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A bar-height outdoor table on 4x4 posts with a 45° truss under the top — timber-frame looks from three lumber sizes and a pocket-hole jig.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legs | 4 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 34 1/2" | 4x4 | ☐ |
| End aprons Two up top, two low as end stretchers — centered on the posts, ~1" reveal each side. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 20 1/2" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Side aprons | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 63" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Bottom stretcher CUT TO FIT your assembled base — listed length is nominal. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 63" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Top center support Cut to fit, same reason. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 63" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Truss braces Both ends 45°, short point to short point, ends NOT parallel. Offer up, mark, trim to your table. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 30 3/8" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Top planks | 5 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 72" | 2x6 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4, 6 ft The legs. Untreated appearance-grade if covered patio; treated if it lives in the rain. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 2x6, 6 ft The plank top. Straightest five in the pile. | 5 each | ☐ |
| 2x4, 8 ft Aprons, stretcher, center support, and truss braces. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2", exterior | 50 each | ☐ |
| Exterior wood glue | 8 oz | ☐ |
| Penetrating exterior stain | 1 qt | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig, Speed Square, Tape Measure. Materials: 4x4, 6 ft, 2x4, 8 ft, Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2", exterior, Exterior wood glue
Drill two 1-1/2" pocket holes in each end of the end aprons and join each pair of 4x4 legs — one apron at the top, one low — with 2-1/2" exterior pocket screws and glue. Center each 2x4 on the post faces: roughly 1" of 4x4 showing each side.
That centering is the post-and-beam look. Set it carefully once, then match every other joint to the first.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2", exterior, Exterior wood glue
Join the two end frames with the long side aprons, same pocket-hole treatment, same centered reveal. Square the base by diagonals across the top — everything that follows is fitted to this rectangle.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Miter Saw, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2", exterior, Exterior wood glue
Measure the actual spans on YOUR base and cut the bottom stretcher and top center support to those numbers — pocket holes or 3" deck screws, either holds. The stretcher runs low between the end frames; the center support runs down the middle of the top opening, where the trusses will land.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Miter Saw, Pencil, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2", exterior, Exterior wood glue
Cut the two braces at 45° both ends (short point to short point, ends not parallel) and stand them from the stretcher up to the center support. Where a brace overhangs its landing, mark it against the table and trim — the source's own method, and the honest one; trusses are fitted to built reality, not to drawings.
Pocket-hole them home. Push on a corner of the base before and after: that new stiffness is the truss doing its actual job, not just its visual one.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x6, 6 ft, Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2", exterior, Penetrating exterior stain
Lay the five 2x6 planks with even gaps and even overhangs, and fasten from below through the aprons and center support — no fasteners visible on a top this proud of its lumber.
Sand hard, break the edges (elbows live on a bar table), and finish with penetrating exterior stain. Then stand around it holding a drink, which is what it's for.