How to Build a Picnic Table and Bench

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The construction of this picnic table and bench is quite simple.

It has a beautiful style that suits your farmhouse or your living space.

The screws we will use will provide durability.

Building this modern picnic table and bench will be both funny and budget-friendly.

Please read carefully to learn how to make a modern picnic table. In this plan, you will have modern picnic table plans, dimensions, and detailed instructions.

Please review them carefully so you will understand when to cut and organize the pieces.

The modern picnic table building process starts with legs and supports.

Hardwood or pressure-treated boards are a popular choice, as well as cedar and cypress.

Pressure-treated timber is less stained, durable, and budget-friendly.

1) Starts by checking the list of tools to use for your DIY modern picnic table. After collecting the missing tools, focus on purchasing materials.

2) Measure and cut all the pieces and prepare them. Measure the length twice before doing your cuts. Make sure to label each one.

Tips: Drill pilot holes in wood pieces using a power drill for easy connections. 3) Follow the Project details for assembling the wood pieces.

4) We will use 2 1/2" desk screw and 2 1/2" Kreg Jig screw

5) You will secure use wood glue to the contact surface.

6) Fill any gaps and frame nail holes with wood putty.

7) Sand the entire Project with 150-220 grit or more sandpaper and dust pf before painting or staining your finished Project.

Cut List:

Picnic Table

A1 - 4 – 2 x 4 x 29″ legs 9'8''

B1 – B2 5 – 2 x 4 x 37 3/4″ right and left middle supports 15' 8 3/4''

C2 - 2 – 2 x 4 x 65″ front and rear supports 10'10''

D1 - 10 – 2 x 4 x 72″ top boards 60' Total: 2x4x96' 2 3/4'' Sitting Bench

E1 - 4 – 2 x 4 x 17″ legs 5'8''

F1 - 4 – 2 x 4 x 15 1/4″ right and left middle supports 5'1''

G2 - 2 – 2 x 4 x 53″ front and rear supports 8'10''

H2 - 4 – 2 x 4 x 60″ top boards 20'

Total: 2x4x39'7'' X2

List of tools:

Tape measure
Saw - Drill
Countersink drill bit
Wood glue - 2 1/2" desk screw and 2 1/2" Kreg Jig-pocket hole Screw.
Sanding
Stain/preferred paint coating:

Water-Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner
Water-Based Wood Stain mixed: Desert Sand and Pure White
Water-Based polyacrylic

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Important Notes:

Use a countersink drill bit to pre-drill ALL holes before inserting screws to avoid splitting the wood and make the screw heads sit flush with the wood.

There may be slight differences in the path of the screws to avoid encountering two screws that are close together.

Before you put the screw on the tip of the drill while doing the screwing operations, you should make a circle on the top of the wood for the screw entry by drawing a circle with the drill bit itself.

If you do this, the piece of wood will not crack.

Instead of screwing directly as shown in the picture, it is a much better method to first insert a wood drill rod into the tip of the drill and drill a screw hole by drilling the wood.

Then you can do the screwing process without damaging the wood.

Notes:

First, sand the wood with 150 grit or higher sandpaper to achieve a smooth, even surface before staining.

Thoroughly remove all dust from the wood by using a vacuum with a hose attachment, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Then wiping clean with a damp cloth. First, apply Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner to the boards.

Apply the Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner and allow it to penetrate the wood for just 1-5 minutes, then remove excess conditioner that has not soaked into the wood with a clean rag.

Apply Water Based Wood Stain to all of the wood.

You can the color Desert Sand mixed for 2 x 4 top boards and the color Pure White mixed for the legs.

What I love about the water-based stain is:

1) how easy clean-up is…

2) how little odor the stain has…

3) the colors. You can get everything from bold, colorful shades to neutral wood tones to light, creamy cottage and ocean-inspired stains.

Apply the stain using a foam brush, and allow it to penetrate the wood no longer than 3 minutes.

It is very fast-drying, so work in small sections! Wipe the wood with a clean cloth to remove any stain that has not soaked into the wood.

Allow the stain to dry 24 hours before applying a protective finish.

Tip: It will be easier to wear a pair of gloves while wiping the excess stain to keep our hands clean than to wash our hands.

After the stain has dried 24 hours, apply a thin coat of Water Based Polycrylic (I used the clear matte finish) using a brush.

Allow to dry at least 2 hours, then sand with a very fine 220 grit sandpaper and remove all dust.

Apply a second and third coat, drying and sanding in between each layer.

The wood will need 3 hours to dry before handling and 24 hours before it will be fully cured.

If you've ever used polyurethane on top of white paint and seen the yellow stains that appeared once the poly dried, you know how important it is to make sure you're using the right topcoat.

* If you wish, you can create different beautiful results with your own color choices.

I prefer to use these colors mostly for coffee picnic table. But beautiful colors will look good anywhere.

Dimensions Picnic Table

Side View:

Front View:

Top View:

Bottom View:

Assembly Process:

Picnic table

Step 1:

First, we measure and mark 1 1/2'' from the top inside of the A1 legs down. Then we glue the B1 middle support pieces just below the marked place and on the lower inner part of the A1 foot.

After it dries, we screw it from the outside with 2 1/2'' screws. If you have enough experience and tools, you can screw in the B1 parts by drilling pocket holes.

Set your pocket jig for 1 1/2 inch lumber, and make two pocket holes on either end of B1 of wood.

With the pocket holes on the underside of the board, use 2 1/2-inch exterior Kreg screws to attach the two A1 pieces of wood to either side of the B1 timbers.

You can screw in by drilling pocket holes in the same way in other screwing operations.

If you wish, you can also screw vertically, taking into account the explanation in the notes.

Step 2:

Now, since we will use it on the opposite side of the table, we repeat these operations once again and make it ready.

Step 3:

Now, we glue the C2 parts to the right and left inner sides of the A1 legs as in the picture and screw them from the outside after drying.

We use 5'' screws here and we have to be careful not to overlap the screws with the other screws.

You can do the screwing process as in the picture by using a kreg jig as I mentioned in the first stage.

Step 4:

Now, we stick the top boards (D2) of our table on the B1 pieces with 1/4'' space between them and screw them from the tops after they dry. Here too, using 2 1/2'' or 2'' screws will suffice.

Now, to make the picnic table stronger, we measure and glue the B2 piece to the bottom of the top boards at a distance of 30 3/4'' from the left and right.

After it dries, we screw it with 2 1/2" screws from the outside of the front and rear ends of the B2 part.

Then, if you wish, you can add 3 more screws using 2'' screws from the B2 part upwards.

We have completed our Picnic table Project!

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Dimensions Sitting Bench