The Process of Picnic Tables

Here is a little behind the scenes look at what it takes to build a picnic table.  First you have to cut and stain the wood.  It takes about 30 minutes to cut enough wood to build 1 children's table.  And we have to use a router to smooth out the edges, then we usually have to go back and make sure there aren't any rough edges.

Then we make the frames, one by one.  It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to make 2 of the frames.

Last year, we got another drill (the blue one,) which makes it go a lot faster, because we can get one of us on one side and one of us on the other.

Here are 2 of the frames, which is enough for 1 table.  These are the base for all of the children's tables.

Then, its time for the center brace!  It basically just helps with stability.  It can be hard later if you get it in the wrong spot, because when you go to put the top on, one of the boards could get off, which could end up either ruining the table, or a costing lot of time trying to fix it.

Then we put on the benches. We use the routed-edged boards to make it nice and smooth.  Right here is where we are close to being done with a children's table.

Then we put on the top, and we are done building the table...

...but then for the hard part, moving it outside.  Yes, we have to take a roughly 3 foot wide table out of a

35 1/2 in door.  It is a lot easier than taking out an adult table, but it is still a little difficult.  But, in about 2 hours, we made 3 kids tables, and got all of them outside!

 So there you have it, the process of building kids tables!  I will make sure to get pictures of when we make adult tables.