How to Build an Outdoor Wooden Table

Building your own outdoor wooden table can be fairly easy and inexpensive. Even if you don't have too many power tools to cut the wood with, many hardware stores now sell pre-cut wood to meet just about any specifications, so all you have to do is buy the materials and put them together. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Choose a design. Draw out the plan or find a plan on the Internet. One easy design includes notched 4 by 4s for legs and spaced 2 by 4s for the table top.

2

Purchase the materials. You will need four notched 4 by 4s, three 2 by 4s to use as rails, two 2 by 6s for the frame and four 2 by 4s for the table top.

3

Cut one of the 2 by 4s for your railing in half.

4

Attach each half of the 2 by 4 which you cut in half to two of your notched 4 by 4 table legs to make two table end legs. Use a drill to screw in the screws that will hold the pieces together.

5

Attach two 2 by 4s to each of the table end legs so as to make a rectangular table base. Use a drill to screw in the screws that will hold the pieces together.

6

Attach one of the 2 by 4s to a 2 by 6, using wood glue, to make one corner of the table.

7

Attach another 2 by 4 to the remaining 2 by 6, using wood glue, to make another corner of the table.

8

Clamp the pieces together until the glue dries.

9

Attach another 2 by 4 to one of the corners using wood glue.

10

Attach the final 2 by 4 to the other corner using wood glue.

11

Clamp the pieces together until the glue dries.

12

Attach the two corners with the 2 by 4s to each other, using wood glue, to make the rectangular table top.

13

Clamp the pieces together until the glue dries.

14

Attach the table top to the table frame. Use a drill to screw the frame onto the table.

15

Sand the wood to your liking using sandpaper.

16

Finish the table to your liking. Use clear stain, paint or whatever you prefer.