Picnic Table

Picnic Table

by AndrĂŠ B

This instructable is for a large diy wooden picnic table which is easier to step in than a traditional picnic table.

It is made completely of two by fours (89x38)

Step 1: Layout - Cutlist second pic is metric ,third imperial.

If you are going to use a miter saw remember that most miter saw gauges are set up off 90 degrees to the back of

So for 51,2 degrees you have to set your saw to 38,8 .

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1. metric

1. total length is about 48 meter

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1. inches

Step 2: The Two Benches I used some m8 threaded rods to connect the leg constructions.

In total is have used 24 each 16 cm and have cut them when the table was ready.

Some coach bolt will even look better.

For the other connections i used wood screws of

80mm.

Click on the pictures for a larger version of the picture.

A google sketchup version can be downloaded here

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Picnic Table: Page 2

Step 3: The Table For the legs of the table you need to cut out a piece for each leg.

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1. piece to be cut out.

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Picnic Table: Page 3

Step 4: Screw It All Together

The legs of the table must not be lower than the connection two by fours .

The horizontal connections are 50mm of the floor so it won't wobble on an uneven surface.

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1. keep the underside of the legs of the table flat with the underside of the connection cls.

Step 5: In Inches

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Step 6: In Inches (fractions)

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Changed the center table and did straight legs for changeable from being connected or not. Also converted to Inches with seats 17 high table 32 high and 78 long. With premium 2x4 and almost all hardware ran about 150 usd.

Hello, Could you tell me what size screws did you use.

It looks very professional.

Well done.

Think i used 4x70 mm wood screws.

I'm new to this too, what it the total length of timber for the whole project?

My first major DIY project. I made it 8 feet long and just had to add some additional supports do to the extra length. Wife loves it, great design!

Looks Awesome! I want to do one 8 feet long also. Do you have the measurements in feet/inches?

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. For the table top (and seats), the outside boards are 96" and the inside boards are about 88-3/4" (depends on how big you want your gaps). The legs I set in 12" from each end, leaving a 6 foot unsupported span. For stability I added a 2x4 flat across the bottom of the table top (keeps the boards spaced properly and is an anchor point for bracing). I added braces from the middle of the "X" up to that board, which made the table very sturdy (and I'm 6'5" but the brace doesn't hit my knees). Finally, I added a few short "joists" under the inside and outside seat

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boards to add stability (they were spongy due to the 6 foot span and only having support under the middle board per the above plans). I don't have CAD plans, but if you want my chicken scratchings, send me your email address.

Can you share how you adjusted the measurements elsewhere to be able to make it an 8' table?

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. For the table top (and seats), the outside boards are 96" and the inside boards are about 88-3/4" (depends on how big you want your gaps). The legs I set in 12" from each end, leaving a 6 foot unsupported span. For stability I added a 2x4 flat across the bottom of the table top (keeps the boards spaced properly and is an anchor point for bracing). I added braces from the middle of the "X" up to that board, which made the table very sturdy (and I'm 6'5" but the brace doesn't hit my knees). Finally, I added a few short "joists" under the inside and outside seat boards to add stability (they were spongy due to the 6 foot span and only having support under the middle board per the above plans). I don't have CAD plans, but if you want my chicken scratchings, send me your email address.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. For the table top (and seats), the outside boards are 96" and the inside boards are about 88-3/4" (depends on how big you want your gaps). The legs I set in 12" from each end, leaving a 6 foot unsupported span. For stability I added a 2x4 flat across the bottom of the table top (keeps the boards spaced properly and is an anchor point for bracing). I added braces from the middle of the "X" up to that board, which made the table very sturdy (and I'm 6'5" but the brace doesn't hit my knees). Finally, I added a few short "joists" under the inside and outside seat boards to add stability (they were spongy due to the 6 foot span and only having support under the middle board per the above plans). I don't have CAD plans, but if you want my chicken scratchings, send me your email address.

My son selected this design to do for his Eagle Scout Project. He made 4 tables for his high school. Close to 150 (teenager) hours went into them. Final assembly was on site and they were ready for the first day of school this week.

Do you know the total amount and lengths of wood that you used? It gives a cut list but no lumber list. (per table) Do you have the above images in feet (') and inches (") by chance?? Great design!

