Storage Bench

Dimensions

Cut list

Tools you'll need

• ✓

  Measuring tape (5m or more)

  Used for measuring each part.

• ✓

  Pencil and carpenter's square

  For marking lines and confirming right angles.

• ✓

  Handsaw

  Home center cutting service recommended.

• ✓

  Electric screwdriver

  Using an impact driver increases work efficiency.

• ✓

  Sandpaper

  Prepare two types: #120 and #240.

• ✓

  Level

  Essential for checking horizontal alignment during assembly.

• ✓

  Clamps (2 or more)

  Used for temporary fixing during joining.

• ✓

  Brush and paint tray

  Used for oil and varnish finish.

Materials

Build steps

1. 1

   Final check of parts and tools

   ≈ 15 min

   2 pieces of 2x6 lumber top board (38×140×1200mm), 4 pieces of 2x4 lumber legs (38×89×412mm), 2 pieces of 2x4 lumber apron boards (38×89×1200mm), 2 pieces of SPF lumber 1x8 bottom boards (19×184×1124mm), 2 pieces of SPF lumber 1x8 lid boards (19×184×1200mm), 2 hinges 50mm, 40 coarse-thread screws 65mm. Tools include electric screwdriver, handsaw, measuring tape, carpenter's square, #120/#240 sandpaper, level, F-type clamps, brush, sharp-angled saw or trimmer (for hinge recessing).

   Measure

   W 1200 mm

   MeasureSTEP 1 / 20

   Tip

   • Hinges are natural color flat type 50mm x 2 pcs, about 300 yen at home center.
   • Be aware of the thickness difference between 1x8 lumber (19mm thick) and 2x4 lumber (38mm thick); important when selecting screw lengths.

   Watch out

   • Top boards also serve as the lid, so the 2x6 top board functions as both seat surface and lid, unlike a typical top board.
   • Do not forget to buy hinges beforehand, as the lid cannot open or close without them.
2. 2

   Prepare workspace and check lumber

   ≈ 10 min

   Set up a flat area of 1500mm×1500mm and lay a blue sheet. SPF lumber 1x8 bottom and lid boards (19mm thick) warp easily, so visually check each piece’s warp and select the use surface accordingly.

   Inspect

   No wobble ✓

   InspectSTEP 2 / 20

   Tip

   • SPF lumber 1x8 tends to warp. Use the convex side down to avoid interference during lid opening and closing.

   Watch out

   • Using warped bottom boards will cause stored items to tilt. Select boards with warping within 1mm.
3. 3

   Mark all parts

   ≈ 15 min

   Draw cut lines on top board, legs, apron boards, bottom and lid boards. For lids, lay two boards side by side to form 1200mm length and mark hinge mounting positions (75mm inside from lid outer edge) accordingly.

   Mark a line

   Use a try square

   MarkSTEP 3 / 20

   Tip

   • Standard hinge mounting position is 75-100mm from lid edge. Mounting too far outside causes stress during opening and closing.

   Watch out

   • Bottom board length of 1124mm matches leg spacing (1200 - 38×2 =1124). Cutting at 1200mm will not fit.
4. 4

   Cut all parts

   ≈ 35 min

   Cut 2 top boards to 1200mm, 4 legs to 412mm, 2 apron boards to 1200mm, 2 bottom boards to 1124mm, and 2 lid boards to 1200mm. Efficient to request home center cut service all at once. When cutting yourself, bundle pieces with the same dimensions.

   Cut

   Use the in-store cut service

   CutSTEP 4 / 20

   Tip

   • The difference between bottom board (1124mm) and apron (1200mm) is 76mm. Be careful not to cut same length by mistake.
   • 1x8 lumber cuts faster due to thinner thickness (19mm) compared to 38mm thick 2x4 lumber.

   Watch out

   • Cutting thickness differs for 2x4 and 1x8 lumber (38mm vs 19mm). Saw blade positioning should vary accordingly.
   • Cutting lid boards to 1124mm by mistake mismatches bench length; re-cut is unnecessary if cut to full 1200mm.
5. 5

   Sanding all parts (#120 → #240)

   ≈ 35 min

   Sand all parts sequentially with #120 and then #240 sandpaper. Sand lid boards especially carefully as they are the seating surface. Interior surfaces of lid boards (facing storage) may stop at #120. Round edges lightly to avoid injuries in indoor furniture for children.

   Sand

   #120

   SandSTEP 5 / 20

   Tip

   • Edges where lids open risk finger pinching; round edges slightly more for safety.

