Free Picnic Table Plans
How To Build A Wood Picnic Table


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Free Plans For Building A Picnic Table - How To Build Wood Picnic Tables

Check Out The Building Plans Below!

Build the picnic table shown on the right with just a few tools using scraps laying around your shop!


Click on image for larger view

This picnic table is about 30 years old and belongs to my daughter - it is similar to the picnic table built with the plans given here.

Building a picnic table is a project that can be fun and practical.   This simple, but sturdy picnic table can comfortably seat six grownups; will provide years of service.  You can build this table practically for free with the materials laying around a building site or your workshop; I used some 2x4's left over from a building project plus some 1x8 boards.  The required 6-foot pieces will fit in the back of a small hatchback car! 

 

Material List:

(10) 6-foot 2 x 4's for frame and seats. Use pine if you wish to paint and/or seal and finish to protect against weather or use cedar or treated wood.

(4) 6-foot 1 x 8's for the table top, pine or cedar/treated.

Stainless Steel or Galvanized, 5/16" x 3 1/2"  carriage bolts, washers, nuts;  Eight sets

1 1/2" and 2 1/2"" deck screws - about a 1/2 pound of each type.

Step 1, Cut the Left/Right A-Frame  Pieces - Select 2 x 4; cut the four vertical legs @ 30 3/4"" with the proper angle of 22.5 degrees at each end as shown above.

Cut the top cross brace, two @  30 1/2" long with the proper angle set at 22.5 degrees on your chop saw.

Cut the lower cross brace, two @ 54 1/4" long with no angle.

Step 2, Assemble the Left/Right A-Frames - Select the vertical legs and lay them in the proper position per the picture above on a flat surface; Select the top and lower cross braces and lay them in place per the picture above; dry fit all four pieces; line up the top angles; ensure the lower brace is equal distance from each leg; ensure the lower legs are spread to 51 1/2". Use a clamp where each brace intersects with each leg.  Tack the pieces in place with one 2 1/2" nail (or use a screw) at each of the four crossing points; Do not center the nail at the crossing points since your bolt will go there.

 

Option: Drill four, 1" holes @ 1/2" deep with a Forstner bit and/or a 5/16" hole so the bolt head lies below the surface. Place one hole in the center of each of the four intersecting points; use the 5/16" x 3 1/2" carriage bolts (If you used a Forstner bit, use a 3" bolt), washers, nuts to secure these four connecting points. Repeat this step to complete the assembly of the second A-Frame.

Step 3, Connect the Bench Pieces- Select one of the A-Frames; using the 2 1/2" deck screws, attach two of the 2 x 4 x 6' on each side of the protruding, lower support brace; counter-sink all screw holes; the bench 2x4's should extend 8" beyond the support brace.  Select the other A-Frame and connect the bench boards to it with the same 8" overhang as shown above.

Step 4, Attach Table Top Boards - Select the four, 1 x 8 x 6'; using the 1 1/2" deck screws, attach the boards to the top braces of the A-Frames; counter-sink all screw holes; allow an even 8" overhang at each end. Mark the center point on each of the top braces; put the first top board up to these center points and attach it; use a screw for spacing the remaining boards.

Step 5, Attach Center, Bottom Support Bracing- Select 2 x 4 x 6; cut one piece @ 29" for the bottom support brace; cut a 22.5 degree angle at each end per the picture below; center the support and clamp it in place; using the 2 1/2" screws, attach the table top boards to the center brace. 

Flip the table over.

Select 2 x 4; Cut two Seat bracing pieces to 8"; connect them to the center, bottom of the seats per the picture above with 2 1/2" screws.

Select 2 x 4; Cut two bottom, angled bracing pieces to 31" per the picture above.  Set the chop saw to 28 degrees; Cut the two, 28 degree angles, as shown above.  The distance between the two short corners is 27 1/2".

 

With the 28 degree angles cut, remove 1/2" of material from each end tip.  Using a speed square as shown above, measure down 1/2" from the tip and mark a 90 degree line; cut the notch at each end of both braces.

Connect the angled braces to the center, bottom brace and to the A-Frame lower cross piece with the 2 1/2" screws.


Here is the finished picnic table built with plans featured here!

Use an exterior filler to fill all the screw holes, sand your table, prime, and paint to suit; and you are ready to sit and eat comfortably on your new picnic table.

For your picnic table, build The Silverware Caddy Shown on Right
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Free Picnic Table Building Plans by:  WayneOfTheWoods@yahoo.com