Picnic Table and fire pit

[Wayne02]

I'm putting in a little campsite out on the back 40 and would like to have a picnic table and fire pit.

I can buy a table or make a table. I suspect plans are available with some searching or I could wing it and make it up myself. Dimensional lumber is not that expensive these days but I really need something that will hold up to the elements as it will be outside all the time.

For the fire pit I might be able to scare up enough large rocks to make the ring, but oddly enough there don't seem to be That many rocks on this property. Or I have an OTR truck rim but it really is not very large in diameter. I'd like to be able to use this fire pit for cooking with cast iron - dutch oven etc, and am wondering if there are any design considerations that should be looked at in this regard?

Do you have a picnic table and or fire pit? What do you like/dislike about them? Pictures?

Thanks

 

[ditrina]

This Redwood table was built in 1960, by me and my Dad..( Mostly my Dad as I was 13 at the time).. A simple cross type base, with a 72" top. He used a table saw and jig saw.. It has been refinished a few times .. the last time two years ago when we sold the "Old Homestead" when my Dad passed.. and I brought it home to my house..
Not bad for a 50 year old table... Redwood stands the test of time..

And round is a GREAT shape for gatherings. with the family..

 

[Bob R]

If you have a place that makes corrugated steel pipe nearby go there and see what they have for scrap. They will often let it go for a song. This is the steel pipes they used for culverts. It makes a great fire pit. Bury a few inches of it into the ground and it is there for a long time.

Decide how big you want the pit and buy accordingly. It should last appx forever.

bob

 

[snowman]

In these parts people generally use rims from farm tractors, which are larger than truck rims. The average tractor rim is about 16-18" wide and 38" in diameter.

Andy

 

[truckemup97]

The culvert sounds good to me. The truck wheel won't be near big enough, IMO. As for the table, if you can't afford redwood, don't be afraid to use pressure treated wood. They haven't used arsenic in years, so even if you believed that old urban legend, it no longer applies.

 

[sparkgap]

Wayne,

If you want plans for a 6 foot table send me your e-mail and I'll e-mail you a scan of one. Easy to build, I made 2 of them for the gun club in 1980 and their still in use.

Bob
[email protected]

 

[vintagesmith]

We bought picnic tables made out of recycled tires. They have been outside at the river ranch for four or five years and look like new. They are extremely heavy so won't blow away and are very durable. Paid about $200 for them. We bought from our local tire dealer, I know they are available on line but shipping would kill you!

Also, no splinters, painting, etc!

 

[Chik a Boom]

Loved your table, ditrina. So nice to have a heirloom like that. I'd be proud, too.

Good luck with your project, Wayne. There were several links in Google when I entered "build a fire pit" that might be helpful.

And we're all invited to the first bar-b-que, right?