How to join timber for a bench seat?

[crisis]

I made this bench seat and am looking for advice on the best way to join the pieces of hardwood that make up the top. They are offcuts from the tabletops I cut down to make my bench tops and the cut out for the hotplate. There are two 1700mm x 275mm planks and then the back row are various lengths all 100mm wide. Would  pocket holes and glue work? Looking for a simple but effective solution.

Thanks

[Jason]

Thanks for your question @crisis.

Our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts will be back on the site on Boxing Day. Hopefully other community members will be able to assist in the meantime.

Jason

[AlanM52]

Hi @crisis,

One method is a Biscuit Joiner.

I have the one above which is good value for the $$$.

However, in your case for what is likely a one off job I suggest dowel pins.

  

Looks like this and I was making Greyhound drinking stands.

I was gifted the ALDI Workzone Dowelling kit which includes a drill jig for consistent edge holes.

I am pretty sure Bunnings have one but can't find will  have another look tomorrow.

Cheers

[JacobZ]

Hi @crisis,

You're looking at doing a benchtop glue-up. If you jump on YouTube and search for benchtop glue-ups, there will be a heap you can check out. There isn't just one method, but they are all pretty similar in that they use glue and a mechanical fastener of some kind to ensure things stay aligned.

There are a few different methods, such as the dowels or biscuits @AlanM52 mentioned. You could also use pocket hole screws on the underside of the benchtop if you already have a pocket hole jig.

Ideally, before joining, you would square up the edges of the timber so they meet cleanly without any gaps. This can be done with a planer or block plane. The more square you can get the outside edges of the boards, the less gap, and the better the connection will be.

Once prepared, you'd predrill your pocket holes, prepare holes for dowels or use a biscuit joiner to create holes for biscuits. You'd then dry fit things to check that they line up, before applying a liberal amount of wood glue along each join, then clamping the boards together with several large clamps.

If you are using pocket hole screws, you would clamp everything, then drive the screws in place.

You'd then clean up any glue that squeezes out and leave everything clamped overnight. Once cured, remove the clamps and install it.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob