How to Build a Kitchen Storage Bench

Set the tablesaw fence to 38 inches and, with a helper, crosscut 38 inches from two sheets of plywood for the back (A), the sides (B), and the box back (N). Or use a circular saw with a straightedge guide.

Set a rip guide on the circular saw to rip 1-1/2 inches including the kerf, and rip the edge from one of the remaining plywood pieces. The seat back (C), front (D), seat (E), and bottom (G) will have beveled edges, but first crosscut them to the rough widths shown in the cutting diagram.

Set the rip fence to 23-7/8 inches and rip the two side pieces (B); you'll make the angled cuts and the box back (N) later. Set the fence to 35-1/4 inches to crosscut the divider (F) and bottom (G). Rip the divider to final width and the bottom to rough width.

Rip the head support (J) and head piece (K) to rough widths, then use the miter gauge with an auxiliary fence to crosscut. Set the rip fence to 10-1/2 inches and cut four pieces for the box sides (I) and box top and bottom (H). Crosscut these pieces to length.

In the case previously, you want to reduce the plywood sheet's width from 48 inches to 46-1/2 inches. So the saw blade's thickness must be included in the material you remove. Hook your tape measure on the outside of the saw blade as you adjust the circular saw rip guide to 1-1/2 inches.