How to make a table for outdoor recreation. DIY universal folding table

Summer is in full swing, and as soon as free time appears, many citizens go on a picnic. AND modern man wants to communicate with nature, but for some reason, communication, in his opinion, should take place in the most comfortable conditions for a city dweller. So the “tourists” are taking tents and camping furniture sets into the forest, which today are produced in abundance by domestic and foreign manufacturers.

The folding table is lightweight, compact and easy to assemble.

In this variety of tables and chairs, which differ from each other in shape, material of manufacture, price, finally, the eye, as a rule, clings to rather interesting pieces of furniture, the origin of which is clearly not store-bought. And by the proud look noticeable to everyone around, with which a person collects a table in a clearing, camping or on the beach, you can determine that this table was made with your own hands.

2 simplest designs

I would like to offer those who want to make picnic furniture on their own, 2 simple designs camping tables that do not require special costs in the manufacture and the presence of a complex tool.

One of them, when assembled, will be a suitcase, and the other can be easily folded like a rug, and it can be put away in a case.

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Making a table-suitcase

The blanks for the table-suitcase will serve as:

The tabletop can be made from MDF or plywood.

• 10mm plywood;
• planed timber 30 by 30 mm from birch;
• self-tapping screws 4 x 50 mm (thickness and length of fasteners) for fastening the frame bars;
• self-tapping screws 4 by 25 mm for fastening fittings and plywood to the frame;
• 2 hinges for windows (the width of each plate is not more than 30 mm);
• 4 furniture screws with a length of at least 70 mm, nuts for them and 8 washers.

Of course, every "self-respecting" suitcase should be equipped with a carrying handle and locks. Latches can be taken from an old case or suitcase. Suitable for locks and small hooks. The choice of a handle for carrying the table remains with the master, but maybe there will be a belt instead of it so that the folding table hangs on the shoulder while hiking.

For the countertop, you need to cut 2 pieces of plywood with dimensions of 580 by 500 mm each. For the frame under it, you need to saw off 8 bars: 4 of them will be 500 mm each, and the rest - 520 mm each. For the legs, you need to cut 4 beams no longer than 500 mm (to fit in the box when folding the table).

First of all, the frame is assembled. To prevent splitting of the bars when screwing in the screws, it is necessary to drill holes in the wood. After tightening the frame, the table top plywood is attached to it. Do not forget to make holes in its surface before screwing in the screws and countersink them under the fastener caps.

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Installation of legs and hinges

Legs can be either wooden or aluminum.

Table legs will be attached to the 500 mm frame bars. In the frame, step back 15 mm from each inner corner and 15 mm from the countertop and mark the centers of future furniture screw holes. In the bars for the legs, also measure 15 mm from their end and one of the sides. Drill holes with an 8mm drill bit.

The most crucial moment when assembling a transforming table is the installation of hinges. It is easy to screw them to the frame, but if the hinges are not recessed into the frame, then after closing the table, gaps will be noticeable between its halves.

Yes, and the suitcase will definitely need 4 legs made of rubber or plastic. Their thickness should match the diameter of the hinge hinges so that the closed table stands steadily on the surface, and there are no problems when opening it.

So, the draft version of the table is ready. It remains to peel it wooden details sandpaper. Treat the wood with antiseptics and cover the table with paint or varnish.

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Making a roll table

There is an even easier way to make your own camping table. For work, cuttings will be required for garden tool or round wooden rods, several meters of wood planks and fasteners.

Here is a more accurate list of the required material:

To protect the table from moisture, treat all parts with stain.

• 10 600 mm wooden planks 15 by 45 mm;
• 2 540 mm strips 15 by 45 mm;
• 4 wooden rods with a diameter of 30 mm and a length of 400 mm;
• 2 nylon, leather or canvas belts, 540 mm long;
• 4 threaded inserts with internal thread 10 mm;
• 4 bolts M 10 70 mm long.

Choose the straightest birch cuttings or rods in the store, as the look of the table will depend on this. Birch wood is the most suitable material and for countertop rails.

