Hobby Bench

buildsomething added on 1/11/2016

This great-looking bench provides the perfect place to pursue a variety of hobbies. It offers a large bench top with built-in trays for small utensils, plus shelves up above to store even more. Underneath, an organizer holds six 16-quart storage bins to organize all of your hobby supplies.

Directions

Follow the steps below to complete this project.

Print Directions

Make Legs and Short Stretchers

Start by cutting four Legs to length from 4x4 boards. Then cut four Short Stretchers from 2x4 boards, as shown in the cutting diagram. Next, with your pocket hole jig set up for 1 1/2" material, drill pocket holes in the Short Stretchers where shown.

Assemble the Ends

Assemble the bench ends by attaching the Short Stretchers to the Legs using 2 1/2" pocket hole screws, as shown.

Make the Long Stretchers

Cut five Long Stretchers to length from 2x4 boards, as shown in the cutting diagram. With your pocket hole jig set up for 1 1/2" material, drill pocket holes in three of pieces to create three Upper Long Stretchers. Then, create two Lower Long Stretchers by drilling those pocket holes where shown.

Attach the Long Stretchers

Now you can attach the Upper Long Stretchers and Lower Long Stretchers to the one of the end assemblies using 2 1/2" pocket hole screws. Note that the end assembly should be positioned so that the Short Stretchers are positioned toward the inside. Also, pay attention to the positions of the Stretchers. The ones at the rear are flush with the outer face of the Legs. The front Upper Long Stretcher is flush with the inside face of the legs. Finally, the other two Long Stretchers aren’t centered. They’re both slightly closer to the back of the bench base. That way, the organizer you’ll add later can rest on the Stretchers. Once you’ve attached one end assembly, attach the other one.

Make the Lower Bench Top

Now you can create the bench top. It’s made of two layers of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). First, cut one Lower Bench Top to size from 3/4" MDF, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then lay out and cut the recess along the front edge using a jigsaw.

Make the Upper Bench Top

Cut one Upper Bench Top to size from 3/4" MDF, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then lay out and cut the recess along the front edge using a jigsaw. Next, lay out and create the tray openings. Start by drilling a hole at each corner, then cutting along the lines with a jigsaw.

Assemble the Top

Now you can join the Upper Bench Top to the Lower Bench Top. Spread wood glue on the underside of the Upper Bench Top, and then lay the Lower Bench Top in position. Clamp the pieces together, and then drill pilot holes and drive 1 1/4" flathead screws through the Lower Bench Top and into the Upper Bench Top. You don’t need to worry about exact screw placement, except to avoid driving screws into the recessed tray areas. Sand the edges of the top assembly as needed to make sure the edges are all flush on both pieces.

Attach the Top

Now you can attach the top assembly to the bench base using 1 1/2" pocket hole screws. Make sure the top assembly is flush with the bench Legs at the back, and that the top assembly overhangs equally on each end.

Make the Upper Shelves

Cut three Shelves to size from 3/4" MDF, as shown in the cutting diagram. Cut three Shelf Dividers while you’re at it. Then, with your pocket hole jig set up for 3/4" material, drill pocket holes in the Shelves, as shown.

Make the Shelf Uprights

Cut two Shelf Uprights to size from ¾” MDF, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then drill pocket holes where shown with your pocket hole jig set up for 3/4" material. Note that you need to create a “matched pair” of uprights. You’ll drill pocket holes along the back edge of each one on the inside face. Then you need to drill one pocket hole in the outside face of each upright, as shown.

Make the Shelf Back

Cut a Shelf Back to size from 3/4" MDF, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then drill pocket holes where shown. After that, you need to drill a row of holes through the Shelf Back, as shown. These will be used for screws that attach the Shelf Dividers.

Start Shelf Assembly

Begin assembling the shelf unit by attaching one Shelf to the Shelf Uprights and the Shelf Back, as shown. Then, spread glue along one long edge of a Shelf Upright. Position the Shelf Divider so it’s centered on the length of the Shelf, and then drive 1 1/4" pocket hole screws through the Shelf Back and into the Divider. Even though the screws aren’t going into pocket holes, the self-tapping tips make then great for this application.

Complete the Shelf Assembly

Now you can spread glue on the other edge of the Divider you just attached, and then position and attach the second Shelf. Glue and screw the next Divider in place, and then repeat the processes to add the final Shelf and Divider.

Attach the Shelf Unit

With the shelf unit complete, you can attach it to the Bench. After checking the fit, spread glue on the edge of the lowest Shelf Divider, and then attach the shelf unit using 1 1/4" pocket hole screws.

Make an Organizer Top, Bottom, Back

The organizer that goes under the bench comes next. Start by cutting one Organizer Back, one Organizer Top, and one Organizer Bottom to size from 3/4" MDF, as shown in the cutting diagram. With your pocket hole jig set up for 3/4" material, drill pocket holes in the Organizer Top and Bottom as shown.

Make Organizer Sides and a Divider

Cut one Left Organizer Side, one Organizer Divider, and one Right Organizer Side to size from 3/4" MDF. Then you need to drill shelf pin holes in these parts. Before you do this, mark the bottom edge of each piece so you get all of the holes positioned correctly. Note that the Divider needs holes in both faces. The best way to drill these holes is using a shelf pin jig. That way, you’ll have aligned, evenly holes to ensure level, wobble-free shelves. We used a shelf pin jig made by Kreg. After you drill the shelf pin holes, drill pocket holes, as shown, with your pocket hole jig set up for 3/4" material.

Assemble the Organizer

Now you can assemble the organizer by attaching the Organizer Sides and Divider to the Organizer Back, Top, and Bottom. Make sure that the Divider and Sides are oriented correctly. Then cut four Organizer Shelves to size from 3/4" MDF, as shown in the cutting diagram.

Install the Organizer

Now you can slip the organizer assembly into the bench. Drill a pair of pilot holes along the front edge of the Organizer Top, and a pair in the Organizer Bottom. Then attach the organizer assembly to the Long Stretchers using four 1 1/4" wood screws. Then you can paint or finish the bench. We used paint on the base and outer portions of the shelf unit and organizer, then coated the bench top and remaining surfaces with a penetrating oil finish.

Parts/Cut List:

(4) Leg, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 35"
(4) Short Stretcher, 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 19"
(3) Upper Long Stretcher, 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 38"
(2) Lower Long Stretcher, 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 38"
(1) Lower Bench Top, 3/4" MDF x 28 1/2" x 48"
(1) Upper Bench Top, 3/4" MDF x 28 1/2" x 48"
(3) Shelf, 3/4" MDF x 8" x 34 1/2"
(1) Left Shelf Upright, 3/4" MDF x 8" x 18"
(1) Right Shelf Upright, 3/4" MDF x 8" x 18"
(1) Shelf Back, 3/4" MDF x 18" x 36"
(3) Divider, 3/4" MDF x 8" x 5 1/4"
(1) Organizer Top, 3/4" MDF x 12" x 38"
(1) Organizer Bottom, 3/4" MDF x 12" x 38"
(1) Organizer Left Side, 3/4" MDF x 12" x 24"
(1) Organizer Divider, 3/4" MDF x 12" x 24"
(1) Organizer Right Side, 3/4" MDF x 12" x 24"
(1) Organizer Back, 3/4" MDF x 25 1/2" x 38"
(1) Organizer Shelf, 3/4" MDF x 12" x 17 5/8"

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Reviews:

March 10, 2016

will build this plan soon - may want to consider who will use bench....for children it could be made shorter and for adults it could easily be raised a few inches to accommodate … see full review

- iowaal
January 15, 2016

Very beautiful - Very beautiful

- 4150000000000