In the hot summer, many residents of the city try to spend all their free time outdoors, preferably away from home. But in order to fully communicate with nature, enjoy a country trip or a picnic, everything should take place in comfortable conditions. That is why tourists take with them not only tents, but also furniture, which today is sold in any specialized salon or market. In the presented variety of forms, materials and designs, one can get confused without having special knowledge on the choice of such products. Why not try making your own camping table to suit all your needs? Plus, you can still save a lot. In this article, we will show you how to make a picnic table.
Making a table-suitcase with your own hands
Consider the simplest design of camping furniture. Its manufacture does not require large financial costs and the availability of a specialized tool. When assembled, this table will look like a small suitcase.
Prepare the following blanks for work:
- 10mm plywood.
- Birch planed timber measuring 30 by 30 mm.
- 4 self-tapping screws 50 mm for fastening frame bars.
- 4 self-tapping screws 25 mm for attaching plywood and fittings to the frame.
- 2 hinges with a plate width not exceeding 30 mm.
- 4 furniture screws 70 mm long, with nuts and 8 washers.
Important! How to make a camping table yourself? It is not necessary to equip a suitcase with locks and a carrying handle. But if you think they are necessary, then use the parts from an old suitcase or case. Small hooks can be used as a lock. For carrying it is more convenient to use a belt.
Follow these steps to make your own camping table:
- Cut two pieces of plywood 500 x 580 mm for the countertop.
- To make a frame, saw off 8 bars: 4 - 520 mm each, 4 - 500 mm each.
- Saw off 4 pieces of 500 mm long timber for the legs so that they fit when folded into the box.
- Drill holes in the wood to prevent splitting of the bars when screwing in the screws. Then pull the frame, attach the tabletop plywood to it.
- Attach the table legs to the 500mm bars on the frame. Step back from each internal corner of the frame 15 mm, then from the tabletop 15 mm, mark the centers of future screw holes. Also measure on the bars 15 mm from each end and one of the four sides. Make holes with a drill.
- Screw the hinges to the frame. They need to be deepened a little so that when closed, there are no gaps between the halves of the table.
- Additionally, you can make plastic or rubber legs for the suitcase. In length, they must match the diameters of the hinge hinges so that when closed, the table does not fall and opens freely.
- Sand the wood pieces with sandpaper.
- Treat the product with an antiseptic.
- Cover the top of the table with varnish or paint.
Using this scheme, you will make a wonderful and comfortable table-suitcase with your own hands. Due to its special design, it will fit even in the smallest trunk, or it can be easily carried on the shoulder.
Self-made roll table
There is an even simpler option to make a tourist table with your own hands. You can use old cuttings from garden tools or wooden rods with a round section for work. You will also need fasteners and several meters of wooden planks.
Here is the exact list of required materials:
- 10 pieces of wooden 600 mm planks 45 by 15 mm.
- 4 wooden rods 400 mm long, 30 mm in diameter.
- 2 x 540mm wood planks 15mm x 45mm.
- 2 canvas, leather or nylon belts, 54 cm long.
- 4 bolts 70 mm long.
- 4 inserts with internal thread.
Important! If you decide to buy the material in a store, then pay attention to birch rods or cuttings, because the appearance of the product largely depends on this. In addition, birch wood is considered the best option for making countertop slats.
You will need to perform a series of actions in the following sequence:
- Cut 10 600mm battens, two 540mm battens, and 4 400mm rods.
- Sand the surface of the workpieces.
- Take a construction stapler and fasten 10 planks of the future countertop with a belt with each other. Leave a gap between the planks, but it is important that it be the same along the entire length. Insert a 15 mm thick bar into each gap between the planks. To make the table top rectangular, use a square.
- Fold the finished tabletop with an accordion or in a roll.
- Clamp the table leg in a vise, use sandpaper, wood or rubber as a lining so that sponges do not damage its surface. At the end of each leg, drill a hole 40 mm deep, insert a threaded insert into it. Do this operation with all rods. The drill must enter the leg strictly perpendicular to its end.
- The base of the tabletop, which will give it rigidity, will be 540 mm slats. Drill two holes for the bolts near the edges. Attach the slats at the same distance from the edges of the tabletop across the slats, mark the centers of the holes on the extreme slats. Make 4 holes in the table top with a drill.
