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Octagon Picnic Table

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Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSliTVOxKlc

This Octagon Picnic Table is a great outdoor project and is the perfect table for your outdoor events. This table seats 8

comfortably and the open seat design allows for comfortable seating without having to climb over the benches.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSliTVOxKlc



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Overv iew



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Mater ia l s and Cut t ing Guide

Lumber Cut List

Part Letter Part Name Thickness Width Length QTY

A Left & Right Seat Frame 1-1/2" 3-1/2” 88-3/16” 4

B Left & Right Table Frame 1-1/2" 3-1/2” 48 4

C Frame Spacers 1-1/2" 3-1/2” 3-1/2” 8

D Table Legs 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 33-1/8” 4

E Seat Bases 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 24” 4

F Seat Legs 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 14” 8

G Seat Cleats 1-1/2” 1-1/2” 9” 8

H Top Perimeter Boards 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 21-5/16” 8

I Bottom Perimeter Boards 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 16-1/8” 8

J* Outside Tabletop Boards 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 28-1/2” 2

K* Outside Adjacent Boards 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 39-15/16” 2

L Center Tabletop Boards 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 40-1/2” 3

M Outside Left & Right Seat

Boards 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 26” 8

N Inside Left * Right Seat

Boards 1-1/2” 5-1/2” 23-5/8” 8

*Indicates Parts that are initially Cut Oversized. See Instructions

Good Choices of Lumber for this table are Cedar or Exterior Grade Pine

Additional Materials

- # 8 x 3” Exterior Wood Screws

- #8 x 2 ½” Exterior Wood Screws

- Kreg Outdoor Screws #8 x 2 ½”

- Pocket Hole Plugs (Optional)

- Gorlilla Glue (Polyurethane) (Optional)

- TiteBond II or Tite Bond III Wood Glue



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Bui ld ing the Cros s Frames

1. Cut the left & right seat frame parts (A) and the left & right table frame parts (B) to length. (As shown in

figures 1 & 2). Cut a 22.5 / 67.5 degree angle on each end of parts (A & B), the final length of each

frame piece is measured from the long points of the angles as shown. Next cut the eight spacers (C) to

size. (See Figure 3)

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3



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Bui ld ing the Cros s Frames (Cont inued )

2. Mark out the Centered notches on both faces of the Seat Frame Parts (A) and Tabletop Frame Parts (B)

As shown in Figure 4. (It is recommended to measure the combined with of the frame parts and spacers

when sandwiched together to obtain the notch width. You want the mating notching to fit firmly when

assembled) *To make your notches you can use a variety of methods (On the table saw using a single

blade or dado stack, with a circular saw making multiple kerf cuts and cleaning up with a chisel, with a

hand saw and chisel. Each of these methods is affective and will work.

3. Working on a flat surface group the frame parts side by side with the notches facing upward while

aligning the ends of the boards and the notches. This will allow you to inspect the notches to ensure they

are all uniform in size and the bottoms of the notches are flat. Clean up with chisel if needed.

4. Next test assemble the interlocking seat (A) and table (B) cross frames fitting the spacers where shown

in figure 4. If your fit is satisfactory, disassemble, and use exterior wood glue in the joints, reassemble

the frame parts and secure using #8 3” exterior wood screws vertically to join the frame pieces. Drive #8

3” wood screws through the frame sides and into the spacers in a diagonal orientation. Repeat this for all

sides and for both the Seat (A) and Tabletop (B) cross frames. *For visual appeal and added protection,

you may want to countersink the screws and plug with a matching wooded plugs. (Optional)

Figure 4



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Making & As sembl ing the Sea t Ba se s

1. Using 5 ½” x 1 ½ “ Stock Cut the Table Legs (D), Seat Bases (E), and Seat Legs (F) to length with the

angles (shown in Figures 5 – 7.)

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7



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Making & Assembling the Seat Bases (continued) 2. Clamp a Seat Base (E) to the side of your bench. Place a Table Leg (D) against the Seat Base (as shown

in Figure 8.) Next Using a Seat Leg (F) mark out a line on the Table Leg (D) and transfer that line to all

4 sides of the Table Leg.

3 . M a k e a p a i r o f s e a t s p a c e r s a s s h o w n i n f i g u r e 9

4 . A t t a c h t h e s e a t l e g s t o t h e s e a t b a s e m a k e s u r e t h a t t h e b a c k e d g e o f t h e s e a t l e g

i s f l u s h w i t h t h e b a c k e d g e o f t h e s e a t b a s e ( a s s h o w n i n f i g u r e 1 0 )

Figure 8

Figure 9



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Making & Assembling the Seat Bases (continued)

5 . Now for this step a bench vise comes in handy, but is not necessary. You want to center the table leg

between the two seat legs and attach the table leg to the seat base ensuring the back of the leg is flush

with the back of the base (as shown in figure 10) If using a bench vise, secure the table leg using the line

that was drawn on the leg in step 2, this will position the leg in the appropriate orientation so you can

invert the base assembly and secure the leg using 3” screws from the bottom side be sure to pre drill and

countersink for the screws. NOTE: the seat spacers clamped to the seat base will help with centering the

leg (as shown in Figure 11)