After you have cut 10 600 mm rails, 4 400 mm rods, 2 540 mm rails and sanded their surface, you can start assembling the table. 10 wooden planks of the future tabletop are fastened together with a belt using construction stapler. Make a small gap between the planks. To make it the same between all the rails, insert bars of the same thickness (15 mm) between them. So that the countertop does not deviate from a rectangular shape, do not refuse to use a square in your work. So, the tabletop is ready. Now you can roll it into a roll or fold it like an accordion.

Clamp the table leg in a vise, but to prevent sponges from damaging its surface, use rubber, wood or sandpaper as a spacer between them and the rod material. Drill a hole at the end of the leg to a depth of 40 mm, into which the threaded insert will cut. Repeat this operation with each of the 4 rods. Make sure that the drill enters the leg perpendicular to its end. Screw the threaded inserts into the body of the legs.

The 540mm planks will serve as a rigid base for the countertop. Drill 2 bolt holes in them near the edges. Then attach the slats across the planks of the tabletop at the same distance from its edges and mark the centers of the holes in the extreme slats. With the same drill, make 4 holes in the countertop.

Treat the wood with an antiseptic compound and paint the table. You can cover its surface with varnish.

Perhaps, it will not be difficult for anyone to make such tables for a picnic. And if we put production folding furniture“on the stream”, then you can provide them with all your relatives and friends.

The need for a table that you can bring to a picnic, and then quickly assemble and disassemble with your own hands, can be great. Making a picnic table with your own hands is not too difficult, and does not take much time. This skill will come in handy in later life, as the ability to work with wood and knowledge of basic tools are important for a comfortable life. It is best to choose wood for the manufacture of the table, since this material is light, durable and environmentally friendly if all stages of its processing have been completed. Working with wood is easier than with plastic, and it is good to master the initial skills of woodworking on such simple household items.

Scheme with dimensions folding table with removable legs.

Picnic table - varieties

The appearance of picnic tables differs in the shape of the tabletops - it is most often rectangular, but there are also models with a round or square, and sometimes a figured surface. Legs can be made of steel, aluminum or wood.

Most often, folding picnic tables are rectangular in shape, but there are also round ones.

If the legs are parallel, it will be comfortable to sit at such a table, but the structure will become less durable. If the legs are arranged crosswise, they are very stable, but sitting at such a table is not very comfortable. For uneven surfaces it is desirable to provide removable legs that could be adjusted in height. When choosing tables of this kind, you need to focus not on appearance and size, but on design features.

For picnics and other outings good option is a top made of lacquered plywood, as this material is moisture resistant and will last for many years. This type of material belongs to those that are easy to clean and do not absorb odors. It is convenient to provide a hole for an awning in the center of the tabletop to make outdoor recreation even more comfortable, but the ratio of the table and the awning must be well thought out so that the whole structure does not tip over from the wind.

DIY collapsible table

Tables made of wood or laminated chipboard with parallel legs look very neat. The materials and tools needed to make a picnic table with your own hands are classified as common, and you can find them in almost every hardware store. For a folding table you will need:

Drawing with dimensions of a folding rectangular table.

• shield glued from natural wood;
• beam;
• reinforced washers;
• furniture corners;
• furniture hinges;
• wing nuts;
• rivets;
• screws;
• hacksaw;
• electric drill;
• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• pencil or marker.

The picnic table, depending on the functionality, can have different sizes, but one detail is common for all folding tables.

The legs, namely the folding part, must be shorter than its height, otherwise the table will not be able to fold.

It is impossible to stand with your feet on such tables, since the folding design of the legs can withstand less weight than the permanent one. Having made a table with your own hands, you can then decorate its countertop with paints or using decoupage.

Table manufacturing procedure

Scheme of a folding square table.

The acquired timber must be cut to the size of the table, legs and crossbars between them will be made from it. You will need 4 identical pieces for the legs and 4 identical crossbars that will fasten the legs together at the bottom and at the top. You will also need a transverse beam, which will prevent the table from folding and warping its legs.

Pairs of legs are laid out parallel to each other on a table or on a workbench according to the width of the table and the crossbar. Two crossbars are placed in the upper part of the legs and the structure is twisted with screws in the corners. The diagonals of the resulting rectangle should be equal - this will ensure stability for the picnic table. After checking, the structure is twisted tightly by adding metal corners. The second rack is created in a similar way.

