picnic table plans inquiry

[swampgator]

I just repaired a table for a widow neighbor. Her seats were 12" wide and 5'11" long. The seat boards were 3 2 X 4's which I replaced with 2 2 X 6's. For the length of 8 feet, I would also brace the seat boards with a 2 X 4 with screws from underneath to withstand any additional weight. If you don't have a Kregg unit, you can drill the holes with the Shopsmith at 14 degrees and will make it similar to a Kregg system. Also, you want a connector board in the middle of the seat boards to give strength to both. The seat boards should not allow either the front or back board to give and pinch someones buns between the two. Sorry, I can't figure out how to say it more clearly. But, when someone sits down, you want all the seat boards to deflect at the same time to the same degree. I hope this helps with the seats.

[sgull]

Yeah thanks a bunch swampgator for that comment and helpful advice about the seat boards. In the back of my mind I've been concerned whether with the 8-foot length seats might have a tendency to have an undesirable "flex" to them without some additional support/bracing such as you've described.

[videobear]

Yeah thanks a bunch swampgator for that comment and helpful advice about the seat boards. In the back of my mind I've been concerned whether with the 8-foot length seats might have a tendency to have an undesirable "flex" to them without some additional support/bracing such as you've described.

Yes they will. Depending on how much you plan to load it, the table top might require additional bracing as well.

[rpd]

I'm hoping to be able to build a few picnic tables following the plans shown in the link below, and am unclear/uncertain about a few of the instructions.

http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archive ... g-plan.htm

In step 2 it says "rip one five-foot-long 2” x 10” in half…then crosscut parts D and E to length." It looks to me (from the "cutout diagram" as linked also in step 2) that parts D and E are ripped from a 2 x 6 board, not a 2 x 10. In fact there is no 2 x 10 board shown at all in the cutout diagram, and in the materials list (link at the bottom of the page" it lists parts D and E as being 3 inches wide. Therefore I would assume in step 2 where it says "rip one five-foot-long 2” x 10” in half…then crosscut parts D and E to length" that could be a mistake and it should instead say to rip one five-foot long 2" x 8" in half...

That's what it seems to me but thought I'd throw my question out here to see what others would say, maybe I'm confused about it...

thanks

Yes it should be a 2x6, as shown in the Cutout Diagram.

The lower 6 feet of that board is a part "A" and should match the other eight part "A"s which are also cut from 2x6's, (part "A"s are the seats (4) and the top (5). Whoever did the directions confused the length of that board, (10'), with the width, (6")

[terrydowning]

Thanks for the confirmation rpd. I knew I was not losing my mind (yet).

[sgull]

Thanks for the confirmation rpd

Ditto

[sgull]

Make sure to post some pics when your done. we love pics!