Build Your Own Octagon Picnic Table

To build your own octagon picnic table you will need:

• 110ft of 2 x 6 pressure treated lumber
• 85 ft of 2 x 4 pressure treated lumber
• 16 galvanized carriage bolts
• 4″ galvanized flathead nails
• Twelves 12 inch by 1 inch galvanized straps
• a saw
• measuring square
• tape measure
• safety gear – goggles, mask and ear protection

Instructions to build your own octagon picnic table

Stage One – Cutting the lumber

The long part to this project is cutting out all the lumber to the right measurements and angled correctly. In this stage I will tell you what to cut and how then give a list on what you should have ended up with.

Lower frame cuts

1. From a 2 x 4 mark 99 inches then mark on both sides of the wood a V shape of a 60 degree angle. Now cut.
2. From 2 x 4 cut two pieces at 48 ½ inches. One end should be square the other needs a 60 degree angle on each.
3. From 2 x 4 cut four pieces at 48 1/8 inches. One end should be square but with a 45 degree bevel cut, the other needs to be a 60 degree angle. To do the bevel cut so that from above it looks like a point is to measure ¾ inches in on both sides then cut a 45 degree angle on both sides.

Upper frame cuts

1. From 2 x 4 cut one piece at 64 inches. Make the V shape and cut the 60 degree angle.
2. From 2 x 4 cut two pieces at 31 inches. Leave one end square and the other at 60 degrees for both pieces.
3. From 2 x 4 cut four pieces at 30 5/8 inches. One end should be square with a 45 degree bevel cut and the other is a 60 degree angle.

Leg cuts

1. The angles on the legs need to run the same way. The measurement runs from the long side to the short side of the angles. From 2 x 4 cut eight pieces to 30 inches using 60 degree angles.

You should so far have:

• One 99 inch piece with angles (B1)
• One 64 inch piece with angles (T1)
• Two 48 ½ inch pieces with angle and square (B2)
• Two 31 inch pieces with angle and square (T2)
• Four 48 1/8 inch pieces angle and square (B3)
• Four 30 5/8 inch pieces angle and square (T3)
• Eight 30 inch pieces angled (Legs)

Picnic table top cuts

• Using 2 x 6 we need to fill in the top and seat of the table. There should be seven sets and in each set there are eight pieces. All should be measured long to long using a 22 ½ degree angle.
• Cut Set One at 5 inches each times eight.
• Cut Set Two at 10 inches each times eight.
• Cut Set Three at 15 inches each times eight.
• Cut Set Four at 20 inches each times eight.
• Cut Set Five at 25 inches each times eight.
• Cut Set Six at 33 3/8 inches each times eight.
• Cut Set Seven at 38 3/8 inches each times eight.

Stage Two – Putting the Frame together

1. On the floor arrange the B and T boards. First take the (B1) and place it so the angles face up. Center the (B2) boards to the (B1) and it starts to look like a plus sign. Set the (B3) lumber in the corners in the middle.
2. Now repeat using the (T) boards.
3. Strap them together using the 12 inch by 1 inch galvanized strapping and nail using 4 inch galvanized flathead nails. Before you nail drill the holes first so that the lumber does not split. You now have a bottom and top frame done.
4. Take sets one to five and fill in the top of the table and use sets six and seven for the bottom. You should start from the center and work your way out. Attach together.

Stage Three – The legs

1. Measure 7 inches in on the top frame from each angle point and mark. Measure 17 inches in from the points on the lower frame and mark.
2. Attach the legs where you have marked using a carriage bolt in each place that board meets board.
3. The finished thing should be 30 inches from the ground to the top of the table and 15 ½ inches from the seat top to the table top.