As a result, you will get a universal folding table with your own hands, all that remains is to treat it with an antiseptic composition, paint and varnish it.
Features of finishing camping tables
Well, if everything worked out for you, all the details matched, the table folds and unfolds freely. But you can enjoy this process so far only at home, where it is always dry and warm, the room is constantly ventilated. The product in this form will withstand no more than three country picnics. After all, water is everywhere, and it is friends with wood until the tree clings to the ground with its roots. Blackening and swelling are dangerous for such structures. Therefore, you need to be able to properly process wooden tables.
Professional tips for processing and strengthening outdoor furniture:
- Details can not be sanded to achieve perfect smoothness, because it is paramount to remove potential splinters.
- It is recommended to paint over and coat all the constituent elements carefully so that they serve properly and for a long time.
- Be sure to carry out antiseptic treatment to protect plywood and wood, or to give the product the selected color.
- Before varnishing, plywood countertops and bars must be impregnated with drying oil. It is enough to heat it in a water bath to achieve maximum fluidity, rub it into the edges with a hard brush.
- It is not necessary to pour varnish over the entire surface - it is better to rub it. Apply two or three layers.
For modern city apartments, folding furniture is very relevant, because it allows you to save free space and at the same time does not lose its functionality. The dining table is an essential attribute of any home. It should be large enough to allow the whole family to sit down, as well as receive guests. In the case of the dining room, by the way, you will have the option of a sliding table. When folded, it can be a small table for everyday use or just a cabinet.
Of course, a collapsible table can be purchased at furniture stores or ordered, but this is quite expensive and can seriously damage the family budget. Why not make a folding table with your own hands? Despite the fact that its mechanism is not easy, nevertheless, the manufacture of such a piece of furniture is within the power of any man. The main thing is desire and a little patience.
Decided to make a kitchen table with your own hands? We advise you to look at the option as a clamshell. Such a dining table will fit perfectly into the interior of a city apartment and will not take up much space. Its mechanism, despite the apparent complexity, is very simple. The only thing really worth paying attention to is the manufacture of parts.
Before you make a table book with your own hands, as in any other case of creating home-made furniture, prepare a drawing.
Homemade folding table consists of the following parts:
- A - countertop, 700x670 mm (recommended material thickness - 20 mm, it can be MDF,
- Chipboard or hollow panels, at your discretion), 2 pcs.;
- B - cover, 700x200 mm (the material is the one used for countertops), 1 pc.;
- B - leg, 720x200 mm (tabletop material), 2 pcs.;
- G - drawer side, 638x190 mm (tabletop material), 1 pc.;
- D - lower shelf, 628x190 (tabletop material), 1 pc.;
- E, F - horizontal and vertical bars, 500x40x25 mm, E - 4 pcs., F - 2 pcs.;
- H - movable leg, 720x40x25 mm, 2 pcs.;
- And - piano loops, 4 pcs.
Scheme of work:
- After the drawing of the book table is prepared and all the necessary details are cut out, do not forget to process them with melamine film. This will protect the cuts from moisture and protect you from the toxicity of the material.
- Start the assembly by joining parts H, G and E (movable leg and bars). To do this, it is best to use a connection with deaf straight spikes. This design is supplied from the end with an elastic band or a metal button.
- Connect parts C, D and E. This is the tabletop, leg, drawer side and bottom shelf.
- Fasten the cover to the legs (parts B and C). Here we recommend using round spikes.
Attach piano hinges to the structure with a movable leg, then connect everything to the table leg. - Using the drawing, carry out all the work on both sides.
- Now you can paint or varnish your dining table.
A table-book the size of "a very serious banquet table" is made. As you can see, it's really not difficult.
Folding table transformer
The previous option is, of course, not the only possible mechanism. The table for the kitchen can be sliding. When a small table, through simple manipulations, expands to a large size.
A do-it-yourself sliding table is ideal for zealous owners
To make a sliding kitchen table with your own hands, drawings will definitely be needed. They can be found on the Internet or in magazines (who are used to paper sources). Those that we offer will allow you to create a table with a top assembled 700x1200 mm, and disassembled - 700x1670 mm.
