How to make a table

Need a table for your patio space? Follow our guide on how to make an outdoor table.

Cutting List:
21 mm plywood sheet cut to:

• 2 @ 610mm x 94mm (Leg Box Top)
• 4 @ 480mm x 94mm (Leg Box Side)
• 4 @ 568mm x 94mm (Leg Box Base)
• 8 @ 1200mm x 94mm (Apron Sides & Table Top Slats)
• 3 @ 568mm x 50mm (Slat Supports)

For your convenience, have Builders cut your timber to size.

One piece of 21mm plywood makes one table.

Preparation

Start by making the two box sides of the table structure: You will need 1 x 610mm x 94mm, 2 x 480mm x 94mm, 2 x 568mm x 94mm, and 1 x 570mm x 50mm slat for each box side structure

Step 1

Begin by drilling pocket holes on both sides of the 568mm x 94mm slats.

Step 2

Now drill pocket holes on only one side of both 480mm x 94mm slats.

Step 3

Using wood glue between the mating surfaces and Kreg Screws, fasten one of the 568mm x 94mm slats to the two 480mm x 94mm slats on the side without pocket holes. Make sure the un-used pocket holes are on the outside of the box.

Step 4

Again using wood glue between the mating surfaces, fasten the 610mm x 94mm piece to the two 480mm x 94mm pieces with Kreg Screws.

Step 5

The last 568mm x 94mm piece will help form the tabletop brace and needs to be fastened perpendicular to the two 480mm x 94mm slats with an offset of 400mm from the bottom edge to the top of the slat, again using wood glue and Kreg Screws.

Step 6

Now take one of the 568mm x 50mm slats which will complete the tabletop brace, and mark where the pocket holes for the tabletop slats need to be drilled. Simply use another 21mm slat as a reference to help mark. Alternatively, measure out 6 intervals of 95mm (94mm slat with a 1mm tolerance.) Drill two pocket holes per interval.

Step 7

To complete the tabletop brace, fasten the 570mm x 50mm piece to the slat installed in step 5. This needs to be offset by 21mm (thickness of timber) from the top edge of the slat installed in step 5, again using wood glue and Kreg screws.

Repeat these steps to create a total of 2 box side structures.

The box sections are complete

With all the support sections complete, it is now time to join them together with the 1200mm x 94mm apron slats.

Step 8

Start by drilling pocket holes on both sides of two 1200mm x 94mm slats.

Step 9

Now take one side box structure with the side edge face down. Align one 1200mm x 94mm slats with the brace slat and fasten with wood glue and Kreg Screws. Repeat this for the other side.

Step 10

With both table apron sides secure, carefully flip the structure to align the side aprons to the other side box structure. Again take care to align with the brace slats and then fasten with wood glue and Kreg screws.

Step 11

Now to complete the centre tabletop brace. Flip your table structure onto its side and then repeat step 6 with the last 570mm x 50mm piece. Once complete, drill additional pocket holes along the 50mm side on both sides.

Step 12

Find and mark the centre on both aprons. Align the 570mm x 50mm piece on these centre marks with an offset from the top edge of 21mm (thickness of timber), and then fasten with wood glue and Kreg Screws.

As each tabletop slat butts up to the next, it makes sanding and painting between the slats a little difficult. We recommend you dress the timber now before fastening the tabletop slats.

Step 13

Start by filling all the Kreg pocket holes. You can use Kreg Pocket Hole Plugs or wood filler.

Step 14

Disguise any other imperfections in the timber with wood filler.

Step 15

Once the wood filler has dried, give your table structure a good sanding before dressing the timber to suit your home.

Step 16

We used the Fired Earth Cabinet and Furniture Paint as it is so easy to use and is hard-wearing.

Step 17

Once the slats and table structure is dry, you can now fasten the slats with wood glue and Kreg Screws to the 3 braces.

Step 18

As an optional extra, you can now add some rubber feet to the bottom of your chairs which will help protect both your table and floor surfaces.

Complete

A modern home made piece of furniture made from just one sheet of plywood. Be sure to see the single and double seater designs to complete the set.