MODERN PICNIC TABLE

Serve up some style at your next cookout or outdoor party with this eye-catching table and bench combo.

- VINCE ANCONA

Kick your next picnic up a notch with this handsome table and bench. End frames joined with pocket screws and laminated together give the bench strength, while the opposing angles give it grace. This solid design provides a great look and ensures years of service.

OUTER FRAME ASSEMBLY

A laminated pair of outer and inner frames make up each end assembly of the table. Start by building the outer frames. To make the table base, we milled stock from roughsawn 8/4 Southern yellow pine. If you choose to use construction lumber, consider ripping the parts from the edges of 2×10 and 2×12 boards, keeping the rift- and quartersawn grain sections and avoiding the piths.

1 Cut to width and miter-cut to length the outer frame legs (A) and upper and lower rails (B, C) [Drawings 1 and 2, Materials List]. Drill pocket holes at the ends of the rails. Glue and screw the rails to the legs [Photo A].

2 Miter-cut the lower ends of the outer frame seat legs (D) and use the outer frame assembly (A-C) to mark them to length [Drawing 2, Photo B]. Miter-cut the seat legs to length, then to shape by mitering the top outer corners. Drill pocket holes in each leg then glue and screw them to the frames (A-C).

3 Miter-cut the outer frame seat rails (E) to fit between the outer frame legs (A) and seat legs (D) [Drawings 1 and 2]. Glue and pocket-screw these pieces in place to complete the outer frames.

INNER FRAME ASSEMBLY

Rather than relying on the Materials List, use the outer frames as templates for sizing and laying out the inner frame parts. This ensures you end up with identically sized inner and outer frames.