Do-it-yourself materials and tools for the table:
- chipboard;
- corner 50x50 (aluminum) 4 pcs.;
- guides 2 pcs.;
- legs (made of metal) 4 pieces, strong enough to support a large dining table;
- 6 locks (will be described later);
- screw (10 mm);
- self-tapping screws 20x4 and 16x3.
- thermal gun for gluing the edge, but you can also use an iron;
- drill;
- jigsaw;
- milling cutter;
- level, tape measure, etc.
Operating procedure:
- Before making a folding table, prepare the necessary parts in accordance with the prepared drawings. The blanks should be cut and edged.
Nuance! A cut made with a milling cutter is better than with a jigsaw or saw, however, in this case it is necessary to increase the required dimensions by a couple of millimeters.
- The next step is to prepare the movable mechanism. To begin with, draw a line on the outside of the corner, dividing its side exactly in half. Such a line will be needed at all corners.
- Using the guide, mark the places where the corners and the guide are fastened.
- Drill the required holes.
- We fasten the structure of two corners and the guide with bolts.
- Lay the resulting structures in front of you with the moving parts of the guides inward. Now you need to drill 4 holes, in the moving parts of the guide from the outside, and in the fixed parts from the inside.
- Place the worktop blanks on the table with the front side away from you, carefully aligning the edges. The resulting mechanisms are laid on top with the movable part inside and aligning their centers with the joint of the transformer table tops.
- Screw the mechanism with self-tapping screws as follows: the movable part to one part of the countertop, and the fixed part to the other.
- Screw the locks, connecting the edges of the tabletops.
- Spread the countertops, place an insert between them and screw the missing parts of the locks to it. It should turn out so that the locks are closed without an insert and with an insert.
- It remains to fasten the legs and the transformer table with your own hands is ready.
Advice! Sharp corners of metal corners are recommended to be cut for safety reasons.
Probably, you will be interested in the question of how to make a rounded transformer table. It all depends on the prepared drawings and your wishes. For example, you can make a round sliding table based on the same mechanism as in the previous version.
But there may be other more complex options.
In general, a round transformer table will fit perfectly into the interior of a city apartment, and such a wooden table will be the perfect complement to the living room of a country house.
Pull-out table, option for a compact kitchen
How to make a sliding table for the kitchen with your own hands is not a secret. But what if it is not possible or not necessary to place such a table in the kitchen. In such cases, you can make a sliding table. It can be completely removed after it has fulfilled its role. Thus, you can save a lot of space in the kitchen. This option is simply indispensable for small kitchens.
However, a sliding table can be used not only for eating. This is a great option for an auxiliary desktop surface (this option is widely used for computer desks).
Folding picnic table
The tables presented so far are complete pieces of furniture. However, compact tables are also needed in the country. Such a table should be easy to transport so that it can easily fit in the trunk of a car along with other picnic accessories. Consider how to make a folding table - a suitcase.
Materials:
- plywood 50x60 cm;
- timber 30x30 cm 44 cm long (4 pcs.);
- timber 30x30 cm 60 cm long (2 pcs.);
- timber 30x30 cm 52 cm long (4 pcs.) For legs;
- self-tapping screws, nails and furniture screws;
- a handle (you can use a handle from an old suitcase or purchase a similar one), as well as
- suitcase latches (2 pcs.);
- hinges 60 mm (2 pcs.).
Operating procedure:
- Assemble 2 frames from plywood sheets and bars. Secure all parts with self-tapping screws. Connect the frames together with loops.
- Drill holes for the legs at equal distances. Do the same for the legs. Given that they will be mounted on screws, the diameter of the holes should be slightly smaller than the size of the screws.
- Attach the handle and latches. A folding table with your own hands will be ready when you screw the legs. To decompose it, you need to unscrew the latter.
As you can imagine, this is a draft. It needs to be beautified. First, sand all the details, and then paint in the desired color and varnish.
A more complicated version is also possible. When the table legs are mounted on a folding structure. In addition, the tabletop is made of laths, and its edges are upholstered with aluminum corners.
Of course, it is somewhat more difficult to make such a folding table with your own hands, and its weight will be greater.
We looked at how to make a table - a book, a sliding table and a folding table with our own hands, options for tables for the kitchen and picnic. Which of our advice you will follow is up to you to choose.
The main thing is to carefully read the drawings and our instructions.
