[ZTMAN]

In the process of building a mud room bench like in the attached photo. Have the tongue and groove up and ready to install the bench, but can not find a suitable off the shelf thickness. The glued together pre-made material at the big box store is only 3/4 inch.

The bench will span about 67 inches, 16 inches wide. I will put support legs on the sides and in the middle.

What material is typically used for the bench???

 

[ZZZZZ]

I built a roughly similar bench a couple of years ago. Can't find the photos right now.

Just double up some 3/4" plywood with wood glue. I put sanded birch plywood on top and stained it. I also attached a 2x2 at the front and back edges and across the middle to stiffen it all up. And there's a 1x3 or 1x4 "fascia" to cover up the front edge.

Hope this helps.
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[ZTMAN]

Thanks Z. That is what I suspected, but my wife does not necessarily want a face board, but I told her we may have to go that way.

 

[Marson]

Maple butcher block would be another idea.

 

[ront02769]

It is a mud room. No worries with a 33” span for that top. Or as suggested double up the top and tack a front piece on it.

 

[Mystriss]

Look around for a wood working lumber supply store and you'll be able to find thicker wood - at a price, but if that's what your wifey wants, there it is.

You could also look for a nearby millwork, they might sell specialty cuts to the public - call them first though, some of them only sell to businesses, but they might be able to give you the number of local companies they're selling thicker cuts/slabs to.

IDK if your high schools still have a woodshop class, but if they do the teacher might know where to get thicker materials.

 

[ZTMAN]

I got the primed tongue and grove from our local lumber yard. No knots like the big box stores.

They said they could make a piece of bench lumber by gluing two pieces together. I figured I could do that myself with the plywood.

At this point I think it is either the birch plywood, or the butcher block. Saw an unfinished bb counter top at HD the other day and it looked a little thick and a little pricey for a 6' section. Told my wife if I used that I would not need to install floor supports. Guess what, she wants the floor supports for the look.

Headed to the store tomorrow to see what I can come up with.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

 

[ZZZZZ]

There is a store (or two) like this in or near every big city. https://www.woodworkerssource.com

You can even order at the web site and have it delivered.

Plenty of thick wood of all types for sale, "8/4" (about 1 13/16" actual is widely available but be prepared for sticker shock.

https://www.woodworkerssource.com/lumber/hard-white-maple.html

And to get 16" width, you'll probably have to glue up two pieces.
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[SeniorSitizen]

In the process of building a mud room bench like in the attached photo. Have the tongue and groove up and ready to install the bench, but can not find a suitable off the shelf thickness. The glued together pre-made material at the big box store is only 3/4 inch.

The bench will span about 67 inches, 16 inches wide. I will put support legs on the sides and in the middle.

What material is typically used for the bench???

Nice project and I do know that if we would ever build another house the utility room would be large enough to accommodate one of those mud room benches with the storage above just about like that. We'll be expecting a pic of yours when completed.:biggrin2:
Our son with the saw mill could have you fixed up with the lumber for the seat in a heart beat if he was your neighbor and it would likely be free.

 

[Mystriss]

Butcher block countertop could be 1 to 1 1/4 thick at the box stores - up here that kind of thing is special order with a freight fee, but in the lower 48 its probs less crazy expensive.

If you get a real wood one, you can bullnose the front edge of the seat and it'd look great stained up

If you're just painting, then stacked ply with a nose is cheaper, just fill the seams with paintable wood filler and you shouldn't even notice the nose board.

 

[Nealtw]

Sometimes you can find all you need from one beat up old pew.

 

[carpdad]

Why is it that it's easy to get up from pews?:smile:
The photo looks like low seat. Like the tall toilet, 17" height is better.

 

[ZTMAN]

Sometimes you can find all you need from one beat up old pew.

I have considered that Neil. Used to see them all the time on CL, but none close by at the moment.

 

[Nealtw]

I have considered that Neil. Used to see them all the time on CL, but none close by at the moment.

They get sold in groups often but sometimes the extras end up at used building material stores. Sometimes just the pieces of the one that got broke. They usually have wonderful old wood. :wink2:

 

[ZTMAN]

Nice project and I do know that if we would ever build another house the utility room would be large enough to accommodate one of those mud room benches with the storage above just about like that. We'll be expecting a pic of yours when completed.:biggrin2:
Our son with the saw mill could have you fixed up with the lumber for the seat in a heart beat if he was your neighbor and it would likely be free.

I wish there was a mill close by. I have a few nice dead walnut and ash trees at our camp that are at least 16 inches. I think a piece of stained walnut would make a nice bench.

Will definitely post pics

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Why is it that it's easy to get up from pews?:smile:
The photo looks like low seat. Like the tall toilet, 17" height is better.

Because it was built in North America.:vs_laugh:

 

[huesmann]

If the wife doesn't want a fascia, you can kinda cheat and double up your boards, e.g. if you can find 1" board but need 2" board, you can double up and slightly recess the bottom board (cut an inch or two off the edge) so that its front edge can't be easily seen.

 

[ZTMAN]

Went shopping. Looked at butcher block, stair treads and birch plywood. Looks like the birch with a face is the best option.

 

[Nealtw]

Hide some 2x2 under there.

 

[udraft]

Thanks Z. That is what I suspected, but my wife does not necessarily want a face board, but I told her we may have to go that way.

If it's well fit and painted she won't know it's there. Harder to work with but comes out looking like a solid board is veneer.
I get this type comment all the time, have to evaluate what she's actually concerned about.