Flip Top Storage Bench

Submitted by lphair on Mon, 10/29/2012 - 15:11

My first build! Very simple and straightforward. I chose to not have the bench raised off the ground; however, the legs were cut at the same length as the plans, so my shoe storage is a little taller than the plans, giving me more room for boots.

If I was to do it again, I would not use 1x3's for the lower cross boards, instead I would use 1x4's to match the upper cross boards so there's some symmetry, since it just sits on the floor rather than being raised up.

The build itself took me about 3 hours, which seems like a lot for something this simple, but again, it was my first build, first time using the Kreg Jig (love it!!), and it took me a while to deal with my less-than-perfect boards.

The hardest (and longest) part of this project was the painting! I have alway just used wood stain when I have refinished furniture, but I decided to go with white Rustoleum primer followed with 2 coats of Rustoleum paint, and finished off with a coat of Rustoleum lacquer. The paint was very thick and even with a $20 paint brush it did not go on evenly--it was a huge source of irritation! I also decided to use decorative hinges on the exterior rather than slim hinges on the inside.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-oleum Primer (white)
Rust-oleum latex paint (flat white)
Rust-oleum lacquer (clear gloss)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

m.livingston (not verified)

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 12:16

This looks awesome! I am about to start building this as my first project and I bought a Kreg Jig too! Hope mine turns out as good as yours! Thanks for sharing your photos!

lphair

Mon, 01/21/2013 - 19:50

Thanks! I have no doubt yours will turn out amazing--it's funny how getting used to a tool (like the Kreg Jig) can instill confidence! I've since built a frame (easy) and 2 farmhouse tables and am working on a triple pedestal farmhouse table...I'm so glad I started with this bench because I learned a LOT from it. Good luck on your project(s)!

Jake

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 17:56

Lots of posts recently with first projects. You learn very quickly that it isn't the length of time that it takes you to build the box but the care you put into accurate measurements and cutting and checking for square constantly. I still take a long time to build even the most simple project. Then you find that it is the finishing that really takes a long time. Just take your time and you will end up with great results. By the way I add a tiny bit of water to latex paint to help eliminate brush strokes and use a foam brush for the final coat. Also I use spray paint for small projects.

lphair

Mon, 01/21/2013 - 19:46

Jake--thanks for the tips, I appreciate it! I've discovered I LOVE building, but it's quite the learning process, so I'm thankful for any feedback I can get :)