Long story short, I was commissioned by my then boss's sister to build a picnic table. While she knew that a homemade table would cost a quite a bit more than a store bought product, she was willing to splurge on the locally made variant that she knew would last for years to come.
Like other projects, this one began in Sketchup, where myself and the client agreed on a design and color scheme. It was to be constructed from pressure-treated construction lumber for weather resistance and composite decking for a splinter and sun-fade-free surface. (swipe between pictures)
First up was the frame of the table. This table design that I entirely came up with is built like how walls in houses are framed. This is because instead of 2x6s for the seat slats, I am using composite decking. Decking requires joists 16in on center to be supported correctly, making the frame far more complicated than other tables. (swipe between pictures)
Next was the general assembly of the 3 frames and the legs, which were jointed with carriage bolts for extensive shear strength. Decking for the seats was cut and mitered, leaving a consistent 1/4in gap between the slats for drainage. (swipe between pictures)
The decking on the top of the table was completed, maintaining the proper spacing and perfect miters. (swipe between pictures)