Folding picnic table
A single bench seat that can be changed into a picnic table with ease.
This ‘Bench come Picnic Table’ is ideal for those smaller areas.
$5.00
Plans and step-by-step instructions on how to build a 1 piece folding picnic table.
There are 19 pages in the downloadable PDF file.
This detailed plan-set with step-by-step instructions is in both metric (mm) and imperial (inch) dimensions.
There are clear plans, instructions, pictures, and drawings.
Description
A single bench seat that can be changed into a picnic table with ease.
This ‘Bench come Picnic Table’ is ideal for those smaller areas where you don’t want a picnic table taking up all the space, all the time.
When the eating is over and the table is no longer needed, it can be folded back into a comfortable single bench seat and put to one side, still very much usable but taking up minimum room.
It can be either a 2 1/2 seater bench seat (2 adult and a kid), or a 5 seater picnic table.
The front seat spans 1373 mm (54″), the rear seat spans 1245 mm (49″), and the tabletop spans 1487 mm (58½”)
Materials
90 mm x 32 mm (1 1/4″ x 3 1/2″) natural decay-resistant or treated wood – 16 m (53 ft)
90 mm x 45 mm (1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″) natural decay-resistant or treated wood – 7 m (23 ft)
10 mm (3/8″) carriage bolts 70 mm (2 3/4″) long and self locking nuts – 4 of
exterior type wood screws 50 mm (2″) long – 100 of
exterior type wood screws 75 mm (3″) long – 16 of
also exterior wood glue
Sourcing the stock sizes
This project calls for two stock sizes – 90 mm x 45 mm (1½” x 3½”), and 90 mm x 32 mm (1¼” x 3½”).
Both stock sizes are available in Australasia. In North America 90 mm x 45 mm (1½” x 3½”) stock is widely available and 90 mm x 32 mm (1¼” x 3½”) stock can be ripped out of 5/4 in. x 6 in. deck boards found at both Lowes and the Home Depot.
Ideally, if you can source or obtain both stock sizes all the better, but if you can only source the 90 mm x 45 mm (1½” x 3½”) stock which is more widely available, then some changes to the plans would need to be made.
REED –
For the frame I used 5/4 x 6 pressure treated wood (actual 1.25 x 5.5). I don’t have a power miter saw so I cut each length with a circular saw then ripped into two identical pieces with a table saw. Cut the angles for each piece with a table saw. The top and seats are T&G pine. This may not hold up outside so I didn’t glue them. I can always replace them with the same pressure treated wood. If I do this I will edge dowel them together rather than use a rod or a batten as shown in the plans.
Thanks for the plans.
Reed