Steps for Building an Outdoor Table

Building the DIY Outdoor Table

• 1

  Cut four 4-inch-by-4-inch wood boards to the desired height for the table legs using a miter saw. Cut four 2-inch-by-4-inch table rails, or boards that will support the underside of the table frame and form joints to connect the legs. One table rail will attach under each end of the tabletop. Cut a fifth 4-inch-by-4-inch board to form a cross rail.

• 2

  Use a combination square, or tool composed of a ruled blade and square heads used to form 45-degree and 90-degree angles, to draw a 90-degree angle at the two top sides of each table leg where they will meet the table rails. This will determine the tenon lines on each leg. Cut the tenon line, or projection at the end of the leg shaped to fit into a joint, using a Japanese handsaw.

• 3

  Use a drill to pre-drill a set of countershank holes, or pilot holes slightly larger than the screw shank's diameter, through each end of the table rail and cross rail. Use wood glue to attach the joints of each rail and position them into place. Use clamps to prevent the rails from shifting while drilling screws into the countershank holes.

• 4

  Drill shank holes through the surface of each table leg tenon. Place the tablerails against the tenon lines to create corner joints. Secure them with clamps and screw in the tenons.

• 5

  Use a plate joiner to cut two rows of slots into the sides of the 2-inch-by-6-inch planks, as well as the ends of the 2-inch-by-4-inch planks used to frame the tabletop. Apply wood glue in each slot and insert a flat, small piece of wood called a "biscuit" used to attach pieces of wood together. Use a clamp to hold them into position until the glue dries.

• 6

  Drill screw pilot holes into the cleats, or the wood strips that help support the tabletops's frame. Position them on the inside of the rails and frame and screw them in.

• 7

  Cut cedar plugs from a piece of cedar with a plug cutter. Use a chisel to extract the plugs, match them to the table's wood grain and insert them in the screw holes using wood glue. Sand down the area.

• 8

  Position 2-inch-by-6-inch boards cut to desired length across the long side of the tableframe to create the top. Use biscuit joints to attach them to the support boards. Screw the tabletop into the cleats.