a checkerboard pattern, so you should not place the holes at each intersection of the lines, but every other one. Holes are also made on the other side of the bar. They should be staggered in relation to the holes that were made earlier. As a result, when connecting the legs to the seat, there will be a pair of pins for each bar.
The final stage of creating a bench made of wood
From a technological point of view, the previously described type of connection can be considered correct. However, its installation scheme is quite complicated for a person who does not have the necessary skills.
There is a simpler way to fasten the structure:
The seat boards are then nailed to these legs (from the top) or you can do a pin joint at this location.
When the assembly of the structure is completed, grind all parts. Their surface should be as smooth as possible. After this, the topcoat can be applied. For these purposes, use a varnish or wood paint intended for exterior use. It is better if the topcoat is translucent. This way you can leave the natural grain of the wood visible.
Drawings of benches for a summer residence with your own hands: photos and descriptions
Due to the presence of a back, the bench has a more convenient design than a bench. You can lean on it and relax your back. The capacity of such products may vary, but usually do-it-yourself drawings of garden benches made of wood are made for 2-4 people. This is done for the reason that a long structure requires the installation of additional support. As a result, the process of creating a product becomes more complicated. In fact, there is enough space for 2-4 people, so you can limit yourself to making the simplest structures.
DIY garden bench with backrest: design drawings for two persons
To make your own bench with a wooden back for this project (Fig. 4), you need to acquire the following tool:
- drill;
- a set of drills;
- hacksaw;
- plane.
It will take you no more than one day to complete all the work on creating the bench. The main material will be a square block made of pine. Its cross-section parameters are 6x6 cm. Twenty boards will also be required. Before cutting these boards, they should be planed until parts with dimensions of 5.8 x 5.8 cm are obtained.
Do-it-yourself bench for a summer cottage made of wood: step-by-step instructions
Assembling a bench from pine bars is carried out in the following sequence:
- Using dowels and adhesive, we assemble the legs for the U-shaped sides. Then, using the same fastening method, we fix slats (5.8x2 cm) and bars (3.5x3.5 cm) on them, mounted on the sides;
- to mark the locations of the counter holes for mounting dowels, use a marker;
- connect the sidewall and the longitudinally located rail. In order to mark the position of the sidewall, a 2 cm thick spacer should be used;
- secure all elements while drilling holes with clamps. This will allow you to achieve precise matching between the connected parts of the structure;
- Before performing final assembly, sand all elements well.
The last stage of construction is the application of a protective agent and finishing coating.
Do-it-yourself garden bench from scrap materials: using pallets
From available materials such as pallets, you can create an interesting bench design (Fig. 5). It can be installed not only in the garden, but also on the terrace and even inside country house. For work you will need three pallets.
Manufacturing stages:
- We divide one of the pallets in half. These halves will subsequently become the back of the product. The cutting must be done so that after assembly the parts of the back and seat form a geometrically correct shape, and all the edges coincide;
- We knock the other two pallets together using nails. We attach the back halves to them;
- a mattress of the appropriate size should be placed on top of the structure. You can use pillows from an old sofa, after replacing their upholstery, or sew new ones. You can also place several small pillows on the backrest.
DIY drawings of a garden bench with a wooden back: “Transformer” design
To make the structure, you will need to purchase pine lumber.
Materials for work:
Manufacturing technology of a transforming bench
By following the step-by-step instructions, you can create an interesting bench, the design of which can be transformed into a table with two benches (Fig. 6).
The main stages of making a bench:
- Having created the supporting parts according to the drawing, attach 3 boards to one of them. These boards will be used to form the seat. Do not forget to step back from the end part by 5 cm. You need to install 4 self-tapping screws in each board. Two of them will fix the seat to the support on one side, the remaining ones are intended to fix the seat to the other support (on the other side of the product);
- For each nodal assembly area, you will need to install 4 fasteners;
- After all the parts are prepared for work, the legs that support the back and seat should be sawed off at the end at an angle of about 75?. Using self-tapping screws designed for working with wood, connect the legs in pairs with the middle bars. The optimal length of fasteners is 5 cm;
Rice. 6. Scheme for creating a transforming bench: 1 - kinematic diagram of the transformer in the “table” position (1 - position limiters B (pipe 20?20 mm, length 35-49 mm), 2 - support rod); 2 - part C (pipe 40?20 - 2 pcs.); 3 - connecting jumpers (pipe 20?20 mm). D - for external bench, D1 - for internal; 4 - parts B, B1 (pipe 40?20 mm). B1 is mirrored in relation to B; 5 - bench leg (4 pcs.), where: A - steel pipe 40?20 mm, 1 - jumpers (pipe 20?20 mm - 4 pcs.), 2 - support rod
- Next the back is done. During the transformation process, it turns into a tabletop. Find the longitudinal edge of the backing board. Its length is 32 cm. Three boards 150 cm long need to be attached here. In this case, the distance from the end will already be 8 cm;
- the boards are mounted so that a gap of 1 cm is formed between adjacent elements;
- in the support board you need to make 3 holes, the diameter of which is 0.8 cm. It is better to perform this procedure in advance. These holes will be used to fix the back of the bench in a horizontal position.
