How to Build a Picnic Table With Wine Barrels

Preparation

• 1

  Look for two matching wine barrels by surf the Internet or speaking to local wineries. It is important that the barrels are the exact same size because they'll serve as the foundation of the table.

• 2

  Gather the wood and other materials. If the drill requires charging, make sure it's fully charged before construction begins.

• 3

  Stand the two barrels next to each other to ensure they're the same height. Any difference will cause an incline in the table.

Constructing the Frame

• 4

  Measure each barrel from the top to the bottom. Draw a 2-inch wide by 4-inch tall rectangle on each side with a pencil (so each barrel will have two rectangular marks that are lined up vertically and horizontally).

• 5

  Use a jigsaw to cut a 2-inch wide by 4-inch tall hole in the center of each side of the wine barrels. A 2-by-4-inch beam of wood will run through the center of each barrel and hold the benches.

• 6

  Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch wood to 54 1/4 inches each using a hand or table saw.

• 7

  Slide one piece of the 54 1/4-inch piece of wood through the wine barrel. When the barrel is standing upright, the wooden beam will enter on one side and exit the other. Repeat for the other barrel.

Constructing the Bench Legs

• 8

  Measure the distance from the top of the wooden beam that's running through the barrel to the ground.

• 9

  Cut four pieces of 2-by-4-inch wood matching that length. These will be the feet for each side of the two benches.

• 10

  Hold the short leg piece up against the beam running through the barrel. The edge of the short piece should be facing upwards, while the other edge rests against the ground. The side of each piece of wood should be flush against each other. Clamp them in place.

• 11

  Drill a 11/32-inch hole through the two pieces of wood.

• 12

  Screw a 5/16-inch diameter by 5-inch long bolt through the holes and seal with a washer and nut on the other side. Repeat for the other three pieces.

Constructing the Table Top and Benches

• 13

  Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch wood to 32 inches long. Lay the 32-inch pieces of wood flat and centered on the top of each wine barrel. These serve as the brace for the top of the table.

• 14

  Hammer about two to four nails into each piece of wood to attach them to the tops of the barrels. Each 32-inch piece of wood should line up with each 54 1/4 inch piece of wood.

• 15

  Lay down four pieces of 1-by-8-inch lumber side-by-side to form the table. Stretch them evenly across the barrels and nail each into a 32-inch wooden beam. Use two nails per plank on each end of the table.

• 16

  Place the remaining six 2-by-4 beams side-by-side on the bench rests protruding from each barrel. Each of the two benches should be comprised of three planks.

• 17

  Attach the planks to the picnic table by hammering nails into the bench seats and through the beams of wood coming out of the barrel. Repeat on both ends of the bench on each bench.