Anybody build picnic tables?

Larry · June 01, 2006, 06:51:25 PM

Used to build a few of them...3 different styles and all kind of wood choices. Haven't built any in bout 15 years...thought I would build a few since I have extra frames welded up.

This is the first one...I call it the 8 heavy cause it's close to 400 pounds and 8' long. 6/4 white oak on the top, and 16/4 white oak for the benches. Finish is Sikkens Cetol SRD...something new for me.

Sawed out some book matched, live edge walnut, along with some 29" wide slabs this morning to turn into tops this fall. Any criticism or thoughts appreciated as I always like to improve my craft.

And iffen ya got pic's of your picnic table put em on.

Ron Scott · June 01, 2006, 07:15:40 PM

Nice tables! You might want to build some designed for use by the physically impaired with an approximate 18" length added to the table top for an overhang.

The overhang is placed on one end of the table top so as to allow for a person in a wheel chair to sit at the table also.

We had to go to this design for use in our campgrounds and handicapped accessible sites.

Mooseherder · June 01, 2006, 07:47:25 PM

Here is one I built. We had 14 people sitting around it last summer.

Daren · June 01, 2006, 09:10:01 PM

I don't have any pics of one done, just never though of it. That does look heavy. Kinda like a city would buy to keep from getting stolen. White oak should last too ;). I like the rounded corners, nice touch. I have built my fair share, mostly for backyards and for people at their campsite. I live near a good rec. lake with many campgrounds. I found you make one and sell/lend/give it to someone there and then you get calls for 50 more. They like ones they can move around to the shade. I did find a pic of a single bench to one like sells around here. The table is the same trestle style. The table top planks are closer together and they have 2 "legs" going to the base, scaled to the benches. I know a picture is worth 1000 words, I have neither. This one is white oak too. I make them from hedge, cedar... no finish. Most people don't want the upkeep, they want something they can leave out for years and not think about and don't mind the way good wood ages with grace.

Having said all that and posting a picture of 1/3 of a table, yours sure are pretty Larry

.

Jeff · June 01, 2006, 09:15:21 PM

Burlkraft · June 01, 2006, 09:21:46 PM

Larry......Nice work

That is one nice picnic table. I work fo Habitat and we build a cedar picnic table for each house that is done. Of course they are not as nice this one. How did you like the Sikkens???????

Jeff.......... ;D ;D ;D

Corley5 · June 01, 2006, 10:16:37 PM

I've been thinking about building a couple out of white cedar and setting them out with the campfire wood for sale. Been thinking about it. Not sure where the time will come from but I'm thinking about it ;)

beenthere · June 02, 2006, 12:10:06 AM

Sounds like a good idea.
Maybe another possible thing would be some knock-offs like JeffB's picnic tables, only with smaller cookies from logs, pre-boring the holes, and shaping some legs for stools and table kits that can be picked up at the same time. They can build their own to suit. Price the cookies and the legs separately and they can mix and match 'em. No idea if they'd sell and may be more trouble than they are worth. :

Rockn H · June 02, 2006, 12:31:51 AM

Nice table Larry, those benches look pretty substancial. ;D
Everybody else's looks good too. :D

UNCLEBUCK · June 02, 2006, 12:39:00 AM

That's beautiful picnic table Larry ,just awesome ! I like everyone elses too

ohsoloco · June 02, 2006, 07:15:00 AM

All of the tables are great, but I'm still in awe that Larry has 16/4 white oak with no checks in it :D

Norm · June 02, 2006, 07:25:39 AM

Very nice folks, Larry that would make a great shooting bench too. ;)

Now how did you get the 16/4 to dry without serious surface checks?

Larry · June 02, 2006, 08:45:53 AM

Thanks for all the nice comments. Keep the pictures and ideas coming...I like em all. 8) 8)

Daren, your experiences selling are the same as what I have found. You gave me a couple of good ideas to try out.

Burkraft, this is my first time using Sikkens on a picnic table. According to my paint lady the finish should last from 1 to 3 years. When it starts looking shabby just slop on another coat with no surface preparation required. So...check back in 3 years.

Norm, the six foot model pressed into service. ;D Have to get a picture of the model that plugs into goose-neck or hitch receiver on the pickup.

I was gonna come up with a whopper on how I keep thick oak from checking...but I'll tell the truth. :D The bottom (pith) side always has a saw kerf from a circular saw or a heart crack. Keep the timber in a shed with no air movement for a year or longer. Normally the bark side will come out with little or no checks. Timbers from big logs sawn free of heart work the best.

Max sawdust · June 03, 2006, 07:33:47 AM

Nice tables 8)

Here is a design I like. Many years ago, the Father inlaw gave us an old table he picked up at a dump. It was in rough shape but we liked the design, so I copied it. It Red Cedar 2x material from the lumber yard. (Pre saw mill days :

)

#1 light weight
#2 Flexible design, use the benches by the camp fire or with the table
#3 Allows you to sit further back from the table than fixed bench designs. (Important to me, I dislike having to squeeze into fixed bench picinic tables.)

The table pictured is over 10 years old never been refinished, always outside, moved and abused and still as good as the day I made it.
Max

ohsoloco · June 03, 2006, 12:23:29 PM

My mom used to tell me I'd grow into my clothes, but geez Max, aren't those shoes just a little big? :D

asy · June 03, 2006, 07:23:43 PM

Great tables, I do love a good picnic. :D

Must say, I agree with Max regarding the ability to move the chairs in and out, I find, especially if I'm having a 'bad back day' that fixed chairs are too hard to get in to.

asy :D

CHARLIE · June 04, 2006, 12:30:48 AM

Larry, I also like that picnic table. A very nice job and it looks real nice! If everyone sits on one side, it'll stay put. ;D

Max, the design of that picnic table of yours reminds me of my first dining table. Back in 1967, Donna and I got married and we were poorer than two church mice. We had one chair and a sofa in the living room, a double bed and orange crates with contact paper for cabinets in the kitchen (2 bedroom apartment). No radio, no TV, no Record Player, just me and my guitar. We had no dining room table. I was going to college and working part-time at a retail lumber company. They had a redwood picnic table just like Max's that was missing the hardware and the manager sold it to me for $8. I then bought the bolts and nuts I needed, took it home and it became our dining room table (we used the benches too). When I moved to Minnesota in 1972, I brought it with me and then we used it as a picnic table. I must've sold it somewhere back then, 'cause I ain't got it no more.

WDH · June 21, 2007, 12:36:43 AM

Larry,

First time that I have seen this thread. That is one fine table. All the white oaks around here will shudder with fright as I look them over

. I really like it ;D.

TexasTimbers · June 21, 2007, 08:36:37 AM

Very nice Larry. I really like that mix of steel and wood. I might copy yours next year - I donate one every year to my buddy's VFD raffle. this one was this years. Simple design, it's the wood that makes me look good. ;)