How to Build a Wood Picnic Table
- 1). Use a table saw to cut three of the 2-inch by 4-inch boards in half, creating six 60-inch lengths. Mark all of the pieces H.
- 2). Cut four of the boards into four 72-inch lengths, four 30-inch lengths and four 15 1/2-inch lengths. Mark the 72-inch lengths J, the 30-inch lengths B and the 15 1/2-inch lengths E. Set aside the excess from each board.
- 3). Cut two of the boards into two 72-inch lengths and four 15 1/2-inch lengths. Mark the 72-inch lengths J and the 15 1/2-inch lengths E. Set aside the scrap.
- 4). Cut two of the boards into two 72-inch lengths and two 34-inch lengths. Mark the 72-inch lengths J and the 34-inch lengths G. Set aside the scrap.
- 5). Cut two of the 2-inch by 4-inch boards into 2 64-inch lengths, two 31-inch lengths and 4 12-inch lengths. Mark the 64-inch lengths C, the 31-inch lengths A and the 12-inch lengths D.
- 6). Cut the remaining piece into three 33-inch lengths and mark them F.
- 7). Flat miter both 4-inch ends of the pieces marked A at 45 degree angles.
- 8). Cut the the left hand side 4-inch end of the pieces marked G with a double mitered cut, 25 degrees in from 1 7/8-inch from the bottom and 65 degrees in from 1 5/8-inch from the top and the right hand side 4-inch ends with a 25 degree flat miter cut.
- 9). Build the two end sections, one at a time, by aligning two pieces marked B, adjacent to each each other vertically, with a 17-inch clearance between the inside 4-inch faces, center one of the A pieces flush to their top edges and one of the C pieces flush to their bottom edges and drive two 6d nails through the four joints.
- 10
Build the four bench supports, one at a time, by aligning two pieces marked E, adjacent to each other vertically, with a 5-inch clearance between the inside 4-inch faces, center one of the D pieces flush to the top and outside edges and drive two 6d nails through the two joints. - 11
Attach the bench supports to the end sections, one at a time, with the D pieces aligned horizontally with the C piece and the outer Es flush with the C piece ends, by putting two 6d nails through the two joints. - 12
Attach two of the F pieces to the C pieces, with the 2-inch faces up, between the E pieces on the left and right end sections, with two 6d nails. Attach the third F piece centered between the two A pieces. - 13
Attach the 25 degree miter cut ends of the G pieces next to each other, centered on the top F piece with the 65 degree cut on the other end flush against the inside center of the C pieces by putting two 6d nails at each joint. - 14
Place three of the H pieces on each of the bench supports and the J pieces on the table top A pieces with a 3/4-inch clearance between each board and nail them in place with two 6d nails at every joint.
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