Quickie Patio Table

[cabinetman]

A little background. LOML is definitely a tool babe. Over the last 18 years, she has helped me in the shop, and on installations. She picked up on doing inlays during a project that had about 53 of them. So, she likes woodworking and finds it a relaxing escape.

Many months ago one of her friends had asked for my advice on maintenance to a patio table that was unfinished Teak. She brought home a picture of it. Up to that point we had been using one of those cheapo $29 round plastic tables. It had served us well but IMO was destined for the heap. While we were talking about the table she mentioned that she likes the look of the grain following the perimeter, and would like to build one as a backyard project. Something she could work on for a couple of hours a day when she got home from work.

Like I said this was many months ago. Well time passed, and she lost interest and kept asking if I would help her out. That means, I had to make it if it would ever get done. So, this project is a perfect example of a very rough, simple, inexpensive table with only about $30 in wood that can be made on your patio with a minimum of tools and time.

The lumber is #2 PT SYP 2x4's right off the stack. They weren't dimensioned for exact widths or thickness. A CMS and a ROS were the only tools used. I used a folding table made up from a folding leg kit and an old door, a couple of sawhorses, 4 bar clamps, and TB III. That's it. The time involved was a couple of evenings after work. This was a quick project, not out to win any awards, but sure beats the heck out of a plastic table.

This first picture is the 42" square top after the final glue up.
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This one shows the leg assemblies.
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And finally, the table standing after staining. Wife picked out the color, so I'm off the hook.
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And here it is with the umbrella, all ready to do some serious sitting.
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[radhak]

I like it! Enough to want to copy it! Nicely done!!

How'd you glue it : build up each of the 4 triangles then put them together, or work inside to out, a complete perimeter a time? And did you need to provide any dowels or something to add strength?

Btw, don't tell the LOYL, but I liked the pre-finish look more - shows that even the grain of SYP can be attractive...

[cabinetman]

I like it! Enough to want to copy it! Nicely done!!

How'd you glue it : build up each of the 4 triangles then put them together, or work inside to out, a complete perimeter a time? And did you need to provide any dowels or something to add strength?

Btw, don't tell the LOYL, but I liked the pre-finish look more - shows that even the grain of SYP can be attractive...

Thanks for the compliment. I started with the center out. Four pieces that were 45'd. Glued next perimeter all four pieces, etc, until all the perimeters were glued (clamps in two directions). The edges and the miters are glued. In addition, the leg returns under the top are screwed to each side of the miters on all the pieces.

Strength wise I think it should hold up well. Time will tell. I'll tell ya this, it's a heavy sucker. While working on it, and turning it over, I lost grip and a leg caught the back of my arm and tore off the skin about 3"x 4". So, I can say, I put my blood into this one.

Actually, I hesitated on using a stain, and like you I liked the natural look. It will likely lighten up in time. But, there's that SWMBO thing.
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[Richard in Smithville]

Nice table. Enough that I'm hiding the picture from LOML

[Ed62]

Very nice. I think a lot of people might want to steal your design.

Ed

[billwmeyer]

Looks great! Consider the design stolen.

Bill

[kevincan]

Thanks for the great idea. Are the legs removable? I have always stored my outside tables in the garage in the winter time. If the legs come off it is real easy to lean the table against a wall out of the way.

[Pappy]

Simple, effective and eye pleasing. If you had laid on a clear coat instead of the stain it might have looked even better, but you might not have!

[cgallery]

That is a very neat design, Cabinetman.

What kind of joint is between the legs, the cleats on the bottom of the top, and the angle braces?

BTW, one of the things I like about the table is that you maintain maximum legroom by avoiding an apron. Very nice.

[chopnhack]

Well done, C-man!

[cabinetman]

That is a very neat design, Cabinetman.

What kind of joint is between the legs, the cleats on the bottom of the top, and the angle braces?

BTW, one of the things I like about the table is that you maintain maximum legroom by avoiding an apron. Very nice.

The legs are rabbeted 3/8" to accept the cleats and the leg is glued, clamped and screwed (from the top of the cleat at an angle into the leg. The angle braces are glued and screwed to both the leg and the cleat.
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[Norm in Fujino]

Nicely done! My only concern is how the glue joints/seams hold up once it's exposed to rain and standing water--or are you planning to pull it under cover when not in use? I built a deck cabinet a few years ago whose edge-joined top had some leakage problems.

[cabinetman]

Thanks for the great idea. Are the legs removable? I have always stored my outside tables in the garage in the winter time. If the legs come off it is real easy to lean the table against a wall out of the way.

The legs can be made to be removable by using threaded inserts instead of screws. If you're planning to dismantle and store I would suggest fabricating the top differently. I would plane and straightedge each piece to be uniform to each other. In doing the edges I would take off at least 1/4" or more from each edge to result in square edges mating. I would also use a full length spline on each perimeter glue up.
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