This simple Picnic Table should be able to be done in a day at a cost of about $100.00. The size of the table will be 28 inch wide table top and 8 foot long. The entire width of table with benches is 5 foot wide and 8 foot long.
OTHER OPTIONS TO SAVE MONEY AND REUSE: You can easily use used or left over lumber from other projects, such as a torn down deck, room add ons, extra or left over biulding materials as long as the lumber is in good shape and the size is good.
- Tape Measure
- Hammer
- Drill (3/8" bit and 3/4" spade bits)
- Saw
MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED:
- 12- 2X4S 8 Foot Long
- 4- 2X6S 8 Foot Long
- 2- 2X10S 8 Foot Long
- 16- 3"X 3/8" Galvanized Carriage Bolts with Washers and Nuts for each (Make sure your washers fit inside the 3/8" Spade Bit Hole)
- 2- 1-pound Boxes of 16D Galvanized Nails
Building the Top:
Cut a 2x4 into three pieces each 26 inches long for the cross boards.Nail the 8 top boards to these three cross boards leaving even spacing in between and an inch of overhang on each side. One cross board goes in the middle (the 4 ft mark) and the outer two in 4 inches from the ends.
Cuting the Legs and Seats:
The four legs are cut identically from two of the 2x6's.They should have an angle cut on them of 60 degrees at the top and bottom and be 33.5 inches long on each side.( Use a speed square to mark out your 60 degree angle.)
Next cut the remaining 2x6's to 5 ft long each for the seats.
Now it's Time To Put Together:
Flip the top upside down.Mount the legs to the outer cross boards. (The legs go on the inside of the cross boards, 3 ½ inches in from the outside of the top.)
Drill and bolt them to the cross boards with 2 bolts per leg.
Countersink the holes for the nuts and washers with the ¾ inch bit, then drill the rest of the way through with the 3/8 inch bit.The nuts should go on the inside of the legs.( The bolts are only as wide as the wood so there will be no bolt sticking through to ever hit with your knee.)
After all four legs are attached to the top, attach the seat stretchers. They should go 17 inches off the ground. That is measured up from the bottoms of the feet. This is where the stretchers top will be. (Take a look at the diagram.)
Bolt the stretchers to the outside of the legs again using 2 bolts per leg and countersinking the nuts/washers on the inside.
We're Almost Done:
While it is upside down, attach the diagonal braces. These should be cut from a 2x4. They should be cut with a ~ 17 degree angle roughly 44 inches per side. These should be cut to fit. Make sure the legs are square with the top, the braces will hold them square. Set these offset from each other so you can nail into each of them from opposite sides of the center cross board. Nail them into the seat stretchers as well, when you are sure the length will hold the legs square. Now flip the table right side up and nail two 2x4's between the seat stretchers. Finally nail the two 2x10 seats in place on top of the seat stretchers and the 2x4 seat supports. Before nailing these in place, measure the distances between the stretchers so again you are ensuring the table is square.
Now's The Easy Part:
All thats left is sanding, staining or painting.Make it yours!
Now Your Done!
Just think of all the things you can use your new table for!!!!
