picnic table ideas - some fold into a bench!

We would really like some picnic tables here at wheaton labs. The sawmill will be working soon, so I'm dreaming of what we could make.

Check out this picnic table that folds into a bench:


There's a similar one on FaceBook that looks lighter and more refined (not sure if you non-FB people will be able to watch this video).
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=216634451866289

There are roundwood versions, too, though too substantial to be foldable I would think. From the Roundwood (Log) Furniture thread you can see a picnic table in the background here:

A few quick conversion designs:






And here is one that you can buy that looks a bit more industrial strength, although i don't care for the plastic "wood":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0IR54XzmvU

(link to amazon)

Those are pretty sweet looking setups. I like that first one in Jocelyn's post the best, but the first one in Paul's looks pretty sweet as well, and it has plans!

Looks like it is time to hit the woodpile.

Here is a plan for one someone sent to me.


Cottage Life design

Ones that fold into benches would be really handy for workshops.

We had a couple different one over the years, a couple key points:

The slope of the back and seat have to be just right to be comfortable. The seat shouldn't be level when in bench mode, very few adjust the seat angle.
The top has to be TIGHT when in table mode. Most use a peg in a hole that gets sloppy over time.
Getting the balance between strong enough to feel solid and not too heavy to move without a forklift is also tough.

I built this table using the plans available there. Works well as a bench or table.
http://ana-white.com/2011/05/picnic-table-converts-benches

chad duncan wrote:I built this table using the plans available there. Works well as a bench or table.
http://ana-white.com/2011/05/picnic-table-converts-benches

All of these designs require reasonably flat ground. Most of mine is not flat. As I read through this thread, I realized that I need a one man chair that can be carted around in one hand. It needs to be a tripod. The place is covered in trees. My chair needs only two legs. The third and the one that gives the whole thing stability is a tree. It's all based on a small log that forks into two branches. The fork becomes two legs. A live edge slab is the seat. Lean it against any solid spot where the top can't readily slide and it's a very stable lounge chair.

My beautiful drawing --- The seat should probably be mounted lower, so that the rear has two attachment points, just below the crotch. The two thinner sticks can be either branches that grew there or limbs from another tree that are attached. They will be in tension, so only need to be thick enough to be attached firmly. I hope I can find a specimen with all of the right pieces naturally occurring. This would make a chair with only 2 pieces of wood. A flat backrest could be added.

I'm in the city for a while, but this will be my first green wood working project. I'll pack it around when I'm clearing trails.

If this thing had a head, it would look like a waiter carrying a tray.

This is a picnic table I built for base camp. Not foldable but it does come with benches! As opposed to a standard picnic table design, the seats are unattached. They can be pulled off and used elsewhere if needed. A key element in the design is that you don't have to climb over the seat; thus allowing for a backrest. The table accomodates 2-3 people on each side which is more conducive to group conversation than a long rectangular table. It is still a bit wobbly though, I am trying to figure out how to brace the legs without cutting in on (human) leg room. The surface is unstained and unfinished, which means it's dirty from contact with food etc. A non-toxic staining method (i.e. coffee) could be pursued...

picnic table on steroids...

That. is. awesome.

very roundwood ...

Love this Dale! Can't wait to see a photo of your end product.

Dale Hodgins wrote:All of these designs require reasonably flat ground. Most of mine is not flat. As I read through this thread, I realized that I need a one man chair that can be carted around in one hand. It needs to be a tripod. The place is covered in trees. My chair needs only two legs. The third and the one that gives the whole thing stability is a tree. It's all based on a small log that forks into two branches. The fork becomes two legs. A live edge slab is the seat. Lean it against any solid spot where the top can't readily slide and it's a very stable lounge chair.

My beautiful drawing --- The seat should probably be mounted lower, so that the rear has two attachment points, just below the crotch. The two thinner sticks can be either branches that grew there or limbs from another tree that are attached. They will be in tension, so only need to be thick enough to be attached firmly. I hope I can find a specimen with all of the right pieces naturally occurring. This would make a chair with only 2 pieces of wood. A flat backrest could be added.

I'm in the city for a while, but this will be my first green wood working project. I'll pack it around when I'm clearing trails.

If this thing had a head, it would look like a waiter carrying a tray.

I wish to add four transformer picnic tables to our collections.  

I thought I could simply pop onto amazon and grab some kits.  But, they all have plastic.  

I wonder if there is somebody in the area where I could buy some picnic tables?

I like the idea of setting up these transforming picnic tables over the pump house and maybe the cistern.  I was especially hoping to find something that would be the kind where there would be two benches with backs - and then the backs can be moved to be a table.  That way if the picnic table is over the lid to the pump house, then when we need to get to the pump house, we just activate bench mode and we have full access.

Take a look at the latest log picnic table design (version 3.0) made at the 2023 Permaculture Technology Jamboree at Wheaton Labs. It uses roundwood joinery and has no external attachments.  It's a beautiful piece with a useful role - craftsmanship and function!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKrimi0qj-s

If you're interested in more projects like this, you could come to the permaculture bootcamp and get involved!  

Or attend the next PTJ.