I spent some time in the shop today with my oldest son. We made a picnic table together for his cedar shack.
We went to the hardware store and bought the hardware neccesary for the bench. He had to locate the proper bolts, nuts, etc. and weight them so we could get an accurate cost estimate for the table. After spending $30 on all the hardware, he was shocked to walk out of the store and see a full sized picnic table for sale that cost only $88. :D So on the way home, we had a discussion on "mass" produced versus "one-off." :D
When we got home, we headed to the wood stack and pulled out some cedar. We like to use natural edges, so we tacked a straight edge to this flitch then passed it through the tablesaw to make the cross members.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12750/picnicopt1.jpg)
And the result after cutting...
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12750/picnicopt2.jpg)
Here we have one leg assembly layed out. We went with 22.5 degree angles on all the mitre cuts. A couple of carriage bolts in each joint holds it all together.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12750/picnicopt3.jpg)
The table top is held on with little right angle metal brackets and an angled brace for some triangulation.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12750/picnicopt4.jpg)
Here's the finished table with the seats installed. The seats are another flitch ripped in half and held in place with a couple of metal brackets. All edges were gone over with a round over bit to ease them.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12750/picnicopt5.jpg)
We finished just in time for lunch. :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12750/picnicopt6.jpg)
Cool table guys!
Nice table, I like the natural edges. I am sure your son did most of the work while you were taking pictures.
You won't get that table for $88! Also, a great lesson for your son. You can go out and buy a cheap, low quality, mass produced item, or you can build something yourself. Sadly, so many people out there have no skills to do anything themselves except play video games :).
MS,
Great table...
Great kid...
Great dad...
And a great day.
Herb
While climbing into the truck at the big box store, he said "It's more fun to build it yourself, isn't it, Dad." 8)
Pigman,
Yeah he worked pretty hard. :D
He got to learn where all the power tools are stored along with the extension cords. He even got to blow out the air filter of the shop vac with the air compressor. :D He did get to drive all the screws and pound the bolts into the holes with the mallet.
WDH,
He's got plenty of gaming skills. ;) I'm hoping these little projects plant a seed that will sprout someday. You should here both boys rattle off their wood and tree identification skills. Just today while driving to the store, Nick was pointing walnut trees out left and right. 8) :D
Yeah, thats not an $80 table, thats a $200 custom designer picnic table ;)
Ian
You and your son did well. Plus all the quality time, that has no price. 8) I'm sure it all pays dividends somewhere down the line. ;D
I don't know where I got the bug from, no one in the family could build anything and nothing much to do it with. Must've been shop class I guess. ;) I started out with an axe and graduated up the ladder. :D
Nice table!!!!
Thanks for sharing the moment. He's a lucky lad. Good job.
What a neat story.
Me thinks MS is just a pretty cool Dad. 8) 8) 8) 8)
QuoteMe thinks MS is just a pretty cool Dad.
I've been accused of reliving my childhood through my boys. :D
That's great Chris. Sadly, so few dads and sons get to share an experience like that nowadays. I hope to one day get to do share things like that with my grandson. :)
Your boys will always have fond memories of spending time with you.
Don
Cool table MS! 8)
You are building great memories for you and your boys.
Nicely done to both of you. :)
Yes, nice table. It's even nicer to impart the lesson on quality, craftsmanship, and the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Plus you end up with a nicer products usually.
WDH, it's not that people don't have the skills, those can be taught/learned. It's that they don't have the ambition to learn and try.
Thanks, everyone for the nice replys. :)
This table was a prototype. We are building an outdoor classroom at the boys' elementary school and this is one idea to furnish it.
Quoteit's not that people don't have the skills, those can be taught/learned. It's that they don't have the ambition to learn and try.
This fall, I'm going to have to recruit several helping hands that are willing to learn to get many of these built. :-\
Thanks for sharing! It is time for my husband to get our boys back out in his shop. It has been a while. Hope to be able to share what they do soon. Love the picnic table!
Nice table but is that pizza and beer the boy is having for lunch? :D :D
AWE-SOME!!!! ;D
nice table 8)
Picnic table basics.Seats should be near the same total width as the legs total width at the floor.Seats overhanging the legs make for a tippy table.My tables measure 55 inches seat width and leg spread at the floor is 54 inches.The cross pieces that hold the seats must be 2x6 stock ,never 2x4 stock.An 8 foot table can have 900lb on the seat.Use 3/8 bolts to bolt seat bars to legs.!/4 inch bolts will bend and the small washers will pull into the wood.Hardware cost should be under 10.00.