How to Make a Wood Patio Table

Making a wood patio table is a great spring or summer project and can be a wonderful addition to your backyard. Building a wood patio table yourself can save you hundreds of dollars over the cost of hiring somebody to do it for you. Another added benefit: you will have the satisfaction of constructing a piece of outdoor furniture with your bare hands. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Buy the plywood and other building materials from a home improvement store or lumber yard. Purchase the cable reels by either doing a search online or contacting electricians in your area to check if they have any they can sell or give to you. You may also find cable feels at scrap yards and resale shops. Clean and dry the cable reels completely before proceeding.

2

Make four rounded cuts, 4 inches each, on each edge of the plywood with a saw and discard the pieces.

3

Sand down all edges of the plywood and cable reels until they are smooth and uniform in size and appearance. Use the sander to smooth any rough spots on the flat surfaces of the plywood and cable reels. Clean off any dust shavings with a wet rag.

4

Make sure the cable reels are centered underneath the middle of the table. They should be about one foot apart from each other, as well.

5

Set the piece of plywood on top of the two cable reels.

6

Measure and mark four screw holes on the top side of the table top above each of the cable reels, spacing them approximately 1/2 inch apart from each other.

7

Secure the plywood to both cable reels using the screw gun to drill four screws into the cable reels where marked on the plywood. Use a level to ensure that the surface is even.

8

Sand down any other areas of the wood surface that feel rough to the touch.

9

Paint one coat of stain onto all wood surfaces. Let the stain dry for several hours and apply another coat. Apply a coat of sealer on top of the stain. Let the sealer dry for a minimum of 12 hours before using the table.