Picnic table designs

[Onkel Neal]

Summer's here and time for projects! I am going to build a new picnic table to replace the gargantuan table I used to have in town. I think I am going to go with a modified version of this table , just need to make it longer so it can seat 12.



Going to need a new tape measure that includes inches in decimals.

[STEED]

Beer table Neal..

Jim has a picnic table and his wife hogs it with salads and tea cakes for the local mother's union. No wonder jim slopes off to his local pub in the beer garden.

[Catfish]

Looks nice, but with more seats it will be harder to move (?)

Always thought US and english inches were the same, only differing by a millionth or so, usually same as 25,4 millimeters in the international system

(I know there are differences with drilling tools equipment though, imperial units, norwegian inches, indonesian ones and so forth. I remember making an automatic "programmed" conversion table for that at B. Hughes, using macros and VB in Excel.)

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by STEED

Beer table Neal..

Jim has a picnic table and his wife hogs it with salads and tea cakes for the local mother's union. No wonder jim slopes off to his local pub in the beer garden.

This was Neals beer garden



@Neal: Yes, I reckon a bigger table would come in handy at the ranch

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

Summer's here and time for projects! I am going to build a new picnic table to replace the gargantuan table I used to have in town. I think I am going to go with a modified version of this table , just need to make it longer so it can seat 12.



Going to need a new tape measure that includes inches in decimals.

I like the detailing on it, the floating center pieces, but those notoriously weak mitre joints concern me a bit. Unless you use some pocket hole screws on the underside, you'll either have exposed screws or a weak joint. And do your shins a favor, hit those with the largest roundover router bit you can, mitre joints are very sharp!

I agree with catfish here, that thing will be a beast to move if it's any bigger. Those base rails won't drag that easy. But they also have the advantage of not catching

I know there's a bazillion designs out there for picnic tables, and I assume you looked at a good portion of them before settling on this one, so you're probably not that interested in look at more, but April Wilkerson on Youtube just recently released a pretty good video on making a picnic table, and she does discuss a couple design issues IIRC.

Don't bother with a decimal imperial tape measure. First off, they are relatively expensive, and hard to find (Amazon has 1). Get yourself a conversion chart from google, print out the one you want, and round off the measurements to the nearest 1/64th or 1/32nd. On a picnic table, nobody will notice errors of that size, in fact, they are pretty much expected. Or invest in a decent 20' tape measure that has both english and metric, so you can convert on the fly.

The WoodWhisperer Youtube channel just did a video within the last few weeks on finishing an outdoor table. He's a professional whom I've learned a lot from, and I plan on using his finish of choice for any of my outdoor projects. Whatever you do, don't skimp on the finish.

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

...just need to make it longer so it can seat 12.

...

Thinking about recruiting apostles?...


This design seemed to work out for the purpose...








<O>

[Aktungbby]

Don't forget the inexpensive plastic 'planter boxes' adapted to the loose removable center board(s) for serious hot Texican summer refreshment! But on a 25 ' version of this style for that roundtable effect:

[Onkel Neal]

Yeah, Jim, that was a really big table, seated 8 on each side (though in the picture there is another table next to it).

I don't mind it being hard to move, I have a tractor I can use to lift it up and move it. I think it's nice to have a table that can handle my family and guests without having to resort to breaking up into groups. Plus a heavy table means it won't rock or feel unstable.

@Gargamel, wow, that guy is really serious about sanding! He must have spent $1000 on sandpaper and epoxy. I'm going to let nature take its toll on the table and build a new one when it gets too weathered.

[Gargamel]

That's a festool sander he's using, don't ask how much that alone cost.....

[Onkel Neal]

I chickened out and went the standard design.
http://www.diygardenplans.net/diy-cl...cnic-table.htm

Pretty simple and without a shop to work in and 70% of my tools in storage, manageable.

Picked up the material and ready to start making cuts

[Gargamel]

A handsaw and chisel is all you need! Get off my lawn!



What wood you planning on using?

[Onkel Neal]

Ha, I'm not that skillful. Treated lumber, I guess pine?

Go the table section assembled, using the 6' design I just doubled the design and added a center leg section and two more battens.

[Onkel Neal]

Made it to this stage before some friends arrived, so will continue tomorrow with the additional braces and seats.

[Mr Quatro]

I would go with concrete and maybe even a nice slab if budget isn't a problem. Use stacking plastic chairs for all around conversation times.



http://pdword.com/concrete-picnic-ta...picnic-tables/

[Onkel Neal]

All done, next weekend: BBQ