Next cut 8 seat cleats glue and screw them with 2 ½” screws to the inside face of each seat leg extending them

7/8” past the outside edge of the legs and flush with the top of the legs (as shown in Figure 10 above)

Figure 10

Figure 11



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Attach ing the s ea t a s s embl i e s to the Sea t Cros s Frames 1 . F r o m e a c h e n d o f t h e c r o s s f r a m e a s s e m b l y , m a k e a l i n e 1 3 - ¾ ” a c r o s s t h e

t o p o f t h e s e a t c r o s s f r a m e a s s e m b l y . T h i s w i l l b e yo u r r e f e r e n c e l i n e f o r

p o s i t i o n i n g t h e s e a t l e g s .

2 . M a k e a p a i r o f s c r a p a l i g n m e n t s b l o c k s a n d c l a m p t h e t o t h e s e a t l e g ,

e n s u r i n g t h a t t h e b o t t o m o f t h e s c r a p b l o c k s r u n a l o n g t h e t o p o f t h e l i n e

d r a w n o n t h e t a b l e l e g s . T h i s w i l l h e l p h o l d t h e l e g s i n t h e c o r r e c t

p o s i t i o n w h i l e yo u g l u e a n d s c r e w t h e m i n t o p l a c e .

3 . A p p l y g l u e t o t h e i n s i d e o f e a c h s e a t c r o s s f r a m e w h e r e t h e l e g s a r e g o i n g

t o b e p o s i t i o n e d . S l i d e t h e s e a t l e g a s s e m b l y i n t o p l a c e . I f p l a c e d

c o r r e c t l y , t h e t o p o f t h e s e a t l e g s a n d c l e a t s w i l l b e f l u s h w i t h t h e t o p o f

t h e s e a t c r o s s f r a m e o n c e p o s i t i o n e d c o r r e c t l y u s i n g 3 ” s c r e w s , s e c u r e t h e

s e a t l e g a s s e m b l y t o t h e s e a t c r o s s f r a m e b y i n s t a l l i n g ( 2 ) 3 ” s c r e w s

t h r o u g h t h e s i d e s o f t h e c r o s s f r a m e a s s e m b l y i n t o t h e s e a t l e g . R e p e a t

t h i s f o r a l l 4 l e g a s s e m b l i e s ( a s s h o w n i n f i g u r e 1 2 & 1 3 )

Figure 12

Figure 13



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Bui ld the Tab le Top and Bot tom Per imeter s

C u t 8 t o p p e r i m e t e r b o a r d s a n d 8 b o t t o m p e r i m e t e r b o a r d s t o t h e s p e c i f i c a t i o n s i n

t h e c u t l i s t ( P a r t s H & I )

1 . S t a r t o f f w i t h a s s e m b l i n g t h e t o p p e r i m e t e r b o a r d s ( T h e u s e o f b i s c u i t s m a y

a s s i s t w i t h t h e a l i g n m e n t o f t h e b o a r d s b u t a r e n o t n e c e s s a r y )

2 . D r i l l 2 p o c k e t h o l e s o n d i a g o n a l c o r n e r s o f e a c h t o p p e r i m e t e r b o a r d ( a s

s h o w n i n F i g u r e 1 4 )



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3 . U s i n g 2 - 1 / 2 ” p o c k e t s c r e w s a n d g l u e , a s s e m b l e t h e t o p p e r i m e t e r f r a m e ( a s

s h o w n i n f i g u r e 1 5 )

4 . U s i n g p o c k e t h o l e s , 2 - 1 / 2 ” p o c k e t s c r e w s a n d g l u e , A s s e m b l e 4 s e t s o f

l o w e r p e r i m e t e r b o a r d s ( a s s h o w n i n f i g u r e 1 6 )

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16



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Bui ld the Tab le Top and Bot tom Per imeter s

5 . F l i p t h e t o p o c t a g o n u p s i d e d o w n a n d p l a c e t h e t a b l e t o p c r o s s f r a m e s o

t h a t t h e 4 p o i n t s o f t h e c r o s s f r a m e a l i g n w i t h 4 o f t h e t o p o c t a g o n j o i n t s .

M e a s u r e t h e d i s t a n c e s f r o m t h e e n d s o f t h e c r o s s f r a m e t o t h e p o i n t o f t h e

j o i n t s a n d m a k e s u r e t h e c r o s s f r a m e i s c e n t e r e d e v e n l y o n t h e t o p

o c t a g o n . ( a s s h o w n i n f i g u r e 1 7 )

6 . C u t 4 s p a c e r s a n d p l a c e t h e m b e t w e e n t h e 4 c r o s s f r a m e m e m b e r s t o e n s u r e

p r o p e r p l a c e m e n t w h e n a s s e m b l i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e ( a s s h o w n i n f i g u r e 1 7 )

7 . A t t a c h t h e 4 b o t t o m p e r i m e t e r a s s e m b l i e s t o t h e t o p c r o s s f r a m e ( a s s h o w n

i n f i g u r e 1 7 ) u s i n g 2 - 1 / 2 ” p o c k e t s c r e w s .

