Outdoor Sand and Water Play Table

Last year I made my granddaughter a outdoor sand and water play table. She loves it. First thing she does when she comes over to my house is to grab granddaddy’s hand and drags him to the back door to take her to play with her sand and water table. She’s been using it for a year now and we have spent many fun hours out there. I decided to make a new one to do for a instructables post with a few changes from the one I did a year ago. Really just two changes. One being the height, the new one is 21 inches to the table top instead 16 inches. The grand baby is getting a little taller haha. You should adjust the legs on the one you build according to who will be using the table. And I also changed the table top dimensions to fit the water tank a little better. Well I hope you enjoy seeing how I make the play table and thanks for looking. Get busy building one, the kids will love it.

- Four 2x4x8'

- Five Cedar Fence

- Stain

- Primer

- Exterior Paint

- Paint Brushes

- Wood Glue

- Exterior Screws and Nails

- Mdesign Slim Plastic Trash Can

- Two Sterilite 12 Quart Plastic Containers with Lids 16 7/8" L x 11 1/2" W x 5 7/8" H

- Be sure to sand all boards before assembling together.

- Be sure the square up while assembling.

-15 1/4" side boards should have Pocket hole on each end.

- Measure 21" up on the two 37 1/2" leg boards to know where to attach side boards.

- Pre-drill and screw directly to rear leg.

- Measure 9 3/4" from front board for location of middle support.

- Middle board has pocket holes on each end.

- From side board measure over 15" for location of short support board.

- 9 3/4 support boards has pocket holes on each end.

- Center wall support ended up being 15" from back legs.

- Be sure to square up when attaching.

- I cut these at 40 1/2 inches long so they stick over framing by 1/4".

- "DO NOT ATTACH YET" It is easier to stain before attaching.

- I started by placing one of the cedar boards in the middle and laying out boards from there.

- I cut all the boards with a 1/4" overhang.

- When you get to the cutout areas reach underneath table and mark.

- If you are using the same plastic containers that I used it worked out great with a 2 inch radius in the corners.

- I ended up placing a full board on the outside pieces and then cutting a small filler piece beside it.

- "DO NOT ATTACH BOARDS YET" It is easier to stain before attaching.

- I started by placing one coat of exterior primer on table frame.

- I followed with two coats of a exterior paint.

- Be sure to seal the bottom of the legs with paint.

- I placed two coats of exterior stain on all the cedar boards. Follow stain manufactures instructions.

- To install wall boards I predrilled before placing two exterior screws at each support.

- I placed all the table top boards out before starting to make sure everything fit good.

- Then I started with the center board and nailed it down after applying a bead of exterior glue on the framing.

- Continue with all the table top boards.

- I started out with a Mdesign plastic trash can. They come in nineteen different colors on amazon.

- For the spout I found center of tank and came up 7/8 inch.

- I placed the slotted holes 6 inches apart.

- I drilled a 1/2 inch hole 1 1/4 inch down from top.

- For the slot I started at 1/2 inch down from top.

- Before placing water tank on wall install a 5 1/2 inch 2x4 block under tank. This holds the tank up high enough that you can the plastic container top on when table isn't being used.

- Start by cutting a 18 inch piece of 1 inch pvc.

- Next drill a 1/4 inch hole on each end on one side of pvc tube.

- On the other side of pvc drill a 1/2 inch hole this allows you to get a screw and screwdriver in it.

- Center pvc on center wall support.

- For toys I installed five square bend hooks about 11 inches up from top of table and about 4 1/2 inches apart.

- For side bucket I used about a 1 inch hook.

- these photos are from last year.

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