how to build a barbecue bench

Outdoor kitchens are all the rage. This one brings industrial chic – and practicality – to any garden.

Barbecue bench

Table frame: The table frame is made from mild steel tube (approx 16 metres of 25mm square tube was used) which was ordered cut to length. It was then mig welded together, grinding all external surfaces smooth, primed, then painted in Resene Super Gloss enamel tinted to Resene Black.

The frame can be made by a DIY enthusiast, or ordered readymade. Or, make a simple timber frame.

You will need:

Welding materials (including a mig welder and compressor), or a pre-made frame, or build one out of timber
Sheet of 25mm or 32mm plywood (we used 32mm) Sink – we used an Aquatica Mega 240
Tap – we used an Aquatica Forte sink mixer (made for indoor use but fine if reasonably protected)
Skill saw
Measuring tape and square edge
Jigsaw
Drill with hole bit
Screw driver and screws
Electric planer
Sander and sandpaper
Sealant to secure sink
One litre of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain tinted to Resene Driftwood
Safety gear

Supplies

Table frame

Step 1a

Step 1b: Cut the plywood to fit the frame leaving an overhang all around. We used the full length of 2.4m then cut it to 620mm wide. Use the remaining width of plywood for the bottom shelf, cutting the length to fit. We left a space for a cupboard or rubbish bin at the end.

Step 2: Drill and screw the top to the frame. Attach the shelf.

Step 3: Measure and cut the hole for the sink, using the jigsaw. Measure and cut hole for the tap.

Step 4: Plane the edges if necessary, then sand with an electric sander and/or a sanding block.

Step 5: Before fitting the sink and tap, stain the plywood with Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain as directed on the tin. Silicon the sink into the benchtop, and fix the tap in place.

Finished barbecue bench

Top tip: Stain your deck with Resene Woodsman Decking Stain to protect the timber from the weather and keep it looking good for longer.

Credits: All equipment and materials from Hirepool. Visit www.hirepool.co.nz or call 0800 HIREPOOL. Aquatica sink and tap, and Meteor Deluxe six-burner hooded barbecue supplied by Mitre 10.

Resene Driftwood

Resene Black

pictures: Frances Oliver

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summer 2012/13

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