The final stage of construction of a transforming bench
To create the rotation axes, make 2 holes in the top of the back leg. The backrest will be fixed to the base of the product using a pair of M8 bolts.
One of the holes made will be axial, the second will be normal. To simplify the operation of the bench, equip the bolt in the area of the axial hole with a nut with 6 edges; for the second, a wing nut is suitable. Her antennae should be bent back. Due to this simple manipulation, the fastener can be turned/wrapped without the use of additional tools, but only by hand force.
Upon completion of all work, you need to check the design for functionality. Place the backrest in an inclined position and secure it with bolts. Remove the fastening element from the hole and move the backrest to a horizontal position. To fix it, place the bolt in its original place and secure with a nut. The design is completely ready for operational use.
When creating benches, you can experiment. The main thing is that the product is durable and practical.
Garden benches are the most popular small architectural forms. They can be made in any size and design, but in addition to their direct purpose, benches also perform a decorative function. You can make a garden bench for yourself using our drawings and photographs.
How to make a bench from waste materials
The easiest way is to make a bench out of wood. This is a traditional material for garden furniture, affordable and easy to process. But even in this case, you can save money by choosing as the main material the one that literally lies under your feet.
The first option is trees, poles and stumps from your own site or a nearby forest plantation, in which sanitary felling is carried out.
Having carefully cut off a couple of medium-sized stumps, they can be placed on the base of the bench. Use poles to make a bottom crossbar for structural rigidity. And for sitting, loosen part of the trunk on the circular. If there is no equipment for longitudinal sawing, then you can take an unedged board 75 mm thick.
In this example, the bench is already more comfortable - in addition to the seat, it also has a backrest. The model is a little more complicated, since you will have to find a higher part of the trunk and process it in two steps - first make a profile cut with a “ledge”, and then split the workpiece into two halves.
And to assemble the next bench, you will need:
- two short logs of the same diameter for the base;
- two medium-thick poles for back support;
- one long log, sawn into two halves (for the seat and back).
In short logs, you need to choose a groove so that the long log fits into it. Then the seat is secured in the grooves, and each pole is fixed at two points - to the base and to the seat. For fastening, it is better to choose powerful self-tapping wood bolts.
Another budget material for a country bench - pallets ( wooden pallets). But not just any pallet is suitable for making garden furniture. Ideally, you need a good edged board, a so-called Euro pallet, which can be identified by the EUR marking.
In principle, the standard width of a Euro pallet is somewhat large for a seat - 80 cm. You can shorten it to 67 cm by cutting it along the contour of the central bar. But you don’t have to do this. Here are some examples simple designs with different base and seat options:
1. A bench made of four pallets uncut to width. Three serve as the base, and the fourth serves as the back. You will have to remove some of the support bars from the pallet for the backrest, and ensure the rigidity of the bench using wooden slats.
2. In this case, four pallets are also used, but already trimmed. Three ropes woven with a braid are used to secure the backrest, and wallpaper nails are used for decoration.
3. This bench is made from just two pallets. One is whole, and the second is cut and, as it were, bent at an angle - it serves as both a seat and a backrest. The design is good for its mobility - there are small wheels as legs.
Perhaps the only inconvenience of using Euro pallets as a source material is standard sizes 80x120 cm. They to some extent limit the possibilities for creativity. The use of ordinary lumber (boards, beams and beams) allows you to make a garden bench to suit every taste.
Board and block
It’s worth saying right away that any bench drawing can be adjusted for specific conditions. The only limitation is that the thickness of the board and the cross-section of the beam are sufficient to provide load-bearing properties.
Below is a drawing of a bench, which is made of only three “paired” elements:
- seat and back;
- a short support (back leg) made of a trapezoid-shaped board;
- long support (front leg).
1- front leg; 2 - rear leg; 3 - seat; 4 - back; 5 - front view; 6 - side view
The result is a stable structure with a triangle at the base and two transverse stiffeners.
This is what this bench looks like in real life.
This drawing shows the bench in a more complex design. To make it you need a board 40x140 mm (supports, back and seat), a block 40x70 mm ( short ligaments supports) and a 20 mm board (long bundle between the sidewalls).
And this is the same design, but using a board and a block 75 mm thick. Small differences in the base and attachment of the ligaments are not fundamental.
In principle, there is only one condition - the boards in the seat are fastened with a small gap, sufficient to compensate for the expansion of the wood at high humidity.
Large forms
Wooden benches in a “large format” look original.
For example, here is a “thick” unedged board across the entire width of the log. Covered with transparent varnish, it conveys the natural beauty of wood with all its color transitions.
From rounded logs you can build not only a cottage or a bathhouse, but also a garden bench like this.
