DIY picnic table: for your next trip to the great outdoors

For the first step, you’ll need the board that will later become the tabletop of your picnic table. You can have this wooden board cut to the right size at your local DIY store.
Now, mark out all the measurements. Start with the middle – use a wooden slat to help (image 1). Mark out both a cross through the diagonals and other lines from the middle of the edge of the board (see image 5). Also mark where you’re going to drill on this line, approximately 30 mm away from the edge (image 2).

Then, mark out the rounded corners. It’s best to use a regular plate for this (image 3). Use a compass to mark the round gaps for the bottle (image 4).

You can get another overview of all the measurements in the last image (image 5).

Next, saw out the round pieces marked in all four corners. Make sure to clamp the board down to your workbench securely. 

In the first step, you marked where you’re going to drill holes on four of the lines you drew. Now, drill four small holes at these points to create the gaps for glasses at the edge of the picnic table – preferably with a suitable Forstner drill bit. Place a piece of scrap wood under the board before you do this.

The next step will see you saw out the large hole in the middle of the board. To do this, you first need to pre-drill a hole inside the circle using an 8-mm wood drill bit (image 1).

Then, insert the jigsaw into the hole and guide it along the line marked on the board (image 2). Sawing out the circle requires precision, so make sure to use a fine jigsaw blade.

Saw out the gaps for all of the small holes as well. To create these, measure 6 mm to both the left and the right of the centre line (image 3).

Finally, sand all of the sawn edges (image 4).

Now, take the 35 x 35 mm squared timbers and mark out the lengths specified above.

Then, cut the timbers to the appropriate length.

You’ll need the three sawn squared timbers again in this step. Mark the centre on the short edge on each timber. From there, measure 20 mm along the edge of the timber and mark this point with a pencil (image 1).

Then, drill the holes in the marked positions.

The base support of your picnic table should be foldable later. To do this, you need to saw out a corner on the longest squared timber (430 mm in length) (image 1). To get the correct angle, measure 20 mm on the top and 20 mm on the side of the timber.

Then, briefly sand the cut edge.

Now, join the three squared timbers using the carriage bolt and tighten it firmly with a wrench.

Pre-drill another two holes into each of the short squared timbers. You’ll need these to screw the base to the tabletop.

Now, turn the entire base support upside down and pre-drill the hole for the metal rod on the underside of it (image 2).

Make sure that the base support is firmly attached to the tabletop.

You’re nearly done! But there’s still one small squared timber left. You’ll need this to be able to lock your base support as well. First, take the squared timber, place it on the base support and mark the position (image 1).

Once you’ve made the marking, attach the base support construction to the tabletop with four screws.

When you’ve done that, attach the small squared timber to act as a lock. Use another screw here so that the squared timber can move like a latch.

Finally, insert the metal rod and glue it into the pre-drilled hole. You can use this rod later to stick your new picnic table into the grass easily.

The only thing left to do now is decide which tasty treats you’re going to pack for your trip.