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A chunky outdoor side table from four 2x4s and one box of screws — every dimension parameterized, so it resizes to whatever your patio actually needs.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legs Or 1-1/2" less than your desired overall height. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 16 1/2" | — | ☐ |
| Top frame, long sides Or desired overall depth. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 24" | — | ☐ |
| Leg side aprons Or overall depth minus 3". | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 21" | — | ☐ |
| Inside frame Or overall depth minus 6". | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 18" | — | ☐ |
| Top infill and open-side aprons Or overall width minus 7". | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 17" | — | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 2x4, 8 ft Red-toned boards (hem-fir) stain more evenly than yellow whitewood. Sight each board for crown before buying. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Construction screws, #8 x 2-3/4", star drive, exterior | 50 each | ☐ |
| Exterior finish A partial quart does it — or leave it raw and let it grey. | 1 quart | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Construction screws, #8 x 2-3/4", star drive, exterior
Screw a leg side apron to two legs, flush on the inside faces, two screws per joint. Build two identical assemblies.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Construction screws, #8 x 2-3/4", star drive, exterior
Attach a 24" top board across the top of each leg pair with three screws — one at each end, one in the middle. These two boards are the long sides of the top's border frame.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Construction screws, #8 x 2-3/4", star drive, exterior
Screw the two 18" inside-frame pieces between two of the 17" boards, two screws per joint, forming a rectangle. This frame is what carries the top infill.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Construction screws, #8 x 2-3/4", star drive, exterior
Set the inner frame between the two leg assemblies and drive four screws per side — spaced wide apart and ANGLED in different directions. The opposing angles are the trick: parallel screws pull out together under racking; opposed ones lock the joint like dovetailed nails.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Construction screws, #8 x 2-3/4", star drive, exterior, Exterior finish
Lay the remaining 17" boards inside the frame, snug them evenly, and screw each down with one screw per end.
Sand everything, round the top edges well, and finish (or don't — bare framing lumber outdoors just goes silver). Then make the second one, because side tables are like bookends.