The table for our sunroom was our first foray into furniture making and it was 100% great. With the right tools and now some basic skills too, our imagination has opened to many more pieces we can build for our house. Having one project on the books gives you confidence like that. An outdoor table is a great first piece to try. The materials for this project cost less than $75 and building the entire table took only a half day – about six hours.
And, it is huge. Eight feet, to be exact. All the step by step directions are below.
When designing our piece, I modified plans from one of the dining table’s on Ana White’s blog. We chose to make ours have wider legs and spacing between the planks of the table’s eating surface. If you decide to make this table, her instructions have helpful diagrams.
Here is what you will need to build this table:
WOOD PIECES
Four 8 foot long 2×2’s
Four 8 foot long 1×4’s
Four 8 foot long 1×10’s
One 8 foot long 2×4
TOOLS & MATERIALS
2″ screws
1 and 1/4″ screws
Wood glue
Wood filler
Sand paper (we like 60 grit)
Tape measurer
Drill
Circular saw
CUT LIST
Side apron: two 1×4’s at 90 and 1/2 inches
End aprons: two 1×4’s at 36 inches
Under tabletop supports: eight 2×2’s at 34 and 1/2 inches
Tabletop pieces: four 1×10’s at 96 inches
Legs: two 1×4’s at 29 and 1/4″
Legs: two 2×4’s at 29 and 1/4″
Cross supports: four 2×2’s at 12″, ends mitered at 45 degrees
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Using 2″ screws and wood glue, construct apron of table by joining side and end aprons.
2. Drill supports along apron, spaced 10 inches apart
3. Center apron on table top pieces and fasten to apron.
4. Fasten legs to apron.
5. Fasten a cross support around each leg.
We made the benches too, which believe it or not were even cheaper, easier, and faster than the table. Here is the post for those $25 benches.