   Watch out

   • If inner bottom board surface is not sanded, wood dust will cling to stored items; at minimum sand once lightly with #120.
6. 6

   Prepare pilot holes

   ≈ 20 min

   Drill pilot holes 2.5-3mm diameter for leg-to-apron screws (8 holes), bottom-to-apron screws (about 8 holes), and lid-to-hinge screws (4 screws × 2 hinges). Mark pilot hole positions on apron inside about 10mm up from bottom edge for bottom boards, marking from inside along length.

   Drill a hole

   下穴 φ3.5mm

   DrillSTEP 6 / 20

   Tip

   • Use the short screws (approx. φ3.5×16mm) supplied with hinges. Coarse-thread screws are too long and will penetrate the lid.
   • Countersink slightly to prevent hinge looseness if screw hole is too shallow.

   Watch out

   • Misaligned pilot holes for bottom boards cause bottom to sit crooked; mark symmetrically both sides.
   • Over-tightening hinge screws causes lid to jam during opening and closing.
7. 7

   Assemble one leg frame

   ≈ 15 min

   Join two legs and one apron board into a U-shaped frame using 65mm coarse-thread screws, two screws per joint (total 4 screws). Position apron 20mm above leg bottom end to support bottom board.

   Build the frame

   Check for square

   AssembleSTEP 7 / 20

   Tip

   • Apron set 20mm higher to rest bottom board (19mm thick) on top of apron. Incorrect height means bottom board won’t fit.

   Watch out

   • Setting apron to usual bench height leaves no space for bottom board.
8. 8

   Assemble opposite leg frame

   ≈ 20 min

   Use first assembled frame as a template to build the opposite side frame with identical dimensions. Ensure apron height and leg orientation are symmetrical left to right.

   Build the frame

   Check for square

   AssembleSTEP 8 / 20

   Tip

   • Stack second frame on first to reduce errors during positioning.

   Watch out

   • Mismatch in apron heights between left and right sides causes bottom board to fit crookedly; compare frames side by side before assembly.
9. 9

   Join left and right frames

   ≈ 15 min

   Stand two frames parallel at 400mm depth and connect with second apron board (1200mm length). Measure diagonals to confirm right angles before screwing.

   Measure

   W 1200 mm

   MeasureSTEP 9 / 20

   Tip

   • Depth 400mm is designed so that bottom board (1124mm) plus two frames with 38mm thickness each equals total bench length 1200mm.

   Watch out

   • Diagonal difference over 5mm causes skew; adjust before screwing.
10. 10

    Install bottom boards

    ≈ 20 min

    Place two bottom boards (1124mm) on top inside of apron boards with 3-5mm gap between boards for dust drop and ventilation. Secure bottom boards to aprons with 65mm coarse-thread screws through pilot holes (4 screws per bottom board, total 8).

    Lay the top board

    5mm 間隔

    Top boardSTEP 10 / 20

    Tip

    • 3-5mm gap between bottom boards reduces dust adhesion on stored items.
    • Screw from bottom side for better appearance; screws from top show screw heads on bottom boards.

    Watch out

    • Screwing near board edges can cause splitting; keep screws at least 20mm inside edges.
11. 11

    Adjust and position lid boards

    ≈ 15 min

    Confirm two lid boards (1200mm) fit exactly on bench top. Gap with apron top surface should be within 2mm. Lid boards slightly narrower than total depth (184×2=368mm with spacing), so position about 5mm in from edges as overhang design.

    Lay the top board

    5mm 間隔

    Top boardSTEP 11 / 20

    Tip

    • Lid boards combined width (184+184=368mm) allows 16mm overhang front and back on 400mm deep bench.
    • Seat surface side is lid tops, so ensure correct orientation before fixing.

    Watch out

    • Misalignment of lid boards causes interference during opening; keep boards parallel.
12. 12

    Attach hinges

    ≈ 25 min

    Attach 2 hinges to lid boards and rear apron board. Position hinges about 75mm inside lid edges; hinge spacing around 300mm. Fix one side of hinge to underside of lid boards and other side to top surface of rear apron using supplied screws.

    Build the frame

    Check for square

    AssembleSTEP 12 / 20

    Tip

    • Standard hinge position 75-150mm from lid edge; hinge pin too close to edge risks cracking during opening.
    • Temporarily fix hinge with masking tape before screwing for easier positioning.

    Watch out

    • Hinge pin must align perfectly at edge between lid and apron for smooth operation.
    • Screws overtightened cause lid to jam; tighten lightly first, test, then fully tighten.
13. 13

    Test lid opening and closing

    ≈ 10 min

    Open the lid and check it opens smoothly to 90 degrees without squeaks, catching, or interference. When closed, confirm no gaps or lifting.