Furniture hinges made racks are attached to the tabletop. Indents from the edges are made 3-5 cm. Then a keeper tape is attached to the picnic table. It is needed to fix the legs-racks in relation to the table top. The tape on the tabletop is fixed with screws, then, having set the racks in a vertical position, cut the tape on optimal length. On the rack, the ends are fixed with rivets and in such a way that it can be detached at any time.

Folding picnic table

This design turns out to be quite light, and therefore is used in hiking, in the garden and fishing. To get started, cut out the bars, with a prudent margin of diameter. It is very convenient to cut such materials into circular saw. For the countertop, you can choose any material, but lacquered plywood or wood covered with several layers of varnish is preferable. The saw cuts should be closed with an edge tape, and the timber prepared for the legs should be rounded off with a jigsaw or grinder.

First of all, proceed to the assembly of the legs and supports. The legs are fastened crosswise with each other using a large bolt 3-3.5 cm long. With a marker or pencil, markings for fastening are applied to the tabletop with inside. Installation of all parts takes place with the help of self-tapping wood screws. The parts are numbered, and pre-assembly takes place, after which the structure is disassembled again and all parts are varnished. After a day, for which the varnish should dry, you can do the final assembly.

With the onset of summer days, I so want to go on a picnic in the forest with the whole family or relax cheerful company friends on the shore of the pond. But rest on bare ground can hardly be called comfortable, so you should get comfortable, compact and light-weight furniture. An excellent option would be a folding picnic table, types and recommendations for the selection of such items garden furniture described below.

Advantages and disadvantages

Outdoor recreation cannot be neglected, because it allows you to escape from problems at work, household chores or other kinds of troubles. But to relax under the open sky in the forest, by the river or in the garden on suburban area was as comfortable as possible, it is worth choosing a convenient model of a folding picnic table. It is easy to make such furniture with your own hands, but if you do not have time for this, read our selection recommendations. optimal models later in this article.

But first, let's describe the main advantages that distinguish folding picnic tables with your own hands. They have the following significant advantages:

• low weight, compact, easy transportability. Often, in the process of manufacturing such furniture, manufacturers use light metals, plastic, thin wooden planks. Besides, collapsible table can be folded, which will make it very compact;
• high level of comfort - such pieces of furniture in combination with chairs allow you to comfortably accommodate a large campaign, arrange cutlery and favorite dishes, which allows you to make your stay comfortable;
• affordable cost - sets of tourist furniture, including a folding table, chairs often do not differ in high cost.

Types of folding picnic table

Today, outdoor tables come in a wide variety of styles. All of them are very practical, easy to use, but have their own characteristics. So, depending on the form, models are distinguished:

• square;
• rectangular;
• round;
• oval.

Square Round
Rectangular
Oval

Depending on the location of the legs, you can choose a product with:

• parallel arrangement - not very durable options, but they are highly comfortable;
• cruciform arrangement - highly stable, but with an average level of comfort;
• removable legs - optimal for uneven surfaces.

Removable
cruciform
Parallel

Manufacturing materials

The most commonly used materials for making picnic tables are:

• aluminum - the material is resistant to corrosion, has a light weight, is durable, stable;
• plastic - models that are light in weight and resistant to negative factors, however, are prone to fading and scratches;
• wood - somewhat larger, less durable than previous options if completely made of natural wood. But at the same time they are very natural, environmentally safe;
• combination of materials - often combine wood, plastic table top and stainless steel legs, as well as countertops made of water-repellent materials, chipboard or plywood and aluminum legs.

Aluminum
Wooden
Combination of materials
Plastic

Shape and dimensions

Regarding the shapes of picnic tables, the most convenient to use are, of course, standard options with rectangular, square tops. Slightly less common are tables, the top of which has a round or oval shape. The dimensions of such furniture may be different.

Selection rules

Choose lightweight models so that even a teenager can move the product from place to place. Choose materials that are resistant to wear, because outdoor furniture is negatively affected by many factors.

It is also worth giving preference to folding models, for the transportation of which to the place of rest, you can use the trunk of a car.

And if you want to save money, you can make a folding picnic table with your own hands. A lot of drawings can be found further, here there is a workflow diagram. Thanks to this, do-it-yourself folding picnic tables, the drawings of which are presented below, will not be difficult to make.

