Yes, it will have a back and four legs. Not those little benches you see at picnic tables usually. We both have back problems so they'll be nice and comfortable. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dale Leavens To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 12:49 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] projects upcoming
A carriage bolt has a rounded domed head with a four sided nut like structure just beneath the head which looks something like a mushroom cap. The nut like structure is intended to bite into the surface of the wood when the nut on the far end is tightened down. The top leaves a nice finish and the under side is intended to hold the bolt while the nut is tightened on the far end. One disadvantage to free standing benches for outdoor use is that their relatively narrow depth of base makes them somewhat unsteady unless the ground they are on is very flat. Just something to consider. A bench with a back is that much wider and if well constructed gives another couple of inches of depth of base and that bit more stability. What ever the case do have fun. ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Riddle To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 3:32 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] projects upcoming I like the separate benches because they can be used in other places besides the picnic table, say grouped around the outdoor firepit we intend to get. Also, and this is just me, I hate banging my knees on the cross braces lol. So, basically, what I intend to do is do like Lee says and feel up a few picnic tables to get some construction ideas. What does a carriage bolt look like? ----- Original Message ----- From: Dale Leavens To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 11:12 AM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] projects upcoming Hi, It turns out that cutting angles of 30 degrees on the ends of the legs of the table which creates a 60 degree angle at the ground and at the table top is about correct. If you use a 2 by 4 top cross brace also cut at 30 degrees at each end short length down and line up the legs so that the outer edge crosses the lower edge of the top brace at the end of that angle you should have the spacing about right to support the table with the benches added. It isn't a rule but it does make the set-up easier. Remember that a good standard table height is 30 inches and seat height 16 to 18 inches. When building the end support frames don't forget to deduct the thickness of your bench and table planks before assembly. I also like to slope a support bracket from the lower cross member, the one which supports the benches up toward the center of the table top to keep the legs braced from racking. It can be helpful to have that brace end at another member across the table top planks which will also help keep them straight along their length and reduce cupping or crowning. ----- Original Message ----- From: Lee A. Stone To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 12:42 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] projects upcoming Robert, If I may suggest you feel up a few pinic tables to see the difference in working to assemble. my opinion would be with the a farme unit with attached bench's. a couple of reasons and also you need not worry about a bench tipping over. as for the top use a standard length 8 foot 2 by 6 and space them with nails in between the boards until fastened down with carriage bolts, quarter inch are fine. . I've built 2 of these, one 8 foot long and the last is 12 fet long but leaving the bench's at 8 feet and leaving the ends open for two friends in wheelchairs to roll under easy. another important thing to do when you are all done is borrow or buy or rent a power sander and round offf all the corners.. Oh the nails I mentioned for spacers, actually I used the carriage bolts as spacers until all were fastened down with two nails to hold it in place and then the carriage bolts making assembly easy as pie.. I got my angle for the legs from a neighbors table by just making a nail marking on my first `2 by 6. Lee On Sat, May 17, 2008 at 03:32:28PM -0600, Robert Riddle wrote: > Well I have a couple of projects coming up. A deck railing and a picnic table. > Our deck is funny. We've got two doors on it, with steps going off each door and their own rail. I want to put a rail across the middle section of the deck parallel to the house and attach it to the existing rail posts coming out of the ground. I think I can get away with just attaching ballisters to the deck framework and not have to sink additional posts into the ground. I'm gonna have to get everything cut at the store though, as I don't have any power tools on hand, so this is gonna be interesting. > Next up is building a picnic table. I'm debating between building a typical A frame style table, with the bench built in, or a long tressle style with detachable benches. Seems to me the tressle style would be simpler becaus it's basically just a board on 4 legs. I'm no expert at woodworking so I think the simpler approach would be best. > Anyway that's what's on my plate over the next month or so, along with a few simple tasks. Feel free to offer any suggestions that might make my life easier lol. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > -- Bullwinkle: You just leave that to my pal. He's the brains of the outfit. General: What does that make YOU? Bullwinkle: What else? An executive. -- Jay Ward Do you Jabber? I do. 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