    Inspect

    No wobble ✓

    InspectSTEP 13 / 20

    Tip

    • A hinge pin aligned on lid-apron boundary allows smooth 90° opening.
    • If it catches, shave inside lid slightly or adjust hinge position.

    Watch out

    • Lid may close too quickly and pinch fingers; choose hinges with moderate friction or consider dampers to prevent sudden closure.
14. 14

    Lid opening retention stopper (optional)

    ≈ 15 min

    To prevent lid closing from gravity, optionally add a chain or prop to hold lid open. Connect rear apron inside and underside of lid with a chain about 200mm long to limit opening to 90° or more.

    Build the frame

    Check for square

    AssembleSTEP 14 / 20

    Tip

    • Chain can be improvised using 300mm chain plus S-hook from 100-yen shop.
    • Adding gas dampers provides professional automatic open-close prevention (cost about 2000-3000 yen).

    Watch out

    • Chain too tight prevents lid from opening fully; leave slight slack.
15. 15

    Check strength and alignment

    ≈ 15 min

    Close lid and sit on bench to test for squeaks or sinking. Use level to confirm legs and lid are horizontally aligned. Adjust by sanding legs or adding height pads if wobbling occurs.

    Check level

    Level ✓

    LevelSTEP 15 / 20

    Tip

    • Sitting and applying weight is essential; if lid bends more than 3mm, add brace under center.
    • Avoid painting with wobbling legs, as touch-ups may damage paint later when adjusting.

    Watch out

    • Add supporting brace under center if lid bows significantly.
    • Painting with wobbling legs may cause paint to peel during later adjustment.
16. 16

    Clean before finishing

    ≈ 10 min

    Vacuum and wipe entire bench thoroughly to remove sawdust and oils. Protect hinges with masking tape to prevent paint contamination.

    Inspect

    No wobble ✓

    InspectSTEP 16 / 20

    Tip

    • Paint on metal hinge surfaces spoils appearance; masking is essential.

    Watch out

    • Paint entering hinge internals will stiffen opening; masking must be thorough.
17. 17

    First coat of indoor finish

    ≈ 30 min

    Apply an indoor wood finish oil (like Watco Oil or Briwax) evenly. Apply thinly, wait 10 minutes, then wipe off excess with soft cloth. Use oil finish rather than wood preservative as it’s for indoor use and feels nicer as it doesn't form a film.

    Paint

    Watco oil / varnish

    PaintSTEP 17 / 20

    Tip

    • Procedure for Watco Oil: apply, wait 10 min, then wipe to avoid stickiness.
    • Briwax yields a higher class finish.

    Watch out

    • Skipping wiping leaves sticky surface for days; always wipe off excess.
    • Using outdoor preservative indoors causes strong odors from volatile compounds.
18. 18

    Second oil coat

    ≈ 25 min

    After first coat dries for 24 hours, apply a second thinner coat. Use about one-third the amount of the first coat. Wipe off excess. Let dry 24-48 hours after second coat.

    Paint

    Watco oil / varnish

    PaintSTEP 18 / 20

    Tip

    • Second coat requires about one-third the first coat quantity; oil absorbs and deepens color.
    • Do not skip wiping second coat; thick application causes unevenness.

    Watch out

    • If second coat isn’t wiped off, it causes blotches.
19. 19

    Remove hinge masking and final check

    ≈ 10 min

    Once oil is fully dried, remove masking tape from hinges. Recheck lid opening and closing smoothness. Apply a very small amount of lubricant like CRC5-56 on hinge pins if necessary to smooth motion.

    Inspect

    No wobble ✓

    InspectSTEP 19 / 20

    Tip

    • Use lubricant sparingly to avoid damaging paint finish.

    Watch out

    • Removing masking before paint is fully dry may peel paint off.
20. 20

    Completion and use start

    ≈ 15 min

    Place completed storage bench and confirm final lid operation, seating stability, and storage usability. Test inserting long items like shoehorns and umbrellas to check size suitability.

    Done!

    Done — nice work!

    DoneSTEP 20 / 20

    Tip

    • Adding divider boards inside storage helps organization.
    • Oil finish should be reapplied thinly once per year to restore gloss.

    Watch out

    • Leaving lid open puts stress on hinges and loosens them; always get into habit of closing lid after use.
    • Storing damp items causes bottom board deterioration; avoid items like laundry.

Warnings

• ⚠️Drill pilot holes before screwing to prevent wood splitting.

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