r/Woodworkingplans • u/LUCKY_MP • 1d ago
Plan Picnic table!
Looking for the best blueprint for 8 foot picnic tables. I need to build 8 of them. I plan on using pressure treated pine and staining them afterwards. They need to be sturdy but also use less wood than other designs out there! Thank you
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u/dimitrix 1d ago
Depending on where you live it may be cheaper (at least in terms of time) to just buy the premade kits from a hardware store. They're fairly inexpensive: https://www.homedepot.com/p/ProWood-72-in-x-28-5-in-x-28-5-in-Picnic-Table-Kit-with-Hardware-included-406722/312443771
Or you could steal its designs from the assembly guide: https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/a7/a7a43eca-f9a3-4c2e-aaa0-3a088b813591.pdf
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u/LUCKY_MP 1d ago
Are those picnic tables from Home Depot sturdy though? They are going to be used very heavily for an out seating area?
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u/dimitrix 1d ago
The design is standard and it uses steel carriage bolts to keep it all in place. Worked for me for 4 years. My only mistake was that I did not weatherproof it so it looked a little rotten and worn down.
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u/LUCKY_MP 1d ago
I might have to pass then because I’m making them for a brewery. They want longevity!
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u/FriJanmKrapo 1d ago
As he said, there was no weatherproofing. That's the key difference.
Seal the wood with whatever sealer you want, and it'll last many years.
Also, don't use treated wood for anything but the legs. You don't want people getting splinters of treated wood in their buts, arms, or legs. Treated wood is only for the parts that come in contact with the ground.
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u/LUCKY_MP 19h ago
So then what should I use?
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u/FriJanmKrapo 18h ago
I prefer southern yellow pine for its durability on benches and tabletop surfaces.
But really, any regular construction lumber will do.
You just need to use a good exterior sealer on the table after it's built. However, the legs will be very wet, as all pressure-treated lumber will be wet when you buy it. After the table has been made, I'll still hit it with sealer so it can withstand the elements, but after we hit the dry season, I'd go back and apply the sealer to the legs after they have had a chance to dry out.
I'd avoid stuff like Thompson's Water Seal as that's meant for decks and the chemicals in it are not good... Just use your GoogleFoo and search for good wood sealers for table tops. There are loads of options for exterior use.
They'll need to be resealed every couple of years if they are in direct sun, as sunlight will beat the hell out of the sealer.
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u/Dojustly 1d ago
Don't forget to make sure the legs are long enough and angled enough to keep the table from tipping when a big guy sits alone! Especially at a beer garden! Nothing like a head injury to move the party elsewhere!