DIY picnic bench

redser7

Hi,
I'm going to make a picnic bench and B&Q have a half price offer on deck boards. I'm not a big DIY/wood worker but will give it a bash. Could someone with experience take a look and let me know if this wood would be ok/thick and sturdy enough?
Appreciate it!

http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/fencing-paving-decking/decking/-specialoffers%3EHALFOFF/B-and-Q-Hardwood-Deck-Board-L-2350-W-120-T-19mm-11117932

(L)2350×(W)120×(T)19mm

bbam

Yes.
Last spring I made a bench from the pine equavilent. 2m long, three sets of legs to the ground. Ours was done for €80 including staining twice.

redser7

Brilliant! thanks a lot bbam.I was worried that 19mm thick would not be thick enough for the legs. So do you mean you have 3 sets of legs? As in one in the middle too? Or just one at each end but with 3 planks to the ground? Did you use online plans for it by any chance?
Cheers

bbam

Sorry, yes set in the middle also.

I actually copied from another bench I had access to making alterations I wanted.

I reduced the distance from seat to table by a few inches as I find that with many benches children are sitting too low.

redser7

Smashing thanks. One more question if you dont mind, would you remember roughly how many planks you needed? Thinking along the lines of 6 foot x 2 1/2 foot for table top.

One shot on kill

Depends on the length of board. Obviously if you got a 12ft plank you can get 2 6fts of it but if there 8 fts you may aswell have an 8ft bench as you will have a lot of waste if you cut two foot of every plank.

General rule of ergonomics says a seat should be 450mm of the ground and a table top should be in or around 750 mm of the ground.

I don't think there is a need for three sets of legs on a 3 ft bench just keep the legs in from the end of the table a bit.

redser7

Thanks a lot. The lengths are about 13 foot so will get 2 from each.
Cheers

paddy147

B&Q are/were selling off Pressure Treated 6 person picnic benches for 70 euro recently in Airside and Liffey valley.

paddy147

You could also make a picnic bench/table from "composite decking".

This will never rot and requires no treatments at all.

redser7

Thanks Paddy. Checked in Airside and all the summer stock was gone. Must ring round cheers

paddy147

redser7 wrote: »

Thanks Paddy. Checked in Airside and all the summer stock was gone. Must ring round cheers

Liffey Valley is a B&Q Superstore...its their biggest diy centre in Ireland.

You might get lucky out there.;)

redser7

No joy, DIY it is

Joey the lips

If your going to use decking for a bench my suggestion would be to use the double sided treated decking

It works quite well and looks very very well

redser7

Thanks Joey