Patio Table with Built-in Beer/Wine Coolers

Patio Table with Built-in Beer/Wine Coolers with liids
Difficulty
Intermediate
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After see the picnic table picture from Medlock Ames' tasting room with the built in wine cooler we decided to incorporate this into our new patio table design. I really wanted this table to be more then just a cooler so I designed lids to cover the coolers when no in use. Please check out the step by step guide on my blog at: http://www.domesticated-engineer.com/1/post/2012/09/diy-patio-table-wit…

Patio Table with Built-in Beer/Wine Coolers with lids off
Patio Table with Built-in Beer/Wine Coolers filled with wine
Patio Table with Built-in Beer/Wine Coolers with lids covered
Patio Table with Built-in Beer/Wine Coolers with beer
Patio Table with Built-in Beer/Wine Coolers with beer

Preparation

Shopping List

Wood (We used Spruce, see cut list)

Wood glue

Wood filler

Wood screws (1-1/4")

Wood screws (2-1/2")

Sandpaper (110 grit)

Two plastic planter boxes (denoted pb throughout the instructions)

Tools: Clamps,  1/8” counter bore drill bit, 1-1/2" hole saw bit 

Cut List

2 - 6X2 @ 5' 9-1/4" (top long board)

3 - 8X2 @ 1' 9" (top side and middle board)

12 - 2X4 @ 1' 11-3/4" (top center board)

4 - 2X4 @ 2' 5-1/4" (legs)

2 - 1X4 @ 5' 2-1/4" (outer long skirt)

2 - 1X4 @ 5' 6-1/4" (inside long skirt)

2 - 1X4 @ 2' 5" (short skirt)

4 - 1X4 @ 2' 3-1/2" (cross beam)

4 - 1X4 @ 2' 1-1/4" (box supports)

4 - 1X6 @ 1' 11-3/4" (long box side)

4 - 1X6 @ 8-3/4" (short box side)

10 - 1X2 @ 7-1/4" (bottom box)

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Kreg Jig
Drill
Power Sander
General Instructions

Comments

biz_kid1

Wed, 09/26/2012 - 11:28

What a great use of space in that table, too! And you could always use it to store condiments or whatever if not in use as a cooler, too! Great job!

birdsandsoap

Wed, 09/26/2012 - 12:48

Great job! this table is beautiful, and I love that it has covers for when you're not boozing it up! haha. This is such a great solution for summer get-togethers. My kids would absolutely love to mix some mud pies or plant flowers in those little troughs too.

Veenstra

Thu, 09/27/2012 - 09:22

My immediate reaction to seeing this was disappointment that I just built a table for my backyard. If I had waited I could have built this!

wishing I had … (not verified)

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 16:44

The legs on this table are clearly not 1x2s....so...are all the measurements off or what?

sbowes1

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 11:22

I didn't even catch that. I just made a mistake when coping over my handwritten list. The legs really are 2x4s. Thank you so much for calling me out on that! I am making the changes to the blog post now.

James (not verified)

Sat, 11/24/2012 - 20:52

OMG..this is officially my favorite table. I never cared for building things but your site has just given me a new hobby!

TCinTX

Wed, 12/19/2012 - 10:41

Would anyone know what would be required if I want to make this wider? I'm thinking about adding one more board on both sides of the planter boxes. I know this means I need to widen the two end boards but I'm not sure about the legs (if they need to be larger or stronger) or if there is anything else I need to do to make it sturdy. Thanks for all those 'in the know' who can help me out. :)

Martin (not verified)

Thu, 01/17/2013 - 15:13

I'm actually in the process of building my table and I added two more 2x4s to make it wider. I think it'll be perfectly fine. The one question I have is what kind of planter boxes people are using? I probably should have bought them first but I forgot about it until I had the top already constructed.

Sarah Bowes (not verified)

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 23:06

The planter boxes that I used for the design I found at Home Depot. The same one can be found on Amazon http://bit.ly/SkZxH3

I am sure you can use different ones but you will have to change the designed to adjust to the different size.

Matthew Martin

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 20:09

I loved the plans, very easy to follow, ran into my own first time building issues but that was just lack of experience there. I posted mine, I put that i completed it using this plan but it hasnt shown up in the i have used this plan yet.

Thank You for all the hard work you did providing us with the plan

Azule74

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 08:37

I see the cut list, but I am wondering if you, still, have a list of the boards that you bought to do the cuts? I am wanting to build this in a couple of weeks as the weather gets better and need to know what wood I need to pick up.

iraethan

Tue, 04/22/2014 - 07:30

I've been looking for plans for a outdoor table and this one looks great. My main concern is that it looks like the rain would collect very easily. Would this design be possible by spacing the boards 1/4"? The problem I see with that type of design is the boards run run both perpendicular and parallel, not just in one direction. Not sure if spacing would work or look weird. Anyone tried this or have some thoughts?

congerking

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 08:15

Does anybody have the actual wood shopping list? I want to make one of these for my girlfriend. I will cut the wood, but all that's listed is the cut list. Suppose I can do the math and figure it out, but if anybody had the whole wood list without cuts, that would be fantastic.

mudpuppy98

Mon, 05/09/2016 - 17:28

I am in the process of making this now and I am wondering how it does with drainage as the ice melts. Does it just drip on your guests feet? Thinking about adding some type of drain tube or something.

gk78

Mon, 05/11/2020 - 09:28

I built this table three years ago and let me give you some tips. First off, peoples minds get blown when they see this. It's a real fun thing to show off for a party. I found a few different sites talking about how to build this, so I followed their recommendation and that was a mistake. Please use all pressure treated wood for this. I used only pressure treated for the legs and pine for the rest. I stained it and costed it in 4 coats of marine grade exterior poly and less than 3 years later the top is twisted and rotting. Pressure treated wood is pretty safe today so long as you don't use it as a cutting board. I may have been able to get a few more years out of it if I would have completely painted it instead of going the poly route, but it is it what it. I'm really considering building another one because I love this damn table so much and cant imagine having anything else. If I would have used all pressure treated this thing probably would have lasted 15 years out in the elements. Good luck with your build!