Outdoor Trestle Table

This is a trestle style table made for outdoor use. It uses dimensional lumber from your home store, so no need for table saws, planers etc. This one was designed to match a folding plastic table so we can double the table size if we have a lot of guests.

Note that this is not a fine woodworking project! This is a low tool, low experience project to get a nice looking table built quickly. If you are like Norm Abram (New Yankee Workshop), you will not be impressed. If you are a serious craftsman who thinks Norm uses his biscuit joiner too much, then don't even read further! :-) But, If you are an average person who watches Norm with envy, then this might be the one for you!

Trestle tables were originally made to break down to be shipped or moved. To make construction easier, we did not end up with one that can be broken down, but you can modify this design to make it more portable - it's not too far off from that possibility.

Step 1 Materials

We used dimensional lumber from the local home store to make the project easier, and we used pine and stained it, but you can use other woods as needed. Here is a partial list of materials we used:

(2) 2x6 inch 6 feet long - one for the legs, and one for the stretcher
(4) 1x4 inch 6 feet long - for the table top edges - we used the select grade since it is much more square
(9) 1x2 inch 8 feet long - for the table top slats
(2) 2x4 inch 6 feet long - for the base and top of the legs

(4) 5/16 inch lag bolts, 4.5 inches long, and washers

(4) 3 inch drywall or deck screws
a bunch of 1.25 inch pocket or drywall screws

Comments

[jeffeb3]

I'm interested in the finishing (staining) you did with these pine boards.  Pine is very appealing to me, but I am not sure if it will hold up over time.  What sealing did you do, and how well has it worked? Did you do any of the finish before assembly? I live in Colorado, and we get a lot of sun, and a lot of snow, so I'm a bit worried.

BTW, very nice looking table, I'm thinking I'll make one a bit more square to fit on my patio.

[CarlS]

Thanks.  We just used a solid exterior stain (2 coats) - not sure how it will hold up, but the stain is pretty thick - pretty much like paint.  We painted it after it was built - the top separate from the base.  Good luck with yours!

[lostinthecolonies]

very nicely done / designed - i think it form and function are well met . . . cool

[jbrecken]

Is that (11) correct? It looks like there are only 5 pieces of 1x4 in the table top, that would only need 3 1/2 6-foot boards.

[CarlS]

Thanks - good catch. I changed it to just four of them. I also re-calculated the 1x2s - had made a few trips to the store and lost track. :-)

[hailtothkngbby]

I have always love trestle style tables, but the angled hole and peg design always caused me to hold back from making one. I was never confident enough in my woodworking skills to try it. This gives me new hope!

[omnibot]

That is really nice. Makes me wish I had a garden to put it in.

[valamas]

Fantastic, you have given me some great ideas.

[lemonie]

Very nice. L