A table is an essential attribute of every home, allowing you to create comfortable living conditions. But many residential apartments cannot fit a full-fledged structure inside, since this piece of furniture takes up a lot of space. Transforming tables will help correct the situation, which can, if necessary, be disassembled or converted into another product. Before you make a folding table with your own hands, it is important to choose the optimal design and functionality of such a design. This will allow you to optimally fit it into the interior, making it as useful and in demand as possible.
Features and benefits of a folding table
The folding table is a design that consists of several independent elements. All elements of the system are interconnected by special fasteners, which allows, if necessary, to disassemble it into separate parts. The classic representative is a table, in which the tabletop is moved apart, and another part is inserted into the vacated space.
Tables of this type have several positive aspects:
- Functionality. The table can change its dimensions, which allows them to be increased if necessary (arrival of guests, and so on). At the same time, it is very easy to supplement such a system with drawers that will be used as additional storage space.
- Small dimensions. The design is completely disassembled, which allows you to keep it in the pantry or on the balcony. The dimensions of the table itself are compact and practical.
- Originality. Almost all tables that are made by hand have no analogues on the market and are distinguished by many details.
- Practicality. The table can be installed both in the kitchen and in the living room, transforming its size. This approach also allows you to save quite a lot of space, which is important for small apartments.
- Reliability. The service life of the structure can be very long if the drawings are followed in the manufacture and high-quality fittings are used.
materials
The quality of transforming tables depends largely on the material from which they are made. Today, for the design of such systems use:
- Chipboard. The plate is durable and low price, so it is very often used in the manufacture of such furniture. To give the table an attractive design, you can make it from chipboard.
- Fiberboard. This material is in many ways similar to the previous type of product. The plate is perfectly processed and practically harmless to humans.
- Wood. Solid wood tables are the most durable and expensive. The material is easy to use, and also has a unique texture that can be matched to any style of home.
- Plywood. This product is not used as the main one. Auxiliary elements are made from it (shelves, back walls, drawers, etc.).
- Metal. This material is one of the strongest and most durable. It is used for the construction of parts that are subjected to significant loads (metal legs and so on). Very often, profile pipes of different sections and shapes are used here.
It should be noted that today many details for tables can also be made of polypropylene pipe, glass and other similar materials.
How to make a folding transformer table yourself?
Transforming tables come in several types, as they are used to solve various problems. The algorithm for creating such structures consists of several sequential steps:
- Initially, you need to decide on the type of product. Today, tables-beds or tables-sofas are very popular. The next step is to create drawings with all structural elements. The best option would be to use ready-made plans.
- At this stage, the selection of materials and accessories is carried out. Transformer mechanisms are of several types. They differ in the method of fastening and the parameters of spatial movement. For example, a bench-table should have not only sliding, but also lifting mechanisms.
- When all the materials are collected, they begin to manufacture the structural elements of the table (tabletops, legs, and so on). Here it is important to carefully adjust all dimensions so that the future system can move without effort and failure.
- The procedure ends with the assembly of the table. They all start with small elements that do not transform minimally. After that, they move on to large systems, where rotary-sliding mechanisms are already installed. At the same time, careful measurements are performed before fixing each element.
The process of building transforming tables can be both easy and complex. It all depends on your imagination and desire. Sometimes you can just attach wheels to a transformer to change its purpose and functionality.
Production of a turn-and-fold model
Turn-and-fold tables are systems in which the tabletop can move to the side parallel to the floor. This design is much more complicated than the usual folding model. It uses special loops and mechanisms that provide this functionality.
The construction algorithm of such a design can be divided into several successive stages:
- First of all, you need to carefully calculate the table-book. It is advisable to use ready-made drawings, on which all the main dimensions are applied.
- After that, a material is selected that can withstand many rotation cycles. The best options would be metal and natural wood.
- When everything is ready, the frame and countertops are made under the table. The upper part should be completely covered by one element. The second tabletop will be hidden under the table. After careful measurements, the lid is screwed to the frame using special transforming mechanisms. It is important to control the location of all structural elements.
Please note that the second cover can be attached to the first element, forming a kind of book. A similar table with a folding top is much more convenient and practical.