Video

The video shows how to make a folding table yourself.

Photo of folding picnic tables

From the selection of photos you can find out what options are available for folding tables for outdoor recreation.

Any family loves to go outdoors, and for this you need a table and chairs that are lightweight and foldable, which are easy to put in the trunk of a car.

Folding design has its advantages and disadvantages.

But, if you know how to hold a tool in your hands, then making a folding table for the street with your own hands is not difficult.

You should start by choosing the material from which you can make this design.

If you do not have experience with metal and plastic, which require a special large set of tools, then build a structure wooden- It is easy to make.

A simple picnic table can be made from boards, bars, plywood or chipboard.

Wood has many advantages:

• naturalness;
• environmental friendliness;
• durability with proper processing;
• does not cause allergic reactions.

But there are also disadvantages:

• wood is afraid of dampness;
• it can warp from sunlight;
• it is affected by temperature changes;
• it can be damaged by insects.

For this reason, it will be necessary to additional processing from rotting, exposure to moisture and insects, so that it does not change its appearance over time.

Metal- an excellent, durable material that has both advantages and disadvantages.

Among the advantages can be called: environmental friendliness, long service life, aesthetic appearance.

Disadvantages:

• you need a special set of tools;
• if you choose a thick metal, then the design will turn out to be quite heavy;
• moisture can corrode the metal;
• requires some skill and additional processing.

FROM plastic it is much more difficult to work, but it does not have such disadvantages as metal and wood, and it does not require additional processing.

Advice. In addition, the table can be combined, for example, a wooden table top and metal legs.

It is up to you to decide which material to choose, but we will consider the manufacture of a folding picnic table made of wood. For him you need to prepare:

• wooden glued board or plywood;
• bars for legs;
• reinforced washers;
• corners for furniture;
• furniture hinges;
• nuts;
• rivets;
• black screws.

Dimensions and drawings

The table can be made in any configuration, it can be:

• square;
• rectangular;
• round;
• oval.

table can be made on a frame that folds easily, and, if necessary, is brought to the desired position.

Important. The main role in this design is played by the legs. Competent calculation of thickness and length, correct setting of fasteners will ensure ease of folding into a compact position and good stability of the table.

Create drawing You can independently, based on your needs, given the number of people who will simultaneously sit at the table.

But you can go for more easy way- find a suitable drawing on the Internet.

Important. The folding part (legs) must be made shorter than the height of the structure, otherwise it will be impossible to fold the table.

Instruments

To quickly assemble the table, prepare the following tools:

• hacksaw or jigsaw;
• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• emery skin;
• tape measure and marker.

Advice. If you use a power tool, it will be much easier and faster to work.

How to make a folding tourist table?

To assemble a wooden, folding picnic table, we present the following instructions:

Finishing

To wooden surface served for a long time, it needs to be well processed. Algorithm action is the following:

Advice. If there is no varnish and stain, you can soak it with drying oil and paint it with paint on wood of any shade.

A photo

Picnic tables can be very different. For example, as in these photos

Useful video

Another option for a folding picnic table can be seen in the following video:

Conclusion

As you can see, making a homemade folding picnic table is not difficult if you follow the instructions. It is only important to observe safety precautions when working with power tools and carefully adjust the parts.

In contact with

For outdoor recreation, lightweight things are needed that would be compactly folded for transportation and instantly brought to their original position. And the first piece of such furniture is a table where you can arrange cooked food and drinks. A compact product can be easily placed in the trunk to take with you to the country house, nature, etc.

A table where you can arrange cooked food and drinks.

The folding design has its own characteristics. Do convenient option making a picnic is easy enough if you have some woodworking skills and assembling parts at home.

A compact product can be easily placed in the trunk to take with you to the country house, nature, etc.

To be able to equip a picnic area, it is not necessary to resort to buying special furniture. It is much cheaper to make a folding structure with your own hands. Besides, table, assembled independently, is usually thought out to the smallest detail and has the design that you like best.

The folding design has its own characteristics.

wooden blocks and plywood can be purchased at a specialized department of any hardware store.

If you make a small folding table with your own hands, then you can give it original look- paint in any color or varnish. The legs are attached to the main canvas with the help of elements that are in any home.

