This year we decided to remodel our back yard. At one end is a circular gravel area with a new fire pit at the center. We needed extra seating and somewhere along the line decided to build a curved garden bench so more people could sit around the fire pit.
The shape of the bench was dictated by the radius of the gravel area in the landscape plan. We selected an internal radius of 83 in with eight 1.5 inch wide rails spaced an inch apart. This gives an outer radius of 92 in and a bench “width” of 19 inches. We wanted the bench to extend for 90 degrees to fit in with the design and accommodate at least 5 people.
The shape of the bench was dictated by the radius of the gravel area in the landscape plan. We selected an internal radius of 83 in with eight 1.5 inch wide rails spaced an inch apart. This gives an outer radius of 92 in and a bench “width” of 19 inches. We wanted the bench to extend for 90 degrees to fit in with the design and accommodate at least 5 people.
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Signing UpStep 1: Design
The bench is built by gluing thin strips of ¼ in thick cedar into rails. The thickness was selected to make sure we could bend the strips and a local cedar product supplier cut and milled the lumber to size.
For this type of glue up you need to build a form so that the pieces can be clamped together while the glue sets.
To get all the dimensions correct and to design the form I decided to model the entire bench and the form using 3D modeling software.
The following picture shows the dimensions sketch which calculates the position of each rail from the internal radius, rail width and spacing. The second screen shot shows the 3D model created from the sketch including the posts and support beams.
Another advantage of creating a 3D model was to create an exact drawing for the location of the posts which helped the landscape contractor to install them very precisely - see the third screen shot.
For this type of glue up you need to build a form so that the pieces can be clamped together while the glue sets.
To get all the dimensions correct and to design the form I decided to model the entire bench and the form using 3D modeling software.
The following picture shows the dimensions sketch which calculates the position of each rail from the internal radius, rail width and spacing. The second screen shot shows the 3D model created from the sketch including the posts and support beams.
Another advantage of creating a 3D model was to create an exact drawing for the location of the posts which helped the landscape contractor to install them very precisely - see the third screen shot.
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thanks!
john
Thank you. We chose cedar because of its resistance in outdoor applications. We also used Titebond III waterproof adhesive for the same reason. That said the joints between the laminations are the weakest area. Iâm planning to apply sealer twice a year â once in the fall and once in the spring. Since we live in the Pacific NW Iâm also making a close fitting cover for the rainy season.
Note: I live on the Oregon coast. It's astonishing we haven't developed as many words for rain as the Inuit supposedly have for snow.