"We think it's the handiest, most affordable bench ever," says Steve Speidel, Lincoln, Neb., distributor of the new "Quik Bench" kit that lets you make your own low-cost bench.

You get two molded plastic end legs and put in your own 2 by 4's for whatever length bench you want up to about 7 ft. The plastic legs are light yet stable so the bench can easily be moved from place to place. For more permanent use, you can fill the legs with sand through plugs in the back or they can be bolted down, to a deck for example, through flat spots on the bottom of each leg.

"They're great for porch, patio, yard, lakeside, or even in the shop. Thanks to the curved design, they're extremely comfortable. If you treat the 2 by 4's, they'll be extremely weather resistant and can easily be taken apart for storage or for moving from place to place," says Speidel.