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Completed Side Table.
Add the convenience of a side table to your outdoor adventures.

Build an Outdoor Side Table
Skill Level: Intermediate
 
 
This little side table is a wonderful complement to any lawn chair or bench. It's large enough to hold a radio, suntan lotion, and a cool drink, but still small enough to be out of the way. The table also makes a perfect personal picnic table for those occasions when you have more guests than space. Best of all, making the table only requires basic tools and a couple of hours. But be ready, after your neighbors see it they're sure to want a few for themselves. Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.
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Article Content
Tools & Materials
Make the Side Assemblies
Make the Base
Add the Top Slats
Sand the Table
Tools & Materials
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Tools

Materials

  • 1"x4"x10' cedar —
    2 pcs
  • Wood glue
  • Finish nails
  • 1 1/4" hot-dipped galvanized screws
  • Sandpaper

See the Cut List.
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Make the Side Assemblies

Use the right fasteners.
Learn more...
  1. Construct four leg subassemblies. Glue the edge of a 1 1/4" leg piece to the face of a 2" leg piece.

  2. Drive finish nails through the 2" leg piece into the 1 1/4" leg piece to hold the assembly together until the glue dries. Use just enough nails to draw the pieces tight.

    3.  

  3. Woodworkers.Place two legs on one of the side top supports. The outside faces of the legs should be flush with the ends of the support. The tops or ends of the subassemblies should be flush with the top edge of the support.

  4. Leg Assembly.
    Counterbore the top of the legs and screw through their faces to secure the legs in place with 1 1/4" screws.The legs should be turned such that the seam in the front assembly will not be visible from the front of the bench, and the seam in the rear assembly will not be visible from the side.

  5. Make the second side assembly using steps 1 through 4.
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Make the Base
  1. Legs Attached.
    Counterbore holes in the legs.
    Counterbore through the tops of the legs and screw through their faces to secure the legs to the front and back top supports with 1 1/4" screws. The ends of the front and back top supports should be flush with the outside faces of the side top supports.

  2. Check the base for square and adjust as needed.
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Add the Top Slats
  1. 1" Overhang.
    The red lines represents the outside faces of the top supports.
    Place the front and rear top slats on top of the base. The slats should run from side to side. Leave a 1" overhang at each end of each slat. The slats should also overhang the front and rear of the base by 1".

  2. Glue the front and rear slats in place. Use finish nails to hold the slats while the glue dries.

  3. Glue and nail the rest of the top slats in place, evenly spaced between the front and rear slats.
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Sand the Table

Check all the surfaces and sand as needed, paying particular attention to the table's top. Sand until you reach desired smoothness.
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These How-To's are provided as a service from Lowe's, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe's "How-To" clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Please read our terms of use.