Picnic Table that Converts to Benches

Submitted by blakeallan on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 13:26

**The second pic is of the grill I built for our wedding. It was done in about 4 hours with NO plans, and a whole lot of on-the-spot thinking. All while precooking 120 lbs pork butt, 200 ribs, baked beans & whatever else that oven pushed through that day. I look forward to one day having the time to draw out the plans, and throw them up here :D **

Hey! It's been a while since I've posted anything with so much going on, but I thought I'd share a photo of a project I finished a while back. These were actually built as a gift for my in-laws to thank them for organizing our wedding. They were thrilled, and decided to incorporate the benches into the reception. As of late, I've been remodeling one living unit, one office, and one new studio & on top of that, getting married. I'm sure you can see how uploading something as simple as a photo is a chore in itself. Nonetheless, here is the finished project.

I changed a few things from the original plans; The biggest being the holes that convert from picnic table to bench. I realize not everyone is the same height, body shape, etc, so I took this into account. I actually have an additional hole on each side. One to pivot the table, one to lock it in as a bench, one to lock it in as a table, and one extra bench hole for those who prefer more of a decline/incline position. It all turned out great & works perfect for either bench or table. Very sturdy, and nothing but compliments. As a matter of fact, people asking over and over again where I bought it & for how much :D The reason I put 10-20 hours is due to the paint. I used three coats because, even though I used plenty of primer, pine just loves to soak it up. I also wanted to make sure every bit of it would be covered as much as possible for the weather conditions outside. It turned out having a rubbery coating feel to it, much like those of galvanized benches dipped in paint. Overall, very pleased with the outcome.

Cheers for the plans!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Water-resistant enamel
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Pam the Goatherd

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 18:48

Congratulations on your marriage!
I love the red paint on the picnic table/benches. The grills remind me of growing up in Miami and having roast pig that was cooked in those huge steel barrels.

Pam the Goatherd

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 18:48

Congratulations on your marriage!
I love the red paint on the picnic table/benches. The grills remind me of growing up in Miami and having roast pig that was cooked in those huge steel barrels.