DIY Providence Bench (Plans by Ana White)

Hooray! I recently finished building a dining room bench.  For this project, I used the Providence Bench plans by Ana White.   I started this project in May, and two months later it is finally complete!  In this post I’ll share details on how I built the Providence Bench. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Tools and Supplies

The following items are some of the tools and supplies I gathered to build the Providence bench.  Check out Ana White’s plan for a more detailed listing.

• Kreg Jig (for joining boards)
• Kreg Right Angle Clamps
• Japanese Hand saw and Guide
• Nobex Champion Miter Saw
• Rockwell JawHorse
• Charles Neil Pre-Color Conditioner – To prevent blotching
• ECOS Paint Woodshield Stain (Pine Needles) – There is seriously  no smell with this stuff.
• ECOS Paint WoodShield Varnish (Satin) – There is a tiny odor when you first open the can, but it’s nothing compared to your traditional varnishes.

Building the Providence Bench

Step 1:  Cut the boards to the appropriate length.

I made all the straight cuts with my Japanese handsaw, and I used my Nobex Champion Miter Saw to create the angle cuts.

Step 2:  Drill pocket holes.

Next up, I used my Kreg Jig and created a ton of pocket holes.

Step 3:  Assemble the legs.

I followed Ana’s plans and assembled the bench legs.

Step 4:  Add the stretchers.

I connected the two legs with the stretchers.

Step 5:  Add the cross supports

Next up, I added the bench’s cross supports.  At this point I realized I cut the board for the cross support a few millimeters short.  This resulted in a tiny gap, but it should only be noticeable if you are looking for a flaw.

Step 6:  Add the bench top

I used by Kreg Jig to join 4 – 2×4 boards together creating the bench’s top.  Unfortunately, the 2×4 boards I selected were pretty warped.  Once I screwed the bench top to the bottom, all four legs of the bench’s bottom where no longer touching the ground at once.  In fact, I had a very noticeable gap!

To remedy the situation, I used Nobex Champion Miter Saw to cut a tiny slice of wood.  I glued and nailed the slice to the bottom of one of the legs and the bench no longer wobbled.

Finishing the Providence Bench

With the bench assembled, it was time to apply the finish!

Step 1:  Apply pre-stain conditioner

Before applying the stain, I coated the top of the bench with Charles Neil Pre-Color Conditioner to prevent blotching.

Step 2:  Apply stain

Next up, I added one coat of ECOS Paint Woodshield Stain in Pine Needles.  I am really pleased with the results of Woodshield.   This is my third project using the stain. (Check out my homemade growth chart and vintage step stool to see the stain in different colors.)

 

Step 3:  Prime and paint the bench base

I love two toned furniture and I wanted the look for this bench.  I used Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Primer and White Semi-Gloss paint to paint the base of the bench.

If I had to do this all over again, I would paint the base and stain the top before attaching the two together.  It is a lesson learned.

Step 4:  Seal the bench

In the final step, I applied a few layers of ECOS Paint WoodShield Satin Varnish.

The Finished Providence Bench

I am really happy with how the bench turned out!  It is pretty sturdy and makes for a nice addition to the dining room!