Four-legged friend
The legs are milled from a single, 6' length of 4x4. There is some waste here, but it's necessary to get the 2 1/4" dimension of the legs without laminating together thinner pieces. As with the slats, saw off factory-rounded edges to get crisp, square edges, then cross cut the legs to their final 17" length. Identify the best-looking faces, then orient them to point outward in the finished project before drilling 1/2"-diameter holes, which will take the dowels that secure the legs to the end pieces.
The ends are near
The rounded end pieces are made from 3/4"-thick exterior-grade plywood. Cut the pieces to their square dimensions first, then use a compass to lay out the circular ends. Cut the curve on a bandsaw, just leaving the pencil line, then smooth curves to their final shape using a stationary belt sander. To complete the ends prior to finishing, drill holes for the dowels on the outside faces.
Finish before assembly
I don't usually apply finishes to outdoor projects before assembly, but the painted ends of this piece make it necessary. I applied a few coats of polymerized tung oil to all the cedar parts. Before you apply it, mask all the areas that will get glue in the final assembly. This includes the bits on the inside faces of the side slats and the legs. Masking tape offers an easy way to keep these areas free of oil.
The plywood ends get two coats of exterior-grade enamel paint. I used bright orange in tribute to those old, canvas life jackets, but you can choose any colour you wish. Dry-fit the legs to the ends to determine how to mask off the areas for no paint.
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