Homemade folding wooden table against the wall
Wall tables are one of the most optimal solutions for small kitchens. These designs do not take up much space, which makes them very functional. The construction of such a structure involves the following operations:
- Initially you need choose the material for the countertop. Many today use chipboard sheets for this, but wood is best, as it is durable and beautiful. The shield can be knocked down or glued from several polished boards. After that, you need to determine the height of the table. Based on these values, 2 supporting legs are made. Theoretically, they can be adjusted to the height after fixing the cover to the wall.
- At the very end of the countertop screwed to the wall. To do this, use special rotary mechanisms. Please note that the product should not fit snugly against the support, as it will not be possible to close it. When the canvas is screwed, you should take care of the fixation system in a vertical position. The process ends with the installation of the legs. Attach them to two corners using rotary systems.
If desired, the legs can be made removable.
Making a coffee table in the hall
The peculiarity of this table is its small size. Externally, this design may resemble a coffee table. Today, there are many options for such products that differ in design and technical equipment.
Consider how to build a table for the living room with your own hands. This procedure consists of several successive steps:
- Initially, you need to select materials. The best option would be a wooden board and timber. Of these, you should create a frame under the countertop. Outwardly, it resembles an ordinary square or rectangular table, only without a lid.
- After that, cut out of the boards and form two countertops. One of them should be smaller and fit inside the frame (it will be hidden). The second cover is made as for a regular table.
- The assembly of the structure begins with the installation of a small tabletop inside the table (between the legs). To do this, use a special mechanism that can, if necessary, move the system up. The tabletop should, as it were, rise and move simultaneously to one side.
- When the bottom sheet is fixed, the top tabletop is mounted in a similar way. It is mounted on special levers, which also allow you to lift and move the system.
Please note that the upper part must be displaced in such a way as to make it possible to get the lower shelf and install it next to it.
Features of creating a round product
Round folding tables are very popular today, as they are distinguished by their originality. Technically, such a design can be supplemented with an insert in the middle, which will increase its size.
Creating a semicircular table involves making a round tabletop. This process is quite simple and consists of the following steps:
- Initially, a layout of the future design is drawn on paper. This can be done in different ways, but often they use a thread and a pencil, which is attached to one of its ends. The second end is simply placed in the center and held, and the pencil is moved to the stretch.
- After that, with the help of a workpiece, the circle is transferred to the boards folded together. Some experts alternately cut out the parts, applying the dimensions of the board to a certain part of the circle.
- When the tabletop is cut, it is glued or knocked down with the help of transverse bars. After that, you need to cut it strictly in the center of the circle to form two even halves. The procedure is completed by installing these elements on the table frame using the movement mechanisms.
Camping table-suitcase
Such a design combines not only a surface for food, but also a container for storing certain things that will come in handy in nature. To build such a table is relatively simple and can be done in several steps:
- Initially, you need to choose the bars for the frame. The capacity of the suitcase will also depend on their thickness. The best option would be a rectangular beam, about 4-5 cm thick.
- At this stage, the sides of the suitcase are being built. For this, rectangles of a certain size are knocked down from the bars. It is important here to carefully fit all the ends in order to get even and not skewed parts. Then a sheet of plywood is nailed to one of the sides of the frame, which will act as a countertop. The result should be two small boxes with a closed bottom.
- To turn these elements into a suitcase, you need to fasten them with two loops so that they can be closed. It is advisable to cut the fittings into a tree in order to exclude the appearance of large gaps.
- The process ends with the manufacture of legs. They are also cut from bars of a certain thickness. After that, fastening systems are formed at each corner of the future table. The easiest way is to use special bolted connections, under which you need to drill holes in the tree.
A folding table is a very convenient and useful item in everyday life. Many owners complain about the small area of their apartments, respectively, they do not have the opportunity to put a large table in the kitchen. This problem is effectively solved by purchasing folding models. It is worth noting that they are ideal for trips and picnics in nature.
The folding table is lightweight and compact in size, which allows it to be easily folded into the trunk of a car.
Varieties
This piece of furniture comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. They differ in the shape of the tabletop (round, square, oval, rectangular), material (wood, metal, and combinations thereof), as well as the method of folding.
The most popular type of folding tables is wooden. If you want to make it as light and easy to transport as possible, then install an inexpensive chipboard countertop.
The easiest way to fold at tables with cruciform legs. When folding, the dimensions of the structure change, but it does not disassemble itself. In addition, there are fully collapsible products. To create them, threaded fasteners are used.