Awesome design. Thank you for helping me with my questions. I made it. Just gotta putty and sand. Thanks again.

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For the table leg X's, how do I go about making those? put bots legs on top of each other and measure everything (there's also some extra measurements in the comments below) draw the lines against the leg. cut with a handsaw , take the rest out with a chisel halfway through the leg.

Do you make all the measurements before cutting or do you cut the angles and then measure? I could make this work if I knew what length to cut the raw board to. Then I could mark everything off, cut the angles and then cut the notches. I really appreciate the help. maybe these pics will help . one in millimeters and one in inch.

Thank you for responding. I will do this.

My Build:

Picnic Table Painting Family Project

Picnic Table Painting Family Project

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Hi Andre, Do you screw it together through the top of the seats and table top (i.e. The screws are visible) or is there a way to connect without the screw heads showing?

Hello, i did screw everything through the top.

But it is possible to do it from the bottom in many different ways.

It can be done with angled steel or a piece of plywood or sheet metal.

I salvaged some wood (3.5x7 cm), plywood, laminate.

And adjusted the sizes a bit to meet my requirements.

Needs some final touches and some paint.

Thanks for the design! Had a bunch of scrap 2x4's from a previous project, so it was a perfect way to use it up. Struggled a bit with the table support cuts, so that part is a bit sloppy.

Can someone please clarify on the Imperial measurements? This may seem like a silly question.

But for measurements such as 11,69 or 13,08, how are these suppose to actually be read? 11" and...? How does the 69 translate?

Maybe these pics are better.

Amazing, thank you! Will be trying this out today.

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Excellent set of plans. The only improvements I could think of would be the addition of a lumber list and cut list in inches, and the option for a higher table height.

Looks like you have the X's at an angle of 45, this would explain the lower height.

With the correct angles it would be 71cm (27,95 inch) from floor to the underside of the table.

I loved the looks of this table when I saw it and needed to build it! Made it in one day and it looks great. I also had issues with the Table legs (the X's) but I adjusted as I needed to. I also raised the bottom frame up because I am 6 foot 4 and the table height was to low. Overall I love it! I used pressure treated brown to match my deck I built.

where can i get a list of the pieces and measurements? I downloaded the pdf, but it is not very clear.

You can click on the pictures and print them.

What type of wood did you use? Treated or untreated? mine was treated , Adjusted all the measurements to the nearest 1/4"; kinda silly to try to build something in metric with lumber that was specifically cut in imperial (2"x4" nominal 1.5" by 3" actual) I mean i understand the whole pertinacious European thing, but imperial has its place.

I used 22 ea 2"x4"x8' with very little waste.

Came out awesome, great job Andre` B It took 22ea 96" 2x4's

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1.5" by 3.5" actual. Wheres the darn edit button? :-) Picnic Table: Page 10

What were the degree of the legs cut to ? Me and my buddies have been stumped for over a day now and we've done multiple different calculations and cannot figure it out A common mistake is that most miter saw gauges are set up off 90 degrees to the back of the So for 51,2 degrees you have to set your saw to 38,8 .

Maybe these pics wil help you to .

nothing like showing somethng that people would be interested in,providing a link to download the instructions only to find out that they want you to pay for them.

Great Instructable gave me the confidence to build, this is the 1st thing I've every built) I adjusted the plans somewhat mainly due to space limitations.

I finished it with Sikkens Cetol 7 and TBH I'm very pleased with it Thanks AndrĂŠ

I built this table but I altered the plans that would accommodate a glass top. I will post pictures when I get the other one built. I am excited to get it all done. Mine is also connected. I figured it would be best for better support since the glass weighs 250 lbs. cutting list ??

Which woodworking plans site is best? Anybody have some good recommendations?

Would you be able to post a cutting list for this build as it would help people know the amount of lumber needed. Much appreciated.

I added an extra step . mayby not a cutting list but maybe it helps.

What is the measurements for this I can't tell.

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All the measurements are in the photos 1st ever build adjusted from the original due to space limitations thanks to everyone on here particularly Andre B I wouldn't have had the confidence without your stories and excellent designs.

Here's my handiwork

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