| Ultimate Picnic Table: Safety Meets Style (9 a.m. - 11 a.m.) |
From "Warehouse Warriors"
episode WHW-206 |
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The Teams: A team of comedians vs. a team of executives The Project: The ultimate picnic table The Timeframe: 8 hours (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Although the Red Team knows all about funny business, their building and home improvement skills are no laughing matter. And the Blue Team members -- who (by day) sit behind desks -- are also accomplished remodelers and do-it-yourselfers. Let's meet the teams: Red Team Dave Atkinson
Rick Lasita
Bill Hare
Blue Team Rick Beretta
Mary Beth Beretta
John Loughlin
A good picnic table, according to host Ed Del Grande, includes a good frame and solid structure. Legs should have good contact with the ground below, and should have a balanced shape (usually an A-frame variation). Cross braces should be used to support the top, and screws should always go from top to bottom for safety. Although the Blue and Red Teams are working to build creative designs that are also safe and sturdy, the do-it-yourselfer should always put safety first. Red Team Activity Journal (9 a.m. - 1 a.m.) - The Red Team designs a duo of round tables -- one small for children and a larger table for adults -- with umbrellas and a bench connecting the two. The team ambitiously hopes to includes a tile mosaic Warehouse Warriors logo.
- First, the team measures and cuts circular tabletops. To create a perfect diameter, the team uses a push pin to attach a measuring stick to 3/4" plywood. As one team member holds the stick, the other measures 24" from center, then draws a circle on the plywood surface using pencil (figure A). The process -- which is much like using a compass -- is repeated for the smaller 18" tabletop.
- Circles are cut with a table saw, then edges are sanded smooth. Holes for umbrellas are cut into the center of the circles.
- Four 4 x 4 pressure-treated posts are cut to 31" and 4 are cut to 25-1/4" for use as table legs.
- A copy of the Warehouse Warriors logo is sketched to be used as a template for the mosaic tile tabletop (figure B).
Ed's tip: When cutting a hole -- like the one needed in the tabletops -- consider purchasing a holesaw kit, which will make the job easier and safer. The kit includes 2 "slugs" that prevent the drill bit from wobbling as the hole is cut. Wear safety gear and use a variable speed drill for best results. Finally, avoid touching the drill bit -- which will be hot -- for some time after drilling this type of hole. Blue Team Activity Journal (9 a.m. - 11 a.m.) - The Blue Team's more traditional design includes a glass block island center with underlighting and curved edges.
- First the team cuts four white framing tracks that will house the glass blocks. Two pieces 16" long and two pieces 48" long are cut. The table saw is used to miter the edges of each piece that will be used to surround a total of 12 blocks.
- The pre-cut tracks are used to measure four 2 x 4 oak pieces. Two pieces are cut to 17-1/2" long and two are cut to 49-1/2" long. The edges of the wood are mitered and the pieces are used to surround the tracks. The tracks are attached to the 2 x 4s by screws (figure C).
- Glass blocks are placed together (figure D), with white spacers between. The 2 x 4s surround the blocks and are joined at the mitered edges.
Want to know more about the products used on Warehouse Warriors? Click here for a complete list of tools, materials and supplies available to our teams.
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