First and foremost, you'll need to remove the hardware. This may sound easy, but if your cast iron wood bench restoration starts with it being in poor condition, the screws and bolts may be rusty and seized up. I always favour Ronseal's Total Wood Preserver in clear as it's good quality and if I splash some on the cast iron's paintwork, it won't stain. Pro Carpenter's Tip This can be quite the juggling act if you're rebuilding your newly restored garden bench! I recommend pushing one end against a wall so you can slot and bolt your first wooden bench slat in so it's stable with the rest. I know angle grinders can be quite intimidating to remove the bolts. Especially the sparks, so it's vital you wear PPE. However, you could:

With some planning, you can spray the bolts with WD-40 penetrant the night before to work into the rust and repeat on stubborn ones. You'll also need spanners or anything to grip the nuts while unscrewing bolts.The type of wood you choose will make a huge difference in how long it lasts. You could opt for softwoods and even pallet wood, but it won't be as strong and will require regular treating while out in the elements. I recommend drilling with a small drill bit first for better accuracy, then move on to a bigger one. Building the Garden Bench with Cast Iron Ends

ALSO, I recommend using direct to rust paint that is a primer and paint in one. How to Restore an Iron and Wood Bench BUT, don't destroy the wood in the process as you'll benefit from using them as a template for drilling bolt holes later. Removing Rust (And How Much You'll Need To) Avoid products that simply don't say preservative or preserver on the label. My Dad informs while staining my fence panels it's just coloured water. Also, once stained, you'll need to keep it up when it fades. Painting Cast Iron Bench Ends Or even rip down an old oak coffee table, etc that you might have found at a local charity shop, jumble sale, or skip. Cutting Bench Slats Now, remember when I said keep hold of the old wood? Well, now you need to line them up with your newly cut ones and mark where the bolt holes are.Or, you might love the Worx MakerX mini angle grinder with sanding disks which I used in the same metal gate restoration on intricate detail. BUT, how much rust you need to remove depending on note 5: Note 5 - Other Paints

See note 2 above in bold regarding substitutes for a table saw. Adding a Profile Edge to Your Bench Slats Alternatively, you could try a softwood, like pallet wood if you can source them long enough. BUT, it'll require lots of treating and won't be as strong as a hardwood. Note 2 - Table Saw Substitute However, I think regular cans of paint are cheaper to use, reduces waste and are less harmful on your lungs and environment. Drilling Holes for Wrought Iron Bench Wood SlatsAlternatively, you could hand sand the sharp edges while sitting, which admittedly, can be a great time to rest your knees(!) Treating Your Iron and Wood Garden Bench When restoring a bench with rusty cast iron, my tip is to think first regarding the type of metal paint you're planning on using. Here's my latest cast iron bench restoration project where I prep and repaint the rusty iron framework and replace the wooden slats on two garden benches. You can also follow my how to restore cast iron garden furniture video for a helping hand.

Something my Dad keeps telling me is to look for a rusty old cast iron garden bench with wooden slats around car boots. Apparently, many won't or don't know how to restore cast iron garden furniture. To give your cast iron bench with wood slats a more professional look, I recommend using a palm router (or router table) to take the boxy edge off using a curved bit. BUT, if yours is ALL wooden bench slats, then slot them all in first after the initial one and THEN bolt it all up. If not, you'll struggle to get the last few in on an angle and will need to unbolt some. Making Your Park Bench More Stable While you have easy access to the end grains (the thirsty bit of wood), I highly recommend to take the time now, to treat your bench slats.

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The final steps you need to take are to add bench supports which stabilise the slats and prevent them from sagging. Let me talk you through how I did it and what tools you can use and how long it should expect to take. Tools I Used (+ Suggested Alternatives)