Hey everyone! I'm completely new to woodworking and I'm super excited to start my next project: building an outdoor table. I found a design that I really like (check it out here: https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/4x4-truss-beam-table) but I have a couple of questions. First, the end pieces of the table seem a bit unsupported. Should I add some 2x4s for extra support and stability? Second, would it be okay to make the bottom frame out of pressure-treated wood and then use cedar for the tabletop? I'm trying to manage costs while still making it look good, and I assume I could treat both the frame and the tabletop to help preserve the wood. I'm just really eager to dive into this project and I've been practicing pocket holes. Thanks for any tips you can share!
1 Answer
I built a similar table a while back! You'll definitely want to breadboard the ends if you want to keep the tabletop from splitting. Wood expands across the grain, so if the end pieces are glued down tightly, they could end up cracking when the middle expands. Just make sure the ends can move a bit—there are various methods to achieve this, so look up "breadboard ends" for some ideas!
Exactly! When the wood moves, it needs room, or else those joints will fail. It's great you're thinking about this early on. And by the way, your table design looks fantastic!