If you want to make a round table with your own hands, then you need to shape the tabletop before fixing it. This will greatly simplify the assembly process.
Preparatory work
If you decide to figure out how to make a folding table with your own hands, then first evaluate your capabilities. Masters who do not have impressive experience should give preference to the simplest models with cruciform legs.
The dimensions of the table are selected depending on your own needs. It is important to consider the maximum possible load and operating conditions.
At home, it is easier to create a table made of wood. For countertops, chipboard would be the best option. You will also need tools for work:
- Electric jigsaw;
- Level;
- Paint brushes;
- Ruler / tape measure;
- Hammer, screwdriver;
- Sander (sandpaper).
The latter is recommended for use only by experienced craftsmen. Everyone else should give preference to ordinary sandpaper. Of course, using it will slow down the process of creating a table a little. But the product will turn out to be of high quality and beautiful.
For work, you need wooden bars measuring 2 x 4.5 centimeters. If you plan to make a large table, then you can order parts 3 x 5 centimeters. As for the length, it ranges from one to five meters.
The material is cut into pieces of the desired size in accordance with the drawings of the folding table. Boards for countertops, it is desirable to use thick (at least 4 centimeters) and durable.
Assembly
To connect the bars, you need bolts and screws. Their length is selected in accordance with the thickness of the selected materials. Bolts are used to connect the legs, self-tapping screws - to fix the foot supports.
Initially, you need to cut the right amount of bars. It is advisable to make them a little larger in size than originally planned. The dimensions of the hole must also exceed the dimensions of the fasteners. For example, for M4 bolts, the hole diameter should be at least five millimeters.
Each part after trimming must be processed with a grinder or sandpaper. To extend the period of operation, they are coated with a protective compound (paint or varnish).
It is important to securely fasten the foot supports (four pieces). They are at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the "goats" (folding legs with crossbars at the bottom). For this, ordinary self-tapping screws are used.
Three pieces are required for each support. The distance between them should correspond to the size of the bar from which the "goats" are made.
To understand what the finished design looks like, find on the Internet a photo of a folding table with your own hands. So you will understand what result you should get in the end.
All parts are connected with bolts. They are placed in the through central holes of the bars. It is not recommended to tighten them too much. The axle must be allowed to rotate freely. "Goats" are fixed to the tabletop by bolted connections. Foot supports must be attached to them in advance.
If you are worried that the axial fastening will loosen over time and fail due to constant folding / unfolding, then use locknuts.
If you want to make a compact table, then remove the bolts that combine the goats and footrests. It is allowed to pick up one or two bolts. Practice shows that it is not worth tightening the fasteners in these areas.
Reliable fastening and tightening of bolts require only foot supports. This is due to the fact that they guarantee the normal installation of the legs.
DIY folding table photo
Who among us does not like to go fishing with family or friends for a picnic, barbecue or just relax in nature.
However, in addition to fishing rods, food, barbecue and tents, you need at least some kind of camping furniture - cooking and sitting on bare ground is inconvenient.
And the main item needed for a picnic outside the city is a folding table.
Now it can be purchased at any travel or fishing store, but why spend money when you can make a folding table yourself. Let's find out how to do it and what is needed for this.
Design features
If you do not go into details, then you can distinguish two types of camping tables - a table with folding legs and a table-suitcase.
In the first version, when transporting or carrying, the legs are removed under the countertop. Upon arrival, simply move the legs of the table apart to put it on.
In the second version, the tabletop is like a suitcase or a chessboard - in the stowed position, the legs lie inside it, but in place they must be taken out of the “suitcase”, connected to it and put the table in the right place.
Both types have their advantages. A folding table is easier to make and only takes a few seconds to set up. At the same time, the suitcase table is more convenient to carry, takes up less space, and, in addition, you can put dishes, skewers and other necessary things in it during transportation.
Wood, plastic or metal?
What is the best material for making your own folding camping table?
If ease of creation is most important to you and you do not have a large set of tools or skills in working with plastic and metals, choose wood.
Timber, boards, chipboard, plywood - all this can be used to create a fairly simple folding table.
But a table made of wood, if you do not protect its surface with varnishes and special coatings, under the influence of dampness, sunlight and temperature changes, it will warp and lose its attractive appearance.
