How to Build a Rustic Picnic Table

Rustic picnic tables look at home next to a cabin, cottage or Tuscan villa. They require far less finishing than other styles, and can be made using only hand tools if you have the time and patience. Rustic decor allows you to limit power tool use to whatever saves time and effort. You can avoid planing and extended sanding if you select logs that are already straight and even in diameter .

4 logs, 8 feet long, 12-inch diameter
Power log splitter
Planer
Belt sander, coarse and medium sanding belts
Carpenters' tape measure
Carpenters' pencil
Chalk line
A variety of wide, deep clamps
Scrap wood clamp pads
4 lengths 2-inch by 4-inch stock lumber
2 pieces 1-inch by 4-inch by 8 feet stock lumber
6 logs, 3 feet long, 6-inch diameter
Power drill, 1/2-inch bit
Box of fender washers, 1/2-inch diameter hole
Box of carriage bolts, 1/2-inch diameter, 10 inches long
Box of 1/2-inch diameter hex nuts
Hacksaw with titanium-coated blade
Carpenters' glue
Rubber mallet
3-inch wood screws

Instructions

- 1
  Split the four 12-inch diameter logs in half lengthwise. Plane or sand the surface of each log just enough to remove most splinters. These will be the table and seat surfaces, while the 6-inch diameter logs will be the table legs.
- 2
  Lay four split log halves flat side down, long sides against each other. Measure 2 inches from each end of each log half. Snap a chalk line along the marks at each end to make a straight line. Make two more chalk lines 6 inches from each end. This makes registration lines to position the supports under the table.
- 3
  Measure 40 inches from each end and snap two additional chalk lines to create the registration marks for the center support.
- 4
  Lay the three 2-inch by 4-inch supports in the correct positions. Clamp in place while drilling one 1/2-inch diameter bolt hole at each end of each support.
- 5
  Place a fender washer on each bolt. Insert bolts from the flat side of the table surface, with the bolt heads on top, rather than underneath the table. Add a second fender washer and secure with a 1/2-inch hex nut. If desired, use a hacksaw with a titanium-coated blade to cut away any excess bolt length.
- 6
  Make tenons on one end of each of the 3-feet long, 6-inch diameter logs. Doug Wilson's photo #1 at Abana.org illustrates how the tenon and mortise will fit together. Make matching mortises in the underside of the tabletop, 4 inches from each end of the second and fifth log halves.
- 7
  Apply carpenters' glue inside each hole in the underside of the table and on the tenons on each log. Insert tenons into mortises and tap firmly with a rubber mallet until the legs are joined to the table. Wipe away any excess glue and allow to dry overnight.
- 8
  Attach the 1-inch by 4-inch by 8-feet stock lumber to the sides of the legs on the long sides of the table, using 3-inch long wood screws. Repeat for the 4-feet long pieces.

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