Shop update #453 (7-15-26)

I added a couple more coats of outdoor varnish to the seat slats during the week and let them dry for a couple of days.

Once they were dry, I lightly sanded them and then pre-drilled, drilled countersinks, and screwed them into the seat top using 1 1/4″ deck screws.

Even with the pre-drilling and countersinking, one of the boards split.

I then laid the bench on it’s back, lined up the tailgate, and clamped it all tight.

I pre-drilled, make countersinks, and attached the tailgate with 2 1/2″ screws at the top, and 3″ screws in the middle and bottom.

I put the bench in pace and within an hour, somebody delivered some packages on it.  Success!

I saw this truck on the freeway one day and it is the one that inspired my tailgate design choice.