Simple Outdoor Dining Table

Assemble the box — two long rails, two ends, the third long rail centered — with the 2-1/2" screws, two per joint. Then measure both diagonals and adjust until they match exactly. Fifteen top boards are about to reference this rectangle; give them a real one.

Flip the frame and attach the legs inside the corners. Drive several screws AT AN ANGLE through leg into frame from different directions — angled fasteners lock against racking in a way straight rows never do. This is the whole leg joint, so be generous.

Clamp a straight board along one side of the frame and lay the fifteen top boards against it with 1/2" gaps (a 1/2" scrap is the spacer). Screw down with the shorter screws, two per joint.

The two END boards get extra screws driven horizontally into the frame ends — that's the 'considerable strength' move; they cap the frame and tie the top into the structure. Sand hard, break the edges, stain, and start arguing about whose turn it is to grill.