The planned project for Memorial Day weekend.
Picked up 1 x 3 x 48" white oak from
Boards and Beams Lumber in NJ.
They had a very good selection, everything was well marked and the place was very tidy. Needed 7 slats, but boards were 9 foot lenghts so I got 8 slats and 4 scrap pieces which I am sure will see good use.
Procedure:
Disassemble bench, retain brass fasteners.
Clean off metal bench ends and back with scotch-brite abrasive disc.
Prime bench ends and back with red oxide paint.
Paint bench ends and back with Krylon Regal Blue.
Drill hole in ends of bench slats using bench drill press.
Sand slats severely.
Apply Teak Oil, both sides, 2 coats.
Attach metal back to 2 slats, measuring multiple times prior to using drill press to drill pilot holes. Initially used brass #8 x 3/4" screws, but the head snapped off on 2 of them so I switched over to stainless.
Reassembled on a non-rainy day.
There is room for 2 small side wood trim pieces on the back, but I may omit them.
Finished product. Bench initially had metal strapping under the middle of the slats to distribute weight between adjacent slats. I had purchased copper plated pipe strapping which I might add.
