Last year for my harvest party my Dad (aka my minion) helped me build the perfect farm tables for the event. They turned out beautiful and stole the show. I have gotten several requests for a post with step by step instructions for building your own. The following post was written by my Dad and I must say I am so proud!

 

 

 

Building the Harvest Tables

Materials

• 5 – 2x4x8
• 7 – 1x6x8 Pine boards
• 4 – Deck posts (these were rejects)
• #9 2 ½ inch coated deck screws
• 4 USP Lumber Connectors FRB24-TZ Fence Rail Bracket 2″ x 4″
  
  

Table Top Frame

• Cut 2 of the 2x4x8 down to 7.10’
• Cut other 3 down to 33.5 inches
  • Table Top support pieces
• Lay 2 – 2x4x7 parallel to each other
• Lay 2 – 2x4x33.5” inside each end of the 7’
  • This should give you a 36.5” table frame width
• Square up and screw together
• Lay 3 supports pieces evenly spaced inside table frame and screw into place from outside table frame.

Table Top

• Square up first pine board so you have 1” overhang on the side and each end
  • This should give you 38.5” tabletop w/1” overhang all the way around
• Two screws on each end and 2 on the center support and evenly spaced down the edge
• Spread wood glue on your second pine board
• Using a wood clamp tightens boards together and screw down as with first board
• Remove the wood clamps
• Repeat for all boards
• This should give you a 1” overhang all around the table
  
  

Legs

• Flip the tabletop over so the frame is facing up
• Cut the deck post to the desired length
  • These are precut on one end to sit atop your decking and screwed into the frame
  • I simply set the precut end on the frame and marked how much I need to cut off for the leg to sit flush on and support the frame
  • Cut remaining leg to the desired length
• Place the USP Connectors in each corner and screw into place
  • Don’t screw all the way down as the deck post is thicker than a standard 2×4
• Insert the legs and tighten screws
  • You can remove the legs for storage by simply backing out the screws on the USP connectors and pulling the legs out.

Finishing

• I used a belt sander to smooth out any uneven places between the boards
• I used a palm sander to smooth out the tabletop
• Pick your stain of choice
  • We used Minwax Jacobean and Minwax Oil Based Varnish Lear Satin for a durable finish