Gardens Outdoor Fine Woodworking

long, which are used to affix the hardware cloth to the sides

of the interior stretchers (see photo and top drawing, opposite

page). These cleats also support the hatch, so make sure they are

securely attached. Cut two more pieces to fit to support the front

and back, and screw them into place. The hatch should fit down

into the opening and sit flush with the rest of the bench.

Fitting the upper-shelf unit

The upper-shelf unit is made with 1x6 redwood and consists of a

72-in.-long top shelf, a 64^5 ⁄ 8 -in.-long bottom shelf, two 16-in.-tall

ends, two 9^1 ⁄ 4 -in.-tall supports, and four 6-in.-tall dividers.

First, screw the two supports to the bottom shelf. Next, screw

the dividers to the top shelf, making sure not to line up dividers

with supports and avoiding awkward assembly.

Once the dividers have been attached to the top shelf, flip it

upside down and screw the dividers to the bottom shelf. Affix

the ends with screws.

There are two 66-in.-long 1x4s (or 1x2s) and one 69-in.-long

1x4 with beveled corners screwed to the back to prevent items

from falling off the shelves. The shelf unit should now slide snugly

between the two back legs and can be attached with two screws

driven into each leg. □

Bill Myles is a carpenter in Southern California.

Apply a wiping varnish to the

work surface. It protects against

moisture, but reapply yearly for

best results.

Plugs conceal the countersunk

screws. Painting them black pro-

tects them from the elements and

adds a decorative touch.

MILK PAINT ADDS

A VINTAGE LOOK

Applying two coats of

bayberry green milk paint

gives the frame a beautiful,

old-fashioned finish. Here

are some tips for working

with this nontoxic option:

• Stir frequently. The
  powder/water mixture
  tends to settle.


• Work quickly, and avoid
  painting in the sun. Milk
  paint dries faster than
  other paints.


• Seal it. A coat of polyure-
  thane will protect a milk-
  painted wooden surface
  from water marks.
  Source: milkpaint.com

TIP

Finish it off

Photos, this page: Timothy Fagan (top left); Steven Cominsky (top right, bottom right) OUTDOOR PROJECTS 21

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