Sunday 7 October 2012

Picnic Table and Bench



Equipment
·         Wood (approx 2.5mm thick) for the table top and benches
·         4mm square balsa (legs, table ends, seat braces)

 Cutting Directions


The numbers correspond to the cutting directions – they are not how many you cut
 
1.    Cut table top approx 10 cm long x 5 cm wide from the 2.5mm wood
2.    Cut 2 pieces of the 4mm square wood 5 cm long (same width as you table top. Table ends. Will attach to the legs)
3.    Cut 2  seat benches 10 cm long x 3 cm wide from the 2.5mm wood
4.   Cut 2 seat braces 15 cm long from 4mm square wood (same length as your table top)
5.    Cut 4 pieces of 4mm square wood 6.5 cm long (legs)

 

You now have
1   x   table top
2   x   table ends
2   x   seat benches
2   x   seat braces
4   x   legs
 


Legs
Equipment
  • 4mm square wood (basswood, balsa)
Cut 4 legs approx 6.5 cm long

Cut an angle (approx 20 degrees if that’s any help) on the bottom and top. They need to go in different directions so the legs splay out from the table to support the seat.
 

Construction
1.    Score lines on the table 1 cm apart. This will give the look of individual boards. I used a sharp pencil which will indent into balsa and the line of the pencil adds to the look of indentation.

 
If using wood (not balsa) mark your lines and then using a fine embossing tool
  2.    Glue table ends to the ends of the table top 



3.    Glue table legs to table ends. Make sure the legs splay outward.

 


















Before the glue dries completely on the second set of legs, stand your table up and make sure it stands straight. If your legs are the same length, its just a matter of the ensuring the angles of the legs are more or less the same.

Notice how I’ve clamped one side to the jig (a box I collected up somewhere. I know it is straight), and then used a ruler to adjust the legs on the other side.

Need to leave this bit to dry really well before moving onto the next step.


4.    Glue the seat braces onto the legs. These go roughly 2 ½ - 3 cm from the top

 
Remember: The seat braces go on the inside of the legs.
 

If you want, you can use a small nail to help hold this together. It will also look like the bolts you can often see on these outdoor picnic tables.


5.    Glue the seats onto the seat braces.

And guess what, you are done. 

Paint or stain to your favourite colour, add knot holes etc.



And do remember to comment and let me know what you think, anything you did differently, whether the instructions are clear, whatever. Just love to hear from people



For personal use only.


Madeleine

Sunday, 7 October 2012