8 . S c r e w t h e b o t t o m p e r i m e t e r a s s e m b l i e s t o t h e t o p p e r i m e t e r u s i n g 2 - 1 / 2 ”

s c r e w s .

9 . R e m o v e t h e s p a c e r s .

1 0 . W i t h t h e t o p s t r u c t u r e s t i l l u p s i d e d o w n , i n s t a l l t h e l o w e r s e a t a s s e m b l y

t o t h e c o m p l e t e u p p e r a s s e m b l y ( a s s h o w n i n F i g u r e 1 8 )

Figure 17

Figure 18



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Ins t a l l the top b oard s and s ea t b oards

C u t t h e o u t s i d e t o p b o a r d s ( J ) A d j a c e n t T o p B o a r d s ( K ) a n d C e n t e r T o p B o a r d s ( L )

a s s h o w n i n t h e d r a w i n g b e l o w .

1 . F l i p t h e e n t i r e a s s e m b l y u p r i g h t t o i n s t a l l t h e t a b l e t o p b o a r d s .



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2 . M e a s u r e c u t a n d f i t t h e t w o o u t s i d e t a b l e t o p b o a r d s a n d l a y t h e m i n

p l a c e . M a k e s u r e t h e y a r e f l u s h a g a i n s t t h e o c t a g o n f r a m e .

3 . N e x t m e a s u r e t h e d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o o u t s i d e b o a r d s ( J ) n o w s u b t r a c t

t h e c o m b i n e d w i d t h o f t h e r e m a i n i n g t a b l e t o p b o a r d s ( K , L ) . N e x t d i v i d e

t h e r e m a i n i n g n u m b e r b y 6 t o d e t e r m i n e t h e s p a c i n g b e t w e e n t h e t a b l e t o p

b o a r d s . P l a n e o r r e s a w s o m e s c r a p s p a c e r s t o t h a t t h i c k n e s s .

4 . C u t t h e r e q u i r e d a n g l e o n o n e e n d o f t h e a d j a c e n t t o p b o a r d s ( K ) p l a c e a

s p a c e r b e t w e e n t h e o u t s i d e t o p b o a r d s a n d p l a c e t h e a d j a c e n t t o p b o a r d i n

p l a c e .

5 . M a r k t h e s q u a r e e n d o f t h e a d j a c e n t t o p b o a r d f o r a p e r f e c t f i t . L a y t h e m

i n p l a c e .

6 . C u t t h e 3 r e m a i n i n g t a b l e t o p b o a r d s t o f i t , a n g l e c u t t i n g t h e c o r n e r s o f

t h e o u t s i d e c e n t e r b o a r d s m a y b e r e q u i r e d t o m a i n t a i n s p a c i n g .

7 . U s i n g t h e s p a c e r t o f i t t h e t a b l e t o p b o a r d s i n p l a c e , s e c u r e t h e m t o t h e

t a b l e t o p u s i n g g l u e a n d 2 - 1 / 2 ” s c r e w s f r o m u n d e r n e a t h . 2 s c r e w s p e r

b o a r d e n d . ( N o t e : yo u m a y s c r e w f r o m t h e t o p d o w n i f yo u p l a n o n

c o u n t e r s i n k i n g a n d p l u g g i n g t h e s c r e w h o l e s t o c o n c e a l t h e s c r e w s )

8 .



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Ins t a l l the Sea t Boards

1 . C u t t h e i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e s e a t b o a r d s a s s h o w n i n t h e f i g u r e s b e l o w

2 . F i r s t i n s t a l l t h e i n n e r l e f t a n d r i g h t s e a t b o a r d s e n s u r i n g t h e j o i n t s a r e

c e n t e r e d b e t w e e n t h e c r o s s f r a m e m e m b e r s g l u e a n d s c r e w t h e s e a t b o a r d s

u s i n g 2 - 1 / 2 ” s c r e w s .

3 . N e x t u s i n g o n e o f t h e s p a c e r s u s e d t o i n s t a l l t h e t o p b o a r d s , p l a c e t h e s p a c e r

b e t w e e n t h e i n n e r s e a t b o a r d s a n d o u t e r s e a t b o a r d s t o e n s u r e e v e n s p a c i n g

a n d p l a c e m e n t . S e c u r e t h e o u t e r s e a t b o a r d s u s i n g g l u e a n d 2 - 1 / 2 ” s c r e w s .

4 . T h i s c o m p l e t e s t h e b u i l d . U s e a n o u t d o o r p r o t e c t i v e f i n i s h t o e n s u r e ye a r s o f

e n j o ym e n t .

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Octagon Picnic Table - A Simple Design of Ocalaasimpledesignofocala.com/downloads/ASD_Octagon_Picnic_Table.pdf · Octagon Picnic Table 1 ... blade or dado stack, with a circular saw