And from timber you can assemble an original chair that can serve not only under a canopy, but also in the open air - removable cushions can be easily brought into the house in bad weather.
Stone and wood
Stone, like wood, also fits organically into the landscape of a suburban area. Of course, a smooth slab is practically never found in nature, but you can use sawn stone.
The next option is easier to implement - the bench is made of small blocks of wild stone. And since such a surface is not only cold, but also uneven, you can’t do without pillows.
Pillows add comfort, but you have to constantly bring them in and out. That is why wood is used for seats on garden benches, regardless of the base material. This is how this original bench uses a gabion (a mesh cage filled with stone, crushed stone or pebbles) at the base.
Concrete is no less popular for making the base of a bench. But it’s difficult to make a form with a complex contour for pouring at once, but small formwork is simple. And even a “cold seam” when poured in two steps will not affect the strength of the structure (such as in this photo).
Another option artificial stone— hollow building concrete blocks. It is enough to fasten them together with good masonry glue, and lay a beam in the cavity, and the bench is ready.
Metal and wood
The simplest benches on a metal frame use a square profile.
Can be welded from profile pipe two sidewalls in the shape of the letter “H”, and a solid wooden seat will also serve as a “stiffening rib”.
The following example also uses solid wood as a stiffening element, but the supports are made in the form of a square with a cross member for attaching the seat.
And this is the simplest self-supporting structure made of a square profile, the strength and rigidity of the welded base is sufficient for the seat to be made from a wooden block.
The following photo shows a factory-made bench.
But if you have a pipe bender in your home workshop (and it’s easy to make one yourself), then bending two types of arches and a “wave” from a round pipe is easy. Then the metal blanks must be welded, plastic plugs must be placed on the legs (sold for any profile and pipe size) and the bars must be secured to the “wave”.
→ Design
Angular parameters of seating furniture
The comfort of a seat largely depends on the angular parameters: backrest tilt, seat inclination, angle between the seat and backrest.
The tilt of the backrest corresponds to the angle of deflection of the body back, at which the position of the zero moment of gravity of the body is observed, and is optimally 13-15°.
The maximum backrest tilt of low and medium height chairs and sofas while maintaining the natural position of the torso and head is determined by an angle of 24°. Seats with a backrest angle of more than 24° require a high backrest with head support - a headrest.
The tilt of the upper part of the high curved backrest with headrest is within 4-15°. For mental work, a backrest tilt of 8-15° is recommended; when eating - 0-14°; when receiving guests, entertainment events - 13-24°; during rest related to reading or watching TV shows - 24-45°; during inactive rest - 45-70°.
The seat inclination of chairs and work chairs is recommended to be 3-5°; chairs for relaxation, sofas with a backrest of medium height - 4-15°, a high backrest and headrest - 4-35°.
The angle between the seat and back for chairs and work chairs should be 95-110°; lounge chairs and sofas with a straight back of low and medium height - 90-113°, with a profiled back of medium height - 98-120°, with a high back - 98-125°.
The relationship between individual linear and angular parameters of seating furniture for various purposes shown in Fig. 2.77.
The functional dimensions of seating furniture are regulated by State standards: chairs, work chairs - GOST 13025.2-85, GOST 26800.2-86, GOST 26800.3-86; chairs for relaxation, sofas - GOST 13025.9-81.
Increasing the comfort of seating furniture requires increasing the area of body support while ensuring the natural position of the spine. The most favorable position is a straightened position, in which the spine and pelvis maintain the same natural position as in a standing position. This is achieved by profiling the surfaces of the seat and backrest in accordance with the shape of the human body.
Rice. 2.77. Determination of linear and angular parameters of typical functional diagrams seating furniture products (see Fig. 2.74, 2.75)
Chairs with a profiled back are comfortable - a back with a curved profile corresponding to the line of the spine, proposed by B. Akerblom (Fig. 2.78). G. Lipert suggests a high back with less pronounced lumbar and thoracic support. E. Grandjean and N. Schobert, when profiling the back in the lower part, proposed support for the sacral bone and the upper edge of the pelvis. The lower supporting surface of the back in this case should be sharply curved backwards or have free space for the sacrum and buttocks protruding from behind.
B. Akerblom found that a horizontal seat is incompatible with the shape of the thigh, which expands from the knee to the hip joint. This creates excess pressure in the pelvic area.
Rice. 2.78. Seat profile:
1 - profile according to B. Akerblom (Sweden); 2 - profile according to G. Lippert (Germany); 3 - profile according to A. Marcoli (Italy); 4 - profile according to E. Grandjean (Switzerland)
Rice. 2.79. Diagram of the profile of a chair (a) and an armchair (b) (according to B. Akerblom, 1948)
Rice. 2.80. Functional dimensions of seating furniture:
a - sofas and lounge chairs; b - chairs; in - work chairs
Schemes of chair and armchair profiles proposed by B. Akerblom are shown in Fig. 2.79. The accepted functional dimensions of seating furniture are shown in Fig. 2.80.