Both plastic and even metal can be used as a material for legs and countertops. But here you may need those tools that can not be found in every home. In addition, working with such materials is more difficult than with the same tree. But tables made of plastic are not subject to corrosion, and those made of metal are very strong and durable.
In order to make a collapsible or folding table, you need a set of fairly simple tools that can be found in any home or garage:
- Electric jigsaw (can be replaced with a circular saw or a hacksaw for wood);
- Electric drill for preparing holes for screws;
- Hammer and Phillips screwdriver;
- Roulette, square, ruler, pencil and level.
Attention! Remember that cutting tools such as a circular saw or jigsaw are sources of increased danger! Follow all necessary safety precautions when working.
Folding picnic table
To make a simple and strong enough, you need the very minimum of materials and fasteners:
- wooden boards, 20–40 mm thick. For countertops, instead of boards, you can use a sheet of chipboard or plywood, about 10 millimeters thick;
- self-tapping screws, furniture bolts, and for each pair of legs the bolts must be of different lengths, wing nuts for bolts;
- door handles for carrying the table and hooks.
To begin with, cut out a countertop of the desired size from boards or a chipboard sheet. If the countertop is made up of several boards, assemble them together, lay them down and measure the length and width.
Stages of work
Step 1. Making the frame
Lay the boards for the frame on the countertop, on each side the frame should recede from the edge of the countertop by 2-3 centimeters. Using an electric jigsaw, cut the boards to the desired size, then lay them again on the countertop, check the length and width of the frame according to the drawing. Outline the contours of the frame - use them to make holes in the countertop for the screws.
Important! In order to accurately maintain the dimensions of the paired parts, connect the boards together with clamps and cut them with an electric jigsaw or hacksaw together.
Step 2. Intermediate bars
Cut out the stop bars on which the unfolded table legs will rest, make four holes for the screws in them. To prevent the table legs from colliding with each other when folding, make wooden substrates for the second pair of legs, which will be located between the frame and the stop bars.
Step 3: Assembling the Frame and Tabletop
Assemble the frame elements together, fasten the stop bars and wooden substrates, make four holes for the bolts with an electric drill. Fasten the tabletop and frame with screws. 
Step 4. Table legs
Draw and cut out the legs of the table with an electric jigsaw. In the upper part, where they are fixed with the frame, the legs should be rounded, while in the lower part there should be a cut at a slight angle (15–20 degrees). Make holes for the bolts.
Step 5 Assemble the table
Connect the first pair of legs with a crossbar and secure to the frame with a bolt and wing nut. Repeat the same with the second pair. Check that the legs do not catch on each other when unfolding and folding the table. If they get stuck, treat the legs at the point of friction with sandpaper.
Folding table is ready. Additionally, you can attach a handle to it for easy carrying and hooks to hang towels or barbecue and barbecue equipment.
Table-suitcase
To make a camping table-suitcase, you will need more materials and fasteners:
- sheet of plywood or chipboard for the lid. In case of their absence, boards can be used;
- wooden beam for legs and countertop box;
- hinges, door or suitcase handle, two latches;
- furniture bolts and wing nuts;
- self-tapping screws.
Stages of work
Step 1. Take sheets of chipboard, cut out halves of the countertop. Then saw off the frame bars you need along the length, connect them to the halves of the countertop with screws from all sides. Fasten the halves of the tabletop together with the help of loops.
Step 2 Cut off four beams, which will be the legs of our table, make holes for the bolts in them and in the frame, while indenting so that the table legs are freely connected to the frame.
Step 3 Connect the legs and frame with furniture bolts and wing nuts.
Step 4 Attach the carrying handle to the frame. Don't forget to make two latches ,
so that the suitcase does not open during transportation.
Note! Before starting work, draw up a drawing of your table in several projections, calculate the dimensions of all parts and how much material you will need. So you will save yourself from mistakes, and you will not have to redo all the work again.
Protecting the camping table
An unprotected tree ages rather quickly: dampness, temperature changes that are inevitable in nature, sunlight and many other factors have a bad effect on the material and reduce the durability of the folding table.
Therefore, do not forget to treat all its surfaces, especially the countertop, which is most susceptible to harmful effects.
For use special antiseptic compounds, stain.
Finishing with varnish or paint will enhance the look of the plywood or chipboard and make the camp table more beautiful.
How to make another version of a lightweight folding table, see the video: