Picnic Table Design Tips

A picnic table can be a fun and functional addition to your backyard. Even if you are a novice woodworker, you can build a basic picnic table in one weekend. If you are more advanced, you can design a table that is custom built to fit your space. Whether you stick with the basics or choose a more elaborate style, you should keep a few things in mind when designing your picnic table. Does this Spark an idea?

Supplies Needed

You need wood, screws and carriage bolts to make a basic picnic table. Choose a type of wood that is resistant to rot, such as cedar, redwood or treated wood. For a larger table, use 2-by-6's for the legs and supports. Use 2-by-6's or 2-by-4's for the top and seats. The screws and carriage bolts should be resistant to rust. If you are using treated lumber, you will need screws and carriage bolts that are also resistant to the chemicals used to treat the wood.

Tools Needed

You can use a variety of tools to cut the wood. Use a chop saw or table saw to make straight cuts. Use a radial arm saw, compound miter saw, circular saw or hand saw and miter box to make both straight and angled cuts. Drill holes with a drill and an appropriately sized drill bit. Use a screwdriver or drill and driver bit to drive in the screws. You also need a sander to remove rough edges, and a square and level to align the boards correctly.

Styles

The easiest picnic table to build is the basic rectangle with attached bench seats. Make the bench seats separate from the table if you want to be able to move them. You can add a picnic table between the legs of your child's wooden play fort or make one with an attached roof for protection from the rain. You can even build a circular, hexagonal or octagonal shaped table. These types of tables require complex measurements and cuts, however, so you should only attempt them if you are confident in your woodworking skills. You can make your picnic table any size you choose, but a typical adult table is 30 to 32 inches tall with a seat height of 16 to 18 inches.

Putting it Together

For a basic picnic table, cut four legs to the desired height and miter cut each end in the same direction. Cut four table supports the width of the table top and four seat supports long enough to go from the outer edge of one seat to the outer edge of the other seat. Miter cut the bottom edges of each support. Use two legs, two table supports and two seat supports to make an A-frame, with a set of supports on each side of the legs. Line up the top of the table supports with the top of the legs. Make sure the table supports and seat supports are centered and level. Attach them with screws and carriage bolts. Lay 2-by-6 or 2-by-4 boards across the top of the A-frame legs and line up the edges. Position the legs about 8 inches from each end of the table, square them and screw in place. Use four screws per board, with one screw in each support. If you want more stability, add angled braces extending from the bottom of the table top to each leg.