DIY: Picnic Table Plans

Assembling

• According to shawcreekgeneralstore.com, red cedar can easily be drilled and given a shape using a saw. Moreover, it also maintains its attractiveness over a long period of time, so you do not have to worry about the natural wood color fading. You need to cut the wood into five top slats measuring 2 inches x 6 inches x 60 inches, two cleats measuring 2 inches x 4 inches x 27 inches, four legs measuring 2 inches x 4 inches x 40 inches, and two braces measuring 2 inches x 4 inches x 30 inches. In addition to the wood, you also require some washers, nuts, and six sets of machine bolts along with one pound of deck screws. Once you collect the required materials, start building the table.

Constructing

• Start by laying the cut slats on a clean surface, and be sure to place it with the smoother side of the wood down. You will need to use at least a quarter-inch spacers for separating the slats from each other. While placing the spacers, make sure they are square. Now, use a bar clamp for clamping all the slats together. If you have not cut the cleats already, cut them into 27 inches in length, and tidy up the ends by cutting at 45-degree angle. Now, take a cleat and put it on the edge, precisely 7 inches from each end of the top slats. According to shawcreekgeneralstore.com, it is best to leave a margin of 3/4 inch from the edge of the table.

  Above each slat of the table top, drill two holes into the cleat. Be sure the screw holes are sufficiently deep for setting the screw heads beneath the surface. Take 4-inch screws and fasten the slats tightly. As mentioned earlier, the legs should be 39 to 40 inches, with parallel bottom and top cut at a 38-degree angle.

Finishing

• Once the cutting is done, it is time to put things together to create a picnic table. Use C clamps for loosely clamping the table legs together from the middle. Keep the clamp loose enough to be able to adjust the legs to make an X-shaped cross. The tops and bottoms should be aligned to create a 28 1/2-inch span on all sides. Mark on each leg at the point of intersection, and remove the clamp. Attach the assembled leg parts to the table top. This can be accomplished by using 3 1/2 inch x 1/4-inch machine bolts at both connections.

  Fit the table braces between the table top and the X-shaped legs, with 45-degree angles. Fasten the braces to the table-slats using 4-inch screws. Use a drill machine for drilling holes through the cross of legs, and make sure the drill passes through the ends of both braces. Lastly, remove the clamps after installing the bolts.