Making a convenient picnic option is easy enough if you have the skills of woodworking and assembling parts at home.

To be able to equip a picnic area, it is not necessary to resort to buying special furniture.

Deciding on design and construction

Folding picnic table make in different styles and from various materials. Hence, there are many options for design and construction. You can make furniture entirely from wood (solid, chipboard or slats), light aluminum, plastic, combine plywood (tops) and metal (legs), etc.

It is much cheaper to make a folding structure with your own hands.

The shape of the tabletop can be round, square or rectangular. The picnic table is made on frames that are easily folded or brought into the desired position during operation.

In order to make a folding table for equipping a picnic area, you need to fit all the parts to size.

The legs in this design play leading role. The correct calculation of the length and setting of the fasteners will ensure the convenience of folding the table into a compact position and stability during layout.

In addition, a table assembled by yourself is usually thought out to the smallest detail and has the design that you like best.

Necessary materials

To make the simplest version of the table, you will need:

• thick plywood board 550 x 300 mm (1 pc.);
• bars for legs 700 mm long (4 pcs.);
• bars for crossbars 450 mm long (2 pcs.);
• cross bars for fixing legs 500 mm long (4 pcs.);
• sandpaper;
• bolts;
• nuts;
• washers;
• nails.

In the manufacture, you can give the product any shape of the countertop, but it is more convenient to use the traditional rectangular one.

With the help of the drawing, it will be easier to follow the intended project.

If you make a small folding table with your own hands, you can give it an original look - paint it in any color or varnish it.

Required Tools

The future table is easy to assemble if you have all the necessary tools at hand:

• hacksaw;
• jigsaw;
• screwdriver or screwdriver.

The legs are attached to the main canvas with the help of elements that are in any home.

Using a screwdriver, you can make a model much faster and without much effort.

Table top size self-manufacturing choose your own, designed for 2, 4 or 6 people.

How to make: step by step instructions

Before starting work, do detailed drawing a solid table and its parts, indicating the length, height, width. Try to make the parameters of the product proportionate. With the help of the drawing, it will be easier to follow the intended project.

In order to make a folding table for equipping a picnic area, you need to fit all the parts to size. Wooden blocks and plywood can be purchased at a specialized department of any hardware store.

The legs in this design play a major role.

At home, once again check the length and proportionality of the elements. Let the blanks be a little larger, the difference can be eliminated at home with a hacksaw and a jigsaw. After trimming, process all the details with sandpaper. It is advisable to slightly round the corners of the countertop with a jigsaw.

1. Connect the legs with crossbars at a distance of about 25-30 cm from each other using bolts or ordinary nails.
2. TO back side countertops fasten the crossbars.
3. Fix the finished legs in the form of frames crosswise with bolts and connect one at the top with the crossbars, leaving the second free.

Try to make the parameters of the product proportionate.

To make the table more stable, make the supports slightly beveled at the bottom and top.

The picnic table is made on frames that are easily folded or brought into the desired position during operation.

The height of the table can be made smaller or larger, depending on your preference. To do this, measure the length of the bars for the support frames of the appropriate length. Try to make sure that the aspect ratio of the countertop and

For the manufacture of structures from other materials, self-tapping screws may be needed.

The finished structure can be painted or coated double layer lacquer, transparent or with a woody shade to choose from.

The shape of the tabletop can be round, square or rectangular.

So that dishes and other accessories do not roll off the table when tilted, you can supplement the surface with bumpers. To do this, take thin, low bars and fix them on the countertop with nails.

Using a screwdriver, you can make a model much faster and without much effort.

The edges of the upper part can be embossed. Using a jigsaw will help you with this, then clean the edges with sandpaper.

Hence, there are many options for design and construction.

Like wood, you can make plastic construction or combined, where the supports will be made of light metal.

Before starting work, make a detailed drawing of the whole table and its parts, indicating the length, height, width.

To get a picnic set in the same style, it is recommended to collect several folding chairs to the table. These compact products will greatly reduce the space and will be convenient for transportation if you are going to spend a weekend in nature with your family or a friendly company. In the off-season, they can be put away in the pantry until next spring or summer.

A folding picnic table is made in different styles and materials.

VIDEO: Do-it-yourself plywood picnic table. Part 1.