It seems like every project I start will get out of hand before it is finished. This is why I try—usually unsuccessfuly—not to have too many projects on the go at any given time. A few years ago, I decided it was time to fix up our old picnic table. I had planned on replacing a few of the rotted boards and giving it a coat of paint. Then, a few days ago when I finally found the time, I took a look at the old girl and decided it was time for her to be put out of her misery.


I put in a few hours worth of vigorous work, and now I have a brand spankin’ new pic-in-ic table.


She’s built entirely out of material from our used lumber heap, which actually made for a better finished product, since I had some nice fir boards and some pressure treated 4”x 4” posts that were salvaged from who-knows-what.

I’m completely satisfied with the proportions, as what I was aiming for was a stereotypical picnic table like what you might see at a government campground. I was also pleased that I haven’t and won’t need to take any trips to the hardware store in order to finish the table. I will be sanding it, staining the fir sections, and painting the posts within the next few days. Then I need to figure out how to get it onto a second story deck with no access from the outside. (It’s awkward to carry and it weighs a ton.)

A picnic table would be a perfect first carpentry project, since the tolerances are large and the design is simple. You could even build one without power tools without too much trouble (certainly not how I made this one). If you want to give it a try and would like some measurements, I’d be glad to help you out. I may also post more photos once it is completed and has made the trip to the second story.

Related Tags: trades, picnic table, carpentry