How to Make a Picnic Table

Making any kind of furniture can be a satisfying pastime as knowing you have created something that can be useful and enjoyed by your family for years to come, brings a certain kind of joy. Don’t feel that you have to be a master craftsman to build furniture. You just need some basic skills, the correct woodworking tools and a clear plan to get you well on the way to success. Why not start off making a garden picnic table? This is very easy to create in just a few simple steps.

A cheap but durable type of wood to use for the table has to be pine. This is a type of soft lumber. Make sure that the pine you buy has been waterproofed or finished with a high quality staining agent. For the legs you will need four pieces of pine, 920mm long, 50mm deep and 140mm wide. Using a circular saw (because it is easier) cut out one leg to the dimensions above, making sure you also cut a 65 degree angle on both ends. Use this first leg as a template for the other 3 legs and use a pencil to mark out the cutting lines.

For the three top braces you will need to cut three pieces of pine 750mm long, 50mm deep and 100mm wide. These must also have 65 degree angles cut at each end. Line up one of the braces with the legs and then carefully mark the bolt holes in before drilling them through. Then  bolt a top brace to each set of legs making sure you use some wood glue in the areas that where the top braces and legs meet around the bolt holes. This will make it extra secure.

Two seat bearers need to be cut. The dimensions need to be 1.5 metres long, 50mm deep and 150mm wide. The top angles on either side need to be cut at 65 degrees. Drill the holes and bolt and glue the seat bearers to the legs just like you did with the top braces.

Cut 10 pieces of pine in the following dimensions.1.8 metres long, 50mm deep and 100mm wide. These pieces will be used as the seat and table boards. Stand your partially made table up on a level surface and place your seat boards and table boards in place making sure they have an equal amount of spacing between them. Mark out the holes on the table boards and seat boards and drill the screws through to secure these to the top braces and seat bearers. Finally attach the centre brace underneath the centre of the table by first clamping it and then screwing it firmly in place.

Your very own hand made picnic table is now ready for you to enjoy. Get the barbecue on and invite family and friends to come round for food and hopefully pay you a compliment on your handy work!