How to Make Outdoor Table Sets

Wooden picnic tables are perfect for the backyard for entertaining as well as being functional in many other ways. This is the basic instructions for making a picnic table with the attached benches, which will provides hours of use. There is pressure treated wood on this table, but it is only for the legs, as that is where it is needed. This can be completed in an afternoon with a day or so of drying for the stain. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Purchase the lumber you need along with the bolts, washers, and screws at your local lumber store or home improvement store. Lay out your wood when you return home, so you can easy see which piece is which.

2

Pick up the three pieces, which is the support pieces, and give them a bit of an angel so they are not so harsh they will hurt a leg when you sit at the table. Make sure to mark all angels first with a measuring tape and pencil before cutting. Set the support pieces aside and pick up the support pieces. Each side of these support pieces should get a 65-degree angel. Just make the angels on different ends of each section of wood and set aside when they are done. Seat supports should also be angled somewhat but just be sure it is a slight angel so it lays flat against the wood of the benches. The legs have a 55-degree angle, and this last step completes the need for the saw.

3

Sand all pieces of wood so that all surfaces are smooth, and sliver free. Pay particular attention to the edges where you have just cut the wood.

4

Lay the nine pieces of wood, which are six foot long for the tabletop down on the ground side by side so they are touching one another. Have a person stand on either side of the wood and hold it in place with their feet. Lay the three pieces of wood, which are 32 and a half inches long for the tabletop support on the nine pieces of wood. Nail the supports into the table boards putting one at the left and then to the right side as you progress across the length of the board so that you do not splinter this support.

5

Measure 14 and half inches from the tabletop upwards, with the tape measure and mark it on each leg. Pick up the seat support pieces and bolt them to the legs, on the points you marked. Pick up the two-leg support pieces, which are 30 inches long and nail one of them in the middle of the seat supports to up under the middle of the table support beam. Add the other piece like this but on the opposite seat support and opposite side of the middle of the table support beam.

6

Remove the pieces of scrap wood from the table legs, and turn the table upright, as it will stand. Take three of the six foot long pieces which are left and lay them on the seat supports, laying the first one on the support so that it over hangs a bit. Lay the other two piece of wood on there, and bolt in place. Then attach the wood on the other side and your table is almost complete.

7

Stain the table or leave it natural and water proof it